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sadatoni · 12-31-2012, 06:49 AM

Last Saturday, I decided to take a picture of the snow coming down. Did the normal power on, press the shutter half-way, adjust the f-stop and ISO so I didn't have to use a tripod, took the picture, and it was severely overexposed. 1/20th @ ISO around 12,000 (I forget the exact number), center weighted metering. At first I thought the entire picture was white, but I later found a dark area that may be a car.

Took the SD card out, put it back in, went back outside, this time the metering was right and the picture came out fine.

What happened? Firmware is at 1.13.

elliott · 12-31-2012, 07:45 AM

Can you post the pictures and tell us where you metered?

stevebrot · 12-31-2012, 08:19 AM

Yes, post the picture and leave EXIF intact, if at all possible.

Most likely is an issue with the SD card. Re-format might be in order.

sadatoni · 12-31-2012, 08:34 AM

I'll do that when I get home from work. SD card had been formatted a few days before taking that first picture. I wonder if it might have been the contacts between the lens and the camera ("Pentax" 18-250).

sadatoni · 12-31-2012, 11:00 AM

IMGP0178 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Metering said this was fine. Obviously it was wrong.

A few minutes later, after taking out the SD card and putting it back in, taking a test photo in the living room, then back outside:

IMGP0180 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

And for grins, the next day:

IMGP0181 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

(PEF files processed and resized by Faststone Image Viewer - I use it for quick and dirties)

snostorm · 12-31-2012, 12:26 PM

Hi sadatoni,

Personally, I don't sweat single exposure anomalies that aren't repeatable. There are too many things that can cause this -- like the mentioned possible SD card problem.

One other possibility is that you might have been shooting indoors, and accidentally pressed the AEL button, locking the exposure settings for a dark scene, which drastically overexposed the outdoor scene. When you removed the SD card, the camera reset and disabled the AEL, so the camera returned to normal functioning. Unless you are absolutely sure that the asterisk (AEL indicator) in the VF was not on when you took the outdoor shot, then you really can't be sure what might have happened.

There are many possible inadvertent user errors with today's digital cameras. I consider one-shot malfunctions to be my error, and would only blame the camera if it was repeatable, and I was certain that I've done my part to get things right.

Scott

SpecialK · 12-31-2012, 01:01 PM

I've had a very few odd exposures on one day - some nearly black, some about 4 stops over, but not enough to be a bother. About as frequent as freezing (none in months), and mirror flops (which I never had for the first 2 years, then a little flurry).

snofox · 12-31-2012, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by snostorm

Hi sadatoni,

Personally, I don't sweat single exposure anomalies that aren't repeatable. There are too many things that can cause this -- like the mentioned possible SD card problem.

Scott

I've had that happen once or twice with a K20D that I have used a lot over four years. I can't duplicate it, and it is extremely rare. You don't have a problem, in my opinion. Enjoy the snow and your camera.

sadatoni · 01-01-2013, 08:29 AM

I must have hit the AEL. Never had it happen with the K10D or K20D. It sure explains the results.

12-31-2012, 06:49 AM	#1
sadatoni Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 87	K-5 Odd Metering Flub Last Saturday, I decided to take a picture of the snow coming down. Did the normal power on, press the shutter half-way, adjust the f-stop and ISO so I didn't have to use a tripod, took the picture, and it was severely overexposed. 1/20th @ ISO around 12,000 (I forget the exact number), center weighted metering. At first I thought the entire picture was white, but I later found a dark area that may be a car. Took the SD card out, put it back in, went back outside, this time the metering was right and the picture came out fine. What happened? Firmware is at 1.13.

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12-31-2012, 07:45 AM	#2
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Can you post the pictures and tell us where you metered?

12-31-2012, 08:19 AM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Yes, post the picture and leave EXIF intact, if at all possible. Most likely is an issue with the SD card. Re-format might be in order.

12-31-2012, 08:34 AM	#4
sadatoni Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	I'll do that when I get home from work. SD card had been formatted a few days before taking that first picture. I wonder if it might have been the contacts between the lens and the camera ("Pentax" 18-250).

12-31-2012, 11:00 AM	#5
sadatoni Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	IMGP0178 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! Metering said this was fine. Obviously it was wrong. A few minutes later, after taking out the SD card and putting it back in, taking a test photo in the living room, then back outside: IMGP0180 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! And for grins, the next day: IMGP0181 \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! (PEF files processed and resized by Faststone Image Viewer - I use it for quick and dirties)

12-31-2012, 12:26 PM	#6
snostorm Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago suburb, IL, USA Posts: 1,535	Hi sadatoni, Personally, I don't sweat single exposure anomalies that aren't repeatable. There are too many things that can cause this -- like the mentioned possible SD card problem. One other possibility is that you might have been shooting indoors, and accidentally pressed the AEL button, locking the exposure settings for a dark scene, which drastically overexposed the outdoor scene. When you removed the SD card, the camera reset and disabled the AEL, so the camera returned to normal functioning. Unless you are absolutely sure that the asterisk (AEL indicator) in the VF was not on when you took the outdoor shot, then you really can't be sure what might have happened. There are many possible inadvertent user errors with today's digital cameras. I consider one-shot malfunctions to be my error, and would only blame the camera if it was repeatable, and I was certain that I've done my part to get things right. Scott

12-31-2012, 01:01 PM	#7
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	I've had a very few odd exposures on one day - some nearly black, some about 4 stops over, but not enough to be a bother. About as frequent as freezing (none in months), and mirror flops (which I never had for the first 2 years, then a little flurry).

12-31-2012, 01:29 PM	#8
snofox Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fredericton New Brunswick Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 334	Originally posted by snostorm Hi sadatoni, Personally, I don't sweat single exposure anomalies that aren't repeatable. There are too many things that can cause this -- like the mentioned possible SD card problem. Scott I've had that happen once or twice with a K20D that I have used a lot over four years. I can't duplicate it, and it is extremely rare. You don't have a problem, in my opinion. Enjoy the snow and your camera.

01-01-2013, 08:29 AM	#9
sadatoni Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 87 Original Poster	I must have hit the AEL. Never had it happen with the K10D or K20D. It sure explains the results.

K-5 Odd Metering Flub

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