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GeneV · 11-12-2012, 11:26 AM

Sometimes new technology adds features that get away from me. This weekend I was shooting an awards ceremony. I had an area set up in the corner with light stands and a background for the winners. I use wireless triggers of the low cost variety, and they work 95% of the time sync'd at 1/180 at longer distances, but 100% of the time at 1/125, so I generally shoot in manual at 1/125 rather than X mode. This place was dark, and ambient light was not an issue anyway.

Halfway through, my K5 would no longer allow me to set 1/125 as a shutter speed. After muttering a few words to myself about sending it for service, I set it at X and finished, luckily without missing a sync. ( I was only a few feet from my strobes). Back at the house, I opened the manual for my year-old K5 and found the issue in part of the manual I had missed. I had somehow pressed the green button, and changed the program line. Manual mode has a program line? I disabled this feature.

I've had the feeling that the K5 was a bit quirky, compared to the K20d. Perhaps the answer is to RTFM. How many other little "features" are out there in this and other advanced cameras, waiting to trip up those of us with multiple bodies who don't know the depths of all our menu trees?

Zafar Iqbal · 11-12-2012, 11:52 AM

That's why you just have to read the manual

I wouldn't say there's anything illogical/annoying/wupsie about latest Pentax dSLRs. I've seen books and workshops for Canikons. A concept I kind of find funny, but perhaps I'm just igno/arrogant on this area.

**blackcloudbrew** · 11-12-2012, 12:03 PM

With all of these RTFM or RRTFM will answer a lot of questions. Been there, done that.

Docrwm · 11-12-2012, 12:08 PM

I understand and have had similar issues with my K-5. That is why I have the manual in PDF and available on both my iPad and phone for viewing in the field. I suggest that might help in the future.

GeneV · 11-12-2012, 12:36 PM

I have read the manual several times. The manual is helpful, but at close to 3/4" thick, it is hard to carry around in your head, and reading something in a dark hall in the middle of a shoot is also not always possible. It seems to me that a mode which defaults it to work like a previous model would help--especially when you are using both in the same shoot.

I'm just curious, but why do you need a program line in manual mode, and why does it need to limit the available shutter speeds?

**blackcloudbrew** · 11-12-2012, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by GeneV

I have read the manual several times. The manual is helpful, but at close to 3/4" thick, it is hard to carry around in your head, and reading something in a dark hall in the middle of a shoot is also not always possible. It seems to me that a mode which defaults it to work like a previous model would help--especially when you are using both in the same shoot.

Couldn't agree more.

Docrwm · 11-12-2012, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by GeneV

I have read the manual several times. The manual is helpful, but at close to 3/4" thick, it is hard to carry around in your head, and reading something in a dark hall in the middle of a shoot is also not always possible. It seems to me that a mode which defaults it to work like a previous model would help--especially when you are using both in the same shoot.

I'm just curious, but why do you need a program line in manual mode, and why does it need to limit the available shutter speeds?

Just FYI, the PDF is searchable (unlike the hardcopy) and my iPad and phone are not hard to read in a dark hall given that they are both lighted.

RonHendriks1966 · 11-12-2012, 02:14 PM

Just change your cameraset to one camera and buy K-5 II extra.

**monochrome** · 11-12-2012, 02:21 PM

The situation is made even worse when owning one of the mid-market cameras (K-01, K30) and one of the top-market cameras (K5, K5II). There is enough variation between the controls and menus to make even the similarities dissimilar.

Heaven forfend one should also continue to use a K10 or K20 body from time to time since it still works and still does some things better than a newer model.

These are, however (IMHO) relatively small complaints.

laredo53 · 11-12-2012, 04:08 PM

I have both the K5 and the K7, so far I haven't encountered any of your problems, yet. I guess thats why they say just keep shooting. That's how we learn to take better pictures. Lucky for you, you were able to figure out your problems and correct them.

GeneV · 11-12-2012, 04:45 PM

Almost not a complaint but an observation.

