Manual mode on my K10D is acting like TAv mode

Love my K10D · 12-21-2011, 04:15 PM

Hey folks,

I own a Pentax K10D that i've been shooting with for over 3 years (i love it). In the past 6 months i've had an intermitent problem with the manual mode that has become more and more previlant and has now become permanent. This is a problem because i do 90% of my shooting in manual mode.

Namely, when i switch into M mode and try to indpendantly adjust my apature or shutter settings the camera automatically adjust the other (shutter when i adjust apature, or apature when i adjust shutter). So, in effect, it acts just like its in TAv mode. I have, at times, been able to switch between modes a few times and succesfully get the M mode to work properly but that no longer works. Its as if the M mode is not engaging and the camera is staying in TAv mode instead. I have tried reseting the camera to factory defaults with no change in the situation.

Has anyone else ever experienced this problem? Can anyone sugest things i could try? I fear that the body may need to be sent in for repair but the cost of doing so is high enough that i'd probably be better off just investing in a new body.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

vonBaloney · 12-21-2011, 04:32 PM

Not the same problem, but my K10D needed the "aperture control block" replaced (it was only intermittently stopping down the aperture to chosen setting -- most pictures would be taken wide-open no matter what), which sounded like a fairly big deal, but only cost $113 from CRIS. On their estimate form for the K10D, it now just says $260 no matter what (apparently this is due to Pentax guidelines for older models, and is about what the camera is worth fully working), so I inquired about that and the guy said it would actually likely be less and to send it in. Turned out to be even less than what he guessed (I was willing to go to about $160 to get it repaired). Anyway, definitely might be worth sending in, and they will also give all the other systems a once over.

Love my K10D · 12-21-2011, 04:39 PM

I guess i'll have to bit the bullet and send it in for an estimate. Good to hear that the baseline price isn't charged as a default. I assumed it would be.

darrenleow · 12-21-2011, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by Love my K10D

Hey folks,

I own a Pentax K10D that i've been shooting with for over 3 years (i love it). In the past 6 months i've had an intermitent problem with the manual mode that has become more and more previlant and has now become permanent. This is a problem because i do 90% of my shooting in manual mode.

Namely, when i switch into M mode and try to indpendantly adjust my apature or shutter settings the camera automatically adjust the other (shutter when i adjust apature, or apature when i adjust shutter). So, in effect, it acts just like its in TAv mode. I have, at times, been able to switch between modes a few times and succesfully get the M mode to work properly but that no longer works. Its as if the M mode is not engaging and the camera is staying in TAv mode instead. I have tried reseting the camera to factory defaults with no change in the situation.

Has anyone else ever experienced this problem? Can anyone sugest things i could try? I fear that the body may need to be sent in for repair but the cost of doing so is high enough that i'd probably be better off just investing in a new body.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Doesn't sound like TAv mode. In TAv mode, you can also select aperture and shutter speeds independently, just like M mode, but the ISO will vary, while in M mode, the ISO is fixed. This behavior sounds a bit more like Hyper Program mode.

What it does sound like is that you might have engaged the AE lock in M mode, so the other setting changes as you change one setting to maintain the same exposure. Do you see a * lit in the viewfinder?

Can you turn on Auto ISO? If you cannot, then you are in M mode (I think)

slip · 12-21-2011, 06:28 PM

There is a setting in the menu that you can turn on or off. It is called something like "automatic EV compensation" try to find it and turn this off and see what happens. also, turn on or off the aperture ring permission as well. My wife has my camera right now... if I can check it out soon I will.

good luck

randy

noblepa · 12-22-2011, 09:00 PM

That sounds like hyper-manual mode. Normally, hyper-manual mode is invoked by adjusting for "proper" exposure and then pressing the AE-L button. From that point on, when you adjust the shutter speed or aperture, the camera will automatically adjust the other to maintain an equivalent exposure. Its actually a very useful feature.

However, as useful as hyper-manaul mode is, it shouldn't be doing it unless you ask for it. Check your technique. Are you inadvertantly bumping the AE-L button? Check the AE-L button itself. It may be sticking, causing it to turn on by itself. Perhaps a bit of dirt has wedged in beside the button.

Hyper-manual mode is described on pg. 158 of the User's Guide.

Kev1n · 09-29-2012, 02:21 AM

Just experienced this problem myself - I do think it is a problem with the AE-L button, as when I am reviewing images I am frequently asked if I want to protect or unprotect all images, as if I'd pressed the AE-L button, which I had not. Any tips on how to get this fixed?

Northern Soul · 09-29-2012, 04:16 AM

My K10d mode dial packed up too - my thread is here https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/115731-faulty-k10d-mode-dial.html

Can you use USER mode as a second manual mode?

**Canada_Rockies** · 09-29-2012, 08:14 PM

Originally posted by Northern Soul

My K10d mode dial packed up too - my thread is here https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/115731-faulty-k10d-mode-dial.html

Can you use USER mode as a second manual mode?

I use my USER mode as a manual mode set up the way I like for my M 400/5.6, ISO, etc. but I don't think it overrides anything else such as the AE-L to lock the exposure level. Use a loupe or magnifying glass to check for a hairline crack. That's what showed up when I fell on my camera, and I had to have the top plate replaced.

BJ Gallenberg · 11-06-2013, 11:44 AM

I have a K-30, and the M mode was displaying as TAv on the display screen (sounds like the same problem that started this thread years ago). I was trying to figure out what was wrong with the camera. I had my ISO set for Auto, and while in Manual mode, this is exactly the same settings for TAv mode (Tv/Av control, ISO automatic). By changing my ISO to any specific one (other than auto), the display correctly showed Manual mode.

