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How to Focus with Live View?

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markpsf

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Just got my K20D. Easy transition from the K10D and great camera.

One problem (so far!). Is there any way to use Live View without focusing first through the viewfinder? Is any focusing possible using Live View itself? If so I'd appreciate some instruction.

Thanks.

Mark
 
The ring on the front of the lens, turn it the image will eventually get in focus. other then that you can press the AF button and it will flap the mirror and focus.
--

I love how people don't realise that there is no way that you can produce an 8x10 print from a 3:2 ratio file without cropping or leaving a white edge on the paper.

GMT +9.5

Pentax SLR talk FAQ
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=23161072
 
Cideway said:
The ring on the front of the lens, turn it the image will eventually
get in focus. other then that you can press the AF button and it will
flap the mirror and focus.
--
I love how people don't realise that there is no way that you can
produce an 8x10 print from a 3:2 ratio file without cropping or
leaving a white edge on the paper.
Click to expand...
That is intersting. I thought all live view focusing was done by the sensor and the mirror stayed out of thee way.

Thank you
Russell
 
I can put the camera in a manual focusing mode and then focus in Live View using the usual focusing with the lens.

But I can't figure out how to set the camera in AF and using Live View.

I can focus looking through the viewfinder and then look at the Live View (instruction manual gives this direction).

If you have it in Live View and hit the AF button the shutter just shifts back
(this has also been reported on the Pentax Forum).

So still looking for a way....

Mark
 
Russell Evans said:
Cideway said:
The ring on the front of the lens, turn it the image will eventually
get in focus. other then that you can press the AF button and it will
flap the mirror and focus.
--
I love how people don't realise that there is no way that you can
produce an 8x10 print from a 3:2 ratio file without cropping or
leaving a white edge on the paper.
Click to expand...
That is intersting. I thought all live view focusing was done by the
sensor and the mirror stayed out of thee way.

Thank you
Russell
Click to expand...
Qoute from the manual...

• When the focus mode is set to l and the = button is pressed during
Live View, the displayed image will disappear and AF will activate. Once
focused, the image will be displayed in Live View again.
• AF using the shutter release button is not available during Live View.
• Aperture, shutter speed, sensitivity, EV compensation, and exposure bracket
cannot be changed during Live View.
• The aperture value and shutter speed are not displayed in the LCD panel or
shooting information screen during Live View.

As I understand it the focus sensor is located in the prism housing, so while the mirror is up no AF is possible

I haven't got one yet so I can't play :-(
--
Dave P
  • If you believe everything you read, better not to read -
    • Japanese Proverb - -
 
Dr page said:
Russell Evans said:
Cideway said:
The ring on the front of the lens, turn it the image will eventually
get in focus. other then that you can press the AF button and it will
flap the mirror and focus.
--
I love how people don't realise that there is no way that you can
produce an 8x10 print from a 3:2 ratio file without cropping or
leaving a white edge on the paper.
Click to expand...
That is intersting. I thought all live view focusing was done by the
sensor and the mirror stayed out of thee way.

Thank you
Russell
Click to expand...
Qoute from the manual...

• When the focus mode is set to l and the = button is pressed during
Live View, the displayed image will disappear and AF will activate. Once
focused, the image will be displayed in Live View again.
• AF using the shutter release button is not available during Live View.
• Aperture, shutter speed, sensitivity, EV compensation, and exposure
bracket
cannot be changed during Live View.
• The aperture value and shutter speed are not displayed in the LCD
panel or
shooting information screen during Live View.

As I understand it the focus sensor is located in the prism housing,
so while the mirror is up no AF is possible
Click to expand...
The Mirror AF flip and flop was expected but...

That's a very handicapped form of live view? Didn't now that live view was so useless: no change of aperture, shutter speed etc...not even viewable on the top LCD panel, very weird.

My Oly E410 can do that just fine, seems a quick and dirty last minute implementation from PENTAX. Maybe just to get it in the specs.

- -

--
Bye4now



http://www.indots.nl
http://www.indots.nl/foto

I have the deepest respect for all those people who like me.
 
Thanks and far from useless, whatever the limitations.

No camera, including the D300 and Olympus E-3, which I played with for a few weeks, has Live View perfected anyway.

This is enough for me since I prefer using the viewfinder (one of the best features of the camera) most of the time anyway.

Again, thanks for all the help.

Mark
 
Dr page said:
• Aperture, shutter speed, sensitivity, EV compensation, and exposure
bracket
cannot be changed during Live View.
Click to expand...
Bummer- sounds not very useful than. Does it at least close the aperture to the set value (which is not displayed anywhere?!)? So I can check the DOF?

Also what happens if you change the aperture on the ring on the lens?
 
Either:

1) Hold down the AF button on the back of the camera and the live view will black out as the mirror drops and shutter closes then the AF is engaged and it focuses, then the mirror and shutter go back up and the live view comes back on.

2) Set the camera to manual focus and then you can see the camera focusing whilst you do it. I suggest that you zoom in a little with the rear E-Dial to get critical focus, but not too far as the screen can become pixelated if you go too far.

I generally do not like to do option 1 as I may as well use AF through the VF rather than live view. Using option 2 works quite well and focus is accurate even hand held.
--
Lance B

Originator of the term 'LBA'.

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b
GMT +11hours

 
Thank you, I tried the two English sites I know and the main Japanese site without finding th manual. I just assumed it wasn't out.

Thank you
Russell
 
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