11-12-2012, 11:26 AM	#1
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Sometimes one K5 feature too many Sometimes new technology adds features that get away from me. This weekend I was shooting an awards ceremony. I had an area set up in the corner with light stands and a background for the winners. I use wireless triggers of the low cost variety, and they work 95% of the time sync'd at 1/180 at longer distances, but 100% of the time at 1/125, so I generally shoot in manual at 1/125 rather than X mode. This place was dark, and ambient light was not an issue anyway. Halfway through, my K5 would no longer allow me to set 1/125 as a shutter speed. After muttering a few words to myself about sending it for service, I set it at X and finished, luckily without missing a sync. ( I was only a few feet from my strobes). Back at the house, I opened the manual for my year-old K5 and found the issue in part of the manual I had missed. I had somehow pressed the green button, and changed the program line. Manual mode has a program line? I disabled this feature. I've had the feeling that the K5 was a bit quirky, compared to the K20d. Perhaps the answer is to RTFM. How many other little "features" are out there in this and other advanced cameras, waiting to trip up those of us with multiple bodies who don't know the depths of all our menu trees?

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11-12-2012, 11:52 AM	#2
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	That's why you just have to read the manual I wouldn't say there's anything illogical/annoying/wupsie about latest Pentax dSLRs. I've seen books and workshops for Canikons. A concept I kind of find funny, but perhaps I'm just igno/arrogant on this area.

11-12-2012, 12:03 PM	#3
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	With all of these RTFM or RRTFM will answer a lot of questions. Been there, done that.

11-12-2012, 12:08 PM	#4
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	I understand and have had similar issues with my K-5. That is why I have the manual in PDF and available on both my iPad and phone for viewing in the field. I suggest that might help in the future.

11-12-2012, 12:36 PM	#5
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830 Original Poster	I have read the manual several times. The manual is helpful, but at close to 3/4" thick, it is hard to carry around in your head, and reading something in a dark hall in the middle of a shoot is also not always possible. It seems to me that a mode which defaults it to work like a previous model would help--especially when you are using both in the same shoot. I'm just curious, but why do you need a program line in manual mode, and why does it need to limit the available shutter speeds?

11-12-2012, 12:39 PM	#6
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	Originally posted by GeneV I have read the manual several times. The manual is helpful, but at close to 3/4" thick, it is hard to carry around in your head, and reading something in a dark hall in the middle of a shoot is also not always possible. It seems to me that a mode which defaults it to work like a previous model would help--especially when you are using both in the same shoot. Couldn't agree more.

11-12-2012, 01:51 PM	#7
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by GeneV I have read the manual several times. The manual is helpful, but at close to 3/4" thick, it is hard to carry around in your head, and reading something in a dark hall in the middle of a shoot is also not always possible. It seems to me that a mode which defaults it to work like a previous model would help--especially when you are using both in the same shoot. I'm just curious, but why do you need a program line in manual mode, and why does it need to limit the available shutter speeds? Just FYI, the PDF is searchable (unlike the hardcopy) and my iPad and phone are not hard to read in a dark hall given that they are both lighted.

11-12-2012, 02:14 PM	#8
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Just change your cameraset to one camera and buy K-5 II extra.

11-12-2012, 02:21 PM	#9
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	The situation is made even worse when owning one of the mid-market cameras (K-01, K30) and one of the top-market cameras (K5, K5II). There is enough variation between the controls and menus to make even the similarities dissimilar. Heaven forfend one should also continue to use a K10 or K20 body from time to time since it still works and still does some things better than a newer model. These are, however (IMHO) relatively small complaints.

11-12-2012, 04:08 PM	#10
laredo53 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 60	I have both the K5 and the K7, so far I haven't encountered any of your problems, yet. I guess thats why they say just keep shooting. That's how we learn to take better pictures. Lucky for you, you were able to figure out your problems and correct them.

11-12-2012, 04:45 PM	#11
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830 Original Poster	Almost not a complaint but an observation.

Sometimes one K5 feature too many

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