K-m fast AF

[nouffer]

Hi,

I read some early review that the Pentax K-m has an AF better under low light (some say even better than the K20).

From Photo Malaysia

From Pentax Review

Even RH seems positive about it. Anyone seen similar reports? Hopefully we can upgrade the firmware in K100DS and K10D to enjoy the new benefits. **cross fingers**

What do you guys think?

[flowerpot]

Hard to say, the AF module is the same, but if the alogrithm is hard coded then cannot loh...
so far only 1 firmware upgrade is for the 2sec timer thingie...
but base on other manufacturers experience, firmware seems to be able to tweak the AF performance... so just have to wait and see...

[Zenten]

Originally Posted by flowerpot Hard to say, the AF module is the same, but if the alogrithm is hard coded then cannot loh... so far only 1 firmware upgrade is for the 2sec timer thingie... but base on other manufacturers experience, firmware seems to be able to tweak the AF performance... so just have to wait and see...

I personally felt that my K20D AF got worse after the firmware upgrade .... I was hoping that someone could help me revert back to the original firmware ....

[hjbyeo]

Originally Posted by Zenten I personally felt that my K20D AF got worse after the firmware upgrade .... I was hoping that someone could help me revert back to the original firmware ....

Eh.. I didn't encounter that - Or rather, I didn't make the performance benchmark before making the change (upgraded by the Pentax Forum guys in JPN). I think unless you can quantify that (in specific terms), otherwise, it's just a perception.

Anyone (K20D owners) had that same issue that Zenten faces? I certainly didn't find any difference. And of course, I am not kidding myself ... it's certainly not N or C (top of the range) fast.

Let's hope that the same algorithm that K-M has (provided it's really quantifiably fast), becomes a firmware upgrade for k200 and k20!

[Zenten]

Still waiting for Kevin .......... said that he was checking with Pentax Japan .............

[eow]

franky speaking after handling the d300 n d700.....yr nerve had tuned to them liao

[Zenten]

Originally Posted by eow franky speaking after handling the d300 n d700.....yr nerve had tuned to them liao

I don't have nerves ............. I am a robot .......... need to be reprogrammed ..........

[nouffer]

I just hope don't need to upgrade to benefit from the fast AF in low light. I love my K100DS and rather invest in lens and flash, rather than new bodies.

[night86mare]

Originally Posted by nouffer I just hope don't need to upgrade to benefit from the fast AF in low light. I love my K100DS and rather invest in lens and flash, rather than new bodies.

well, the question is, how often do you need af in low light?

[nouffer]

Originally Posted by night86mare well, the question is, how often do you need af in low light?

Frequent enough to get very irritated. I shoot mostly portraitures with off-camera flash. For indoor shoots, we like to minimize the ambient light so it gets real irritating at times, especially if got shooting buddies using C and N who keep on firing away. Manual focus is not much of an option since my eyesight's not very good to begin with, and it takes too long.

So far, if need to use manual focus, i shoot at f8.... at the expense of making the picture look flat.

For short-term measure, I saw this video in youtube where they use video light mounted on the hotshoe to compensate for the AF issue. I'll try that or maybe i get those lantern torch lights.

Too bad i dun know DIY..... otherwise i do this. seems to be the perfect solution for now.

http://prodmod.com/2007/12/15/make-y...-camerabright/