Newbie Av Question

devauxb · 03-31-2011, 06:56 PM

So having just gotten by K-R, I've been playing around with it to get familiar, ....
When I set it to Av mode, I cannot get the F-stop value to go below F16???.
If I set it to auto mode, or night scene, it goes down to F3.6. But I can't get it to go down to that using the e-dial in Av mode.

I got a similar problem in Tv mode, I cannot get the shutter speed to go above 1/5000!

So what rookie mistake am I making? Thanks!

mrjamesabels · 03-31-2011, 07:29 PM

Does your E-dial function for other things? Thats strange.

Verglace · 03-31-2011, 08:51 PM

Will it go down to that setting if you are in M mode?

**Ash** · 03-31-2011, 09:00 PM

Welcome here.
Firstly, do you have a kit lens (18-55) on?
If so, are you in broad daylight with a high ISO setting and auto EV-compensation on?
If so, then the camera won't permit you to open the aperture under those conditions for reasons of overexposure. Same reason as for the fast shutter speed in Tv mode. Change your ISO to auto, or set to 200, then try again.
If not, and this happens also at night, then there's something not right - does the dial work going down from f/32, i.e. being able to dial down to f/16 and that's where it stops? Or can you not dial down at all even if you started at f/32? If so, then it might be the e-dial not registering the downward dialling.

hawk1500 · 03-31-2011, 09:00 PM

Is that the smallest aperture for your lens?

Oh my bad, you mean you can't get to 3.5 and 5.6 and stuff...that is weird.

devauxb · 04-01-2011, 02:46 AM

To confirm, I do have the 18-55 lense. It behaves in the same strange way in M mode as well.

My tests were done indoors, relatively low light.

Further strange behavior, if I turn the E-dial to the left (attempting to reduce F-stop, shutter speed, ect), it will go down a couple of steps, but then start jumping back up (as if I were turning it to the right - which I am not!)

Bad E-dial??

twitch · 04-01-2011, 03:58 AM

Originally posted by devauxb

Bad E-dial??

Unfortunately yes, that is a bad e-dial.

Verglace · 04-01-2011, 04:00 AM

Could be software, try reseting the camera and see if it still happens:
Menu->[WrenchIcon] 3->Reset
If you haven't done so already, try upgrading to the v1.1 firmware.

Regentag · 04-01-2011, 08:28 AM

Some Germans have reported, to turn the e-dial hefty back and forth for a while does improves the function, but sometimes the problem comes back, so they have to sent the camera in for service.

devauxb · 04-01-2011, 03:19 PM

I contact Pentax's support center. They told me that they are familiar with the problem and that it has occurred on 'a few cameras'. They advised me to return the unit. That is what I am going to do.

Frankly, this has me worried about the quality of the camera, may go in a different direction, ....

**Ash** · 04-01-2011, 03:58 PM

I can assure you Pentax cameras are as solidly built as they come - even the entry-level ones.
Go and see for yourself what your money can buy in any other brand...

SpecialK · 04-01-2011, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by devauxb

I contact Pentax's support center. They told me that they are familiar with the problem and that it has occurred on 'a few cameras'. They advised me to return the unit. That is what I am going to do.

Frankly, this has me worried about the quality of the camera, may go in a different direction, ....

If you think only a Pentax camera can have a problem you are in for disappointment in the future.

03-31-2011, 06:56 PM	#1
devauxb New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3	Newbie Av Question So having just gotten by K-R, I've been playing around with it to get familiar, .... When I set it to Av mode, I cannot get the F-stop value to go below F16???. If I set it to auto mode, or night scene, it goes down to F3.6. But I can't get it to go down to that using the e-dial in Av mode. I got a similar problem in Tv mode, I cannot get the shutter speed to go above 1/5000! So what rookie mistake am I making? Thanks!

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03-31-2011, 07:29 PM	#2
mrjamesabels Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NEW JERSEY USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 198	Does your E-dial function for other things? Thats strange.

03-31-2011, 08:51 PM	#3
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	Will it go down to that setting if you are in M mode?

03-31-2011, 09:00 PM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Welcome here. Firstly, do you have a kit lens (18-55) on? If so, are you in broad daylight with a high ISO setting and auto EV-compensation on? If so, then the camera won't permit you to open the aperture under those conditions for reasons of overexposure. Same reason as for the fast shutter speed in Tv mode. Change your ISO to auto, or set to 200, then try again. If not, and this happens also at night, then there's something not right - does the dial work going down from f/32, i.e. being able to dial down to f/16 and that's where it stops? Or can you not dial down at all even if you started at f/32? If so, then it might be the e-dial not registering the downward dialling.

03-31-2011, 09:00 PM	#5
hawk1500 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 270	Is that the smallest aperture for your lens? Oh my bad, you mean you can't get to 3.5 and 5.6 and stuff...that is weird.

04-01-2011, 02:46 AM	#6
devauxb New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3 Original Poster	To confirm, I do have the 18-55 lense. It behaves in the same strange way in M mode as well. My tests were done indoors, relatively low light. Further strange behavior, if I turn the E-dial to the left (attempting to reduce F-stop, shutter speed, ect), it will go down a couple of steps, but then start jumping back up (as if I were turning it to the right - which I am not!) Bad E-dial??

04-01-2011, 03:58 AM	#7
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by devauxb Bad E-dial?? Unfortunately yes, that is a bad e-dial.

04-01-2011, 04:00 AM	#8
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	Could be software, try reseting the camera and see if it still happens: Menu->[WrenchIcon] 3->Reset If you haven't done so already, try upgrading to the v1.1 firmware.

04-01-2011, 08:28 AM	#9
Regentag Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Some Germans have reported, to turn the e-dial hefty back and forth for a while does improves the function, but sometimes the problem comes back, so they have to sent the camera in for service.

04-01-2011, 03:19 PM	#10
devauxb New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3 Original Poster	I contact Pentax's support center. They told me that they are familiar with the problem and that it has occurred on 'a few cameras'. They advised me to return the unit. That is what I am going to do. Frankly, this has me worried about the quality of the camera, may go in a different direction, ....

04-01-2011, 03:58 PM	#11
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	I can assure you Pentax cameras are as solidly built as they come - even the entry-level ones. Go and see for yourself what your money can buy in any other brand...

04-01-2011, 08:11 PM	#12
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Originally posted by devauxb I contact Pentax's support center. They told me that they are familiar with the problem and that it has occurred on 'a few cameras'. They advised me to return the unit. That is what I am going to do. Frankly, this has me worried about the quality of the camera, may go in a different direction, .... If you think only a Pentax camera can have a problem you are in for disappointment in the future.