Note to Pentax, You Broke the 4 Way Switch on the K5

Wheatfield · 10-25-2010, 08:06 PM

It's like Deja Vu all over again.

Again, Pentax didn't get it right with the 4 way controller. Set it to focus point selection and happily take pictures. Need to change a setting under the rocker switch?
Hold the OK button for a full second (the camera beeps) and then you can access the settings.
But the darned thing doesn't default back when you press the OK button to close out your settings.
You have to press the OK button to close, and then press it again (for a full second) to get back to focus point selection.
Granted, it's nowhere near as broken as it was with the K7, but hopefully they'll find a way to do a firmware adjust to fix it.

**Ash** · 10-25-2010, 08:22 PM

Good suggestion Wheatfield. And the earlier it's mentioned to Pentax, the more likely something will be done about it.

kittykat46 · 10-25-2010, 08:46 PM

I frequently switch between the two modes - AF point selection and 4-Way control selections.
Yes, a full second press on the OK button kind of gets in the way.

dgaies · 10-25-2010, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by kittykat46

I frequently switch between the two modes - AF point selection and 4-Way control selections.
Yes, a full second press on the OK button kind of gets in the way.

Agreed. I'm not crazy about the full second press to toggle either.

Wheatfield · 10-25-2010, 09:04 PM

It's probably closer to 3/4 second. It's still broken.

HGMonaro · 10-25-2010, 09:26 PM

sounds yuk! don't like holding a button down for a lengthy (1 sec will seem like a long time when you're in a hurry!) time. Probably means you have to watch the screen too to see when it activates.

inferno10 · 10-25-2010, 09:29 PM

Is there no option in the Custom screens to adjust it?

- Jason

dgaies · 10-25-2010, 09:29 PM

Originally posted by HGMonaro

sounds yuk! don't like holding a button down for a lengthy (1 sec will seem like a long time when you're in a hurry!) time. Probably means you have to watch the screen too to see when it activates.

There is a beep as well.

HGMonaro · 10-25-2010, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by dgaies

There is a beep as well.

oops... missed that part, however that introduces another problem... unwanted noise at times...

Wheatfield · 10-25-2010, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by HGMonaro

oops... missed that part, however that introduces another problem... unwanted noise at times...

They put a volume control on it, so you can turn the beep way down. Mine is set so that it is just barely audible when my eye is at the viewfinder.
So far, the camera seems really well thought out. This is the only annoyance I've found so far.

Wheatfield · 10-25-2010, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by inferno10

Is there no option in the Custom screens to adjust it?

- Jason

Not that I've found. They added an option with the K7 as part of (or possibly all of) the first firmware revision.
Hopefully they'll fix this fairly quickly as well.

sterretje · 10-26-2010, 01:23 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Hold the OK button for a full second (the camera beeps) and then you can access the settings.

My K5 has not arrived yet so I can not test it but can't one not work around it by flipping the AF focusing area to center focus when you want to acces the settings? Only risk is that you might forget to set it back.

brecklundin · 10-26-2010, 03:51 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

It's like Deja Vu all over again.

Again, Pentax didn't get it right with the 4 way controller. Set it to focus point selection and happily take pictures. Need to change a setting under the rocker switch?
Hold the OK button for a full second (the camera beeps) and then you can access the settings.
But the darned thing doesn't default back when you press the OK button to close out your settings.
You have to press the OK button to close, and then press it again (for a full second) to get back to focus point selection.
Granted, it's nowhere near as broken as it was with the K7, but hopefully they'll find a way to do a firmware adjust to fix it.

not bad for such a great $1600 value, huh?

**dadipentak** · 10-26-2010, 05:02 AM

Hat tip to you beta testers--I'm hoping you will have found all the bugs and gotten them resolved before I buy ;~)

RBellavance · 10-26-2010, 05:04 AM

Oh. I had not thought of that problem when I read the manual. This is very bad. Hopefully they'll adresse this with a firmware update, so we can choose whether a single "Ok" press returns to center AF *or* activates the 4-way pad functions. Personally, I have no use for "return to center AF"...