12-21-2011, 04:15 PM	#1
Love my K10D Guest	Manual mode on my K10D is acting like TAv mode Hey folks, I own a Pentax K10D that i've been shooting with for over 3 years (i love it). In the past 6 months i've had an intermitent problem with the manual mode that has become more and more previlant and has now become permanent. This is a problem because i do 90% of my shooting in manual mode. Namely, when i switch into M mode and try to indpendantly adjust my apature or shutter settings the camera automatically adjust the other (shutter when i adjust apature, or apature when i adjust shutter). So, in effect, it acts just like its in TAv mode. I have, at times, been able to switch between modes a few times and succesfully get the M mode to work properly but that no longer works. Its as if the M mode is not engaging and the camera is staying in TAv mode instead. I have tried reseting the camera to factory defaults with no change in the situation. Has anyone else ever experienced this problem? Can anyone sugest things i could try? I fear that the body may need to be sent in for repair but the cost of doing so is high enough that i'd probably be better off just investing in a new body. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

12-21-2011, 04:32 PM	#2
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Not the same problem, but my K10D needed the "aperture control block" replaced (it was only intermittently stopping down the aperture to chosen setting -- most pictures would be taken wide-open no matter what), which sounded like a fairly big deal, but only cost $113 from CRIS. On their estimate form for the K10D, it now just says $260 no matter what (apparently this is due to Pentax guidelines for older models, and is about what the camera is worth fully working), so I inquired about that and the guy said it would actually likely be less and to send it in. Turned out to be even less than what he guessed (I was willing to go to about $160 to get it repaired). Anyway, definitely might be worth sending in, and they will also give all the other systems a once over. Last edited by vonBaloney; 12-21-2011 at 04:49 PM.

12-21-2011, 04:39 PM	#3
Love my K10D Guest	Thanks I guess i'll have to bit the bullet and send it in for an estimate. Good to hear that the baseline price isn't charged as a default. I assumed it would be.

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12-21-2011, 04:40 PM	#4
darrenleow Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 541	Originally posted by Love my K10D Hey folks, I own a Pentax K10D that i've been shooting with for over 3 years (i love it). In the past 6 months i've had an intermitent problem with the manual mode that has become more and more previlant and has now become permanent. This is a problem because i do 90% of my shooting in manual mode. Namely, when i switch into M mode and try to indpendantly adjust my apature or shutter settings the camera automatically adjust the other (shutter when i adjust apature, or apature when i adjust shutter). So, in effect, it acts just like its in TAv mode. I have, at times, been able to switch between modes a few times and succesfully get the M mode to work properly but that no longer works. Its as if the M mode is not engaging and the camera is staying in TAv mode instead. I have tried reseting the camera to factory defaults with no change in the situation. Has anyone else ever experienced this problem? Can anyone sugest things i could try? I fear that the body may need to be sent in for repair but the cost of doing so is high enough that i'd probably be better off just investing in a new body. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance! Doesn't sound like TAv mode. In TAv mode, you can also select aperture and shutter speeds independently, just like M mode, but the ISO will vary, while in M mode, the ISO is fixed. This behavior sounds a bit more like Hyper Program mode. What it does sound like is that you might have engaged the AE lock in M mode, so the other setting changes as you change one setting to maintain the same exposure. Do you see a * lit in the viewfinder? Can you turn on Auto ISO? If you cannot, then you are in M mode (I think)

12-21-2011, 06:28 PM	#5
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	There is a setting in the menu that you can turn on or off. It is called something like "automatic EV compensation" try to find it and turn this off and see what happens. also, turn on or off the aperture ring permission as well. My wife has my camera right now... if I can check it out soon I will. good luck randy

12-22-2011, 09:00 PM	#6
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	That sounds like hyper-manual mode. Normally, hyper-manual mode is invoked by adjusting for "proper" exposure and then pressing the AE-L button. From that point on, when you adjust the shutter speed or aperture, the camera will automatically adjust the other to maintain an equivalent exposure. Its actually a very useful feature. However, as useful as hyper-manaul mode is, it shouldn't be doing it unless you ask for it. Check your technique. Are you inadvertantly bumping the AE-L button? Check the AE-L button itself. It may be sticking, causing it to turn on by itself. Perhaps a bit of dirt has wedged in beside the button. Hyper-manual mode is described on pg. 158 of the User's Guide.

09-29-2012, 02:21 AM	#7
Kev1n New Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mildura Posts: 4	Just experienced this problem myself - I do think it is a problem with the AE-L button, as when I am reviewing images I am frequently asked if I want to protect or unprotect all images, as if I'd pressed the AE-L button, which I had not. Any tips on how to get this fixed?

09-29-2012, 04:16 AM	#8
Northern Soul Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The North of England Photos: Albums Posts: 494	My K10d mode dial packed up too - my thread is here https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/115731-faulty-k10d-mode-dial.html Can you use USER mode as a second manual mode?

09-29-2012, 08:14 PM	#9
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by Northern Soul My K10d mode dial packed up too - my thread is here https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/115731-faulty-k10d-mode-dial.html Can you use USER mode as a second manual mode? I use my USER mode as a manual mode set up the way I like for my M 400/5.6, ISO, etc. but I don't think it overrides anything else such as the AE-L to lock the exposure level. Use a loupe or magnifying glass to check for a hairline crack. That's what showed up when I fell on my camera, and I had to have the top plate replaced.

11-06-2013, 11:44 AM	#10
BJ Gallenberg Guest	I have a K-30, and the M mode was displaying as TAv on the display screen (sounds like the same problem that started this thread years ago). I was trying to figure out what was wrong with the camera. I had my ISO set for Auto, and while in Manual mode, this is exactly the same settings for TAv mode (Tv/Av control, ISO automatic). By changing my ISO to any specific one (other than auto), the display correctly showed Manual mode.

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