5 USER modes - how do you use them?

**jbinpg** · 04-03-2011, 03:19 PM

@Hound Tooth - What do you have checked in the Memory setting?

**dadipentak** · 04-03-2011, 03:35 PM

I have yet to think of any way this functionality might be useful to me. It's like texting in that regard.

**Ash** · 04-03-2011, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by dadipentak

I have yet to think of any way this functionality might be useful to me. It's like texting in that regard.

You don't text? You must have an unlimited talk plan then.

The USER modes are really useful in circumstances where you have multiple predetermined conditions you can set your camera to in advance and quickly switch to as required. Of course, not everyone would use these, but many including myself would find these quite handy and definitely practical.

**dadipentak** · 04-03-2011, 04:37 PM

Originally posted by Ash

You don't text? You must have an unlimited talk plan then.

The USER modes are really useful in circumstances where you have multiple predetermined conditions you can set your camera to in advance and quickly switch to as required. Of course, not everyone would use these, but many including myself would find these quite handy and definitely practical.

Oh I'm sure others have found good uses for user modes. I just haven't encountered a need to which it would be the answer.

Oh, and I use about 200 minutes a year on my prepaid cell phone--if you suspect we live on different planets, you be right.

**rod_grant** · 04-03-2011, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by Ash

You don't text? You must have an unlimited talk plan then

I don't text either (a phone is a phone is a phone IMO)
On the other hand, I do get free calls on VOIP so I can talk to people freely.

I haven't had a chance to get out much since the K5 arrived, but have anticipated using D Range by setting up the setting as a user. Will probably set up a wife user sometime (and then spend some time training her to use it!) (She has lots of admirable qualities, but technology is not at the top of the list) (and she does do well with her Canon P&S)

Hound Tooth · 04-03-2011, 10:41 PM

Originally posted by jbinpg

@Hound Tooth - What do you have checked in the Memory setting?

Everything except cross processing, digital filter an HDR (ie. the default memory settings).

Not that that's relevant, since the "Memory" item is inaccessible when using a User mode.

You can try it yourself: go to a User mode where you've saved something, change the ISO, then turn the camera off. When you turn it back on, the ISO is back to the saved setting, not what you changed it to. That's really the whole point of User modes, and I have nothing against it. I just wish it didn't do that when the camera turns off by itself.

pop4 · 04-03-2011, 11:03 PM

Originally posted by dadipentak

I have yet to think of any way this functionality might be useful to me.

You're not the only one, I've never touched the user mode in any of the Pentax dSLRs that I've had (K10D, K-7, K-5).

simico · 04-04-2011, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by Ash

The USER modes are really useful in circumstances where you have multiple predetermined conditions you can set your camera to in advance and quickly switch to as required.

Yep. I find it great that for macro work I just turn the dial to USER instead of manually changing all the settings (disable SR, set lower ISO limits, de-couple AF from shutter release button, etc). Same for "sports mode" (TAv mode, higher ISO limits, etc).

In my opinion it's still better to have the option there even if you don't use it (yet) than to not have something that you'd like to use. There are many features / functions that I don't care about, on the other hand I'm sure lots of other people use and appreciate those

**x-country** · 04-05-2011, 10:59 AM

I think that the saveable and name-editable USER settings on the K-5 is actually one of their greater improvements since going digital. As I see it I think Pentax should make space for even more.

testdasi · 04-05-2011, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by x-country

I think that the saveable and name-editable USER settings on the K-5 is actually one of their greater improvements since going digital. As I see it I think Pentax should make space for even more.

Or better, have User A and User B (like the Panasonic GH1 has C and C1-2-3 settings.).

SoulAsylum · 04-06-2011, 04:11 AM

I have a puzzle that i can choose M in user mode, but I also can get a larger iso range expecialy iso80 , so Why can't I use M in user mode ?

**x-country** · 04-06-2011, 04:27 AM

Originally posted by testdasi

Or better, have User A and User B (like the Panasonic GH1 has C and C1-2-3 settings.).

That's just great!

bdery · 04-06-2011, 04:51 AM

On my K20D, I wish the user setting could memorise the program line so that by switching from P to User I could easily switch from Normal program line to MTF program line. Now THAT would be convenient.

I find that with Pentax's Hyper-P mode, I essentially have P-A-T all in one, so I exclusively use P and M.

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04-03-2011, 03:19 PM	#16
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	@Hound Tooth - What do you have checked in the Memory setting?