10-25-2010, 08:06 PM	#1
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,987	Note to Pentax, You Broke the 4 Way Switch on the K5 It's like Deja Vu all over again. Again, Pentax didn't get it right with the 4 way controller. Set it to focus point selection and happily take pictures. Need to change a setting under the rocker switch? Hold the OK button for a full second (the camera beeps) and then you can access the settings. But the darned thing doesn't default back when you press the OK button to close out your settings. You have to press the OK button to close, and then press it again (for a full second) to get back to focus point selection. Granted, it's nowhere near as broken as it was with the K7, but hopefully they'll find a way to do a firmware adjust to fix it.

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10-25-2010, 08:22 PM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Good suggestion Wheatfield. And the earlier it's mentioned to Pentax, the more likely something will be done about it.

10-25-2010, 08:46 PM	#3
kittykat46 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 923	I frequently switch between the two modes - AF point selection and 4-Way control selections. Yes, a full second press on the OK button kind of gets in the way.

10-25-2010, 09:01 PM	#4
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by kittykat46 I frequently switch between the two modes - AF point selection and 4-Way control selections. Yes, a full second press on the OK button kind of gets in the way. Agreed. I'm not crazy about the full second press to toggle either.

10-25-2010, 09:04 PM	#5
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,987 Original Poster	It's probably closer to 3/4 second. It's still broken.

10-25-2010, 09:26 PM	#6
HGMonaro Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melb. Aust Posts: 840	sounds yuk! don't like holding a button down for a lengthy (1 sec will seem like a long time when you're in a hurry!) time. Probably means you have to watch the screen too to see when it activates.

10-25-2010, 09:29 PM	#7
inferno10 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 342	Is there no option in the Custom screens to adjust it? - Jason

10-25-2010, 09:29 PM	#8
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by HGMonaro sounds yuk! don't like holding a button down for a lengthy (1 sec will seem like a long time when you're in a hurry!) time. Probably means you have to watch the screen too to see when it activates. There is a beep as well.

10-25-2010, 09:37 PM	#9
HGMonaro Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melb. Aust Posts: 840	Originally posted by dgaies There is a beep as well. oops... missed that part, however that introduces another problem... unwanted noise at times...

10-25-2010, 09:41 PM	#10
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,987 Original Poster	Originally posted by HGMonaro oops... missed that part, however that introduces another problem... unwanted noise at times... They put a volume control on it, so you can turn the beep way down. Mine is set so that it is just barely audible when my eye is at the viewfinder. So far, the camera seems really well thought out. This is the only annoyance I've found so far.

10-25-2010, 09:43 PM	#11
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,987 Original Poster	Originally posted by inferno10 Is there no option in the Custom screens to adjust it? - Jason Not that I've found. They added an option with the K7 as part of (or possibly all of) the first firmware revision. Hopefully they'll fix this fairly quickly as well.

10-26-2010, 01:23 AM	#12
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by Wheatfield Hold the OK button for a full second (the camera beeps) and then you can access the settings. My K5 has not arrived yet so I can not test it but can't one not work around it by flipping the AF focusing area to center focus when you want to acces the settings? Only risk is that you might forget to set it back.

10-26-2010, 03:51 AM	#13
brecklundin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,674	Originally posted by Wheatfield It's like Deja Vu all over again. Again, Pentax didn't get it right with the 4 way controller. Set it to focus point selection and happily take pictures. Need to change a setting under the rocker switch? Hold the OK button for a full second (the camera beeps) and then you can access the settings. But the darned thing doesn't default back when you press the OK button to close out your settings. You have to press the OK button to close, and then press it again (for a full second) to get back to focus point selection. Granted, it's nowhere near as broken as it was with the K7, but hopefully they'll find a way to do a firmware adjust to fix it. not bad for such a great $1600 value, huh?

10-26-2010, 05:02 AM	#14
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Hat tip to you beta testers--I'm hoping you will have found all the bugs and gotten them resolved before I buy ;~)

10-26-2010, 05:04 AM	#15
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	Oh. I had not thought of that problem when I read the manual. This is very bad. Hopefully they'll adresse this with a firmware update, so we can choose whether a single "Ok" press returns to center AF or activates the 4-way pad functions. Personally, I have no use for "return to center AF"...