04-03-2011, 03:35 PM	#17
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	I have yet to think of any way this functionality might be useful to me. It's like texting in that regard.

04-03-2011, 04:19 PM	#18
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Originally posted by dadipentak I have yet to think of any way this functionality might be useful to me. It's like texting in that regard. You don't text? You must have an unlimited talk plan then. The USER modes are really useful in circumstances where you have multiple predetermined conditions you can set your camera to in advance and quickly switch to as required. Of course, not everyone would use these, but many including myself would find these quite handy and definitely practical.

04-03-2011, 04:37 PM	#19
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by Ash You don't text? You must have an unlimited talk plan then. The USER modes are really useful in circumstances where you have multiple predetermined conditions you can set your camera to in advance and quickly switch to as required. Of course, not everyone would use these, but many including myself would find these quite handy and definitely practical. Oh I'm sure others have found good uses for user modes. I just haven't encountered a need to which it would be the answer. Oh, and I use about 200 minutes a year on my prepaid cell phone--if you suspect we live on different planets, you be right.

04-03-2011, 04:43 PM	#20
rod_grant Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wangaratta, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,951	Originally posted by Ash You don't text? You must have an unlimited talk plan then I don't text either (a phone is a phone is a phone IMO) On the other hand, I do get free calls on VOIP so I can talk to people freely. I haven't had a chance to get out much since the K5 arrived, but have anticipated using D Range by setting up the setting as a user. Will probably set up a wife user sometime (and then spend some time training her to use it!) (She has lots of admirable qualities, but technology is not at the top of the list) (and she does do well with her Canon P&S)

04-03-2011, 10:41 PM	#21
Hound Tooth Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston, VT Posts: 268	Originally posted by jbinpg @Hound Tooth - What do you have checked in the Memory setting? Everything except cross processing, digital filter an HDR (ie. the default memory settings). Not that that's relevant, since the "Memory" item is inaccessible when using a User mode. You can try it yourself: go to a User mode where you've saved something, change the ISO, then turn the camera off. When you turn it back on, the ISO is back to the saved setting, not what you changed it to. That's really the whole point of User modes, and I have nothing against it. I just wish it didn't do that when the camera turns off by itself.

04-03-2011, 11:03 PM	#22
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Originally posted by dadipentak I have yet to think of any way this functionality might be useful to me. You're not the only one, I've never touched the user mode in any of the Pentax dSLRs that I've had (K10D, K-7, K-5).

04-04-2011, 03:42 AM	#23
simico Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Budapest Posts: 821	Originally posted by Ash The USER modes are really useful in circumstances where you have multiple predetermined conditions you can set your camera to in advance and quickly switch to as required. Yep. I find it great that for macro work I just turn the dial to USER instead of manually changing all the settings (disable SR, set lower ISO limits, de-couple AF from shutter release button, etc). Same for "sports mode" (TAv mode, higher ISO limits, etc). In my opinion it's still better to have the option there even if you don't use it (yet) than to not have something that you'd like to use. There are many features / functions that I don't care about, on the other hand I'm sure lots of other people use and appreciate those

04-05-2011, 10:59 AM	#24
x-country Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Frösön (Östersund) Posts: 69	I think that the saveable and name-editable USER settings on the K-5 is actually one of their greater improvements since going digital. As I see it I think Pentax should make space for even more.

04-05-2011, 11:20 AM	#25
testdasi Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: London Posts: 35	Originally posted by x-country I think that the saveable and name-editable USER settings on the K-5 is actually one of their greater improvements since going digital. As I see it I think Pentax should make space for even more. Or better, have User A and User B (like the Panasonic GH1 has C and C1-2-3 settings.).

04-06-2011, 04:11 AM	#26
SoulAsylum Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 25	I have a puzzle that i can choose M in user mode, but I also can get a larger iso range expecialy iso80 , so Why can't I use M in user mode ?

04-06-2011, 04:27 AM	#27
x-country Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Frösön (Östersund) Posts: 69	Originally posted by testdasi Or better, have User A and User B (like the Panasonic GH1 has C and C1-2-3 settings.). That's just great!

04-06-2011, 04:51 AM	#28
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	On my K20D, I wish the user setting could memorise the program line so that by switching from P to User I could easily switch from Normal program line to MTF program line. Now THAT would be convenient. I find that with Pentax's Hyper-P mode, I essentially have P-A-T all in one, so I exclusively use P and M.