TAV workaround

devorama · 03-07-2012, 10:23 AM - **1 Like**

To those of you not familiar, the TAV mode that's included on some of Pentax's DLSRs is a shooting mode that allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture, with the camera determining the ISO based on its metering. This mode is found in the higher level cameras like the K-5, but not on the K-r or the Q.

I used to shoot almost exclusively in Av mode. I tend to shoot a lot of low light, no flash pictures with wide primes at parties. So I'd set my ISO to maybe 1600 or 3200, set my aperture to the widest, and let the camera choose the shutter speed. The problem with this would be when I would shoot a darker corner, the shutter speed might be maybe 1/8 sec. Which might be too long to get a blur free picture, especially when shooting candids. I remedied this by switching to TAV mode when I got my K-5. I'd set the aperture to it's widest value, set shutter speed to maybe 1/25 sec, and let ISO be determined by the camera. That way, even if I shoot a dark area, I still get the blur free shot, just with more noise. And if I hit a bright area, I get a cleaner picture with low ISO.

The problem is, there is no TAV mode on the Q. So I was back to shooting my Av mode again. Then it hit me. I can get a similar mode to TAV by using Tv mode. Let me explain. By using Tv mode, I manually set the shutter to 1/25 sec. Then I set ISO to automatic with a maximum ISO of 1600. So the camera is really choosing aperture and ISO. But the Q will use a wider aperture before it will boost the ISO. So in low light, it's shooting wide open already. So any lighting differences will be compensated for by the auto ISO.

My other low light shooting method for the Q uses M mode for a long-ish exposure with a fill in flash set to -2EV. This give a more balanced available light/flash picture.

snappychappy · 03-07-2012, 10:27 AM

Thank you for the tip.

Kirill_est · 03-07-2012, 10:57 AM

I wish all modes, including the scene modes, were available with Q's three fixed-aperture lenses, instead of just A and M. So what if the aperture cannot be changed, the camera can still play with shutter speed and ISO. Silly limitation. For instance sometimes I really need the night HDR merging scene mode or whatever it is called.

Clicker · 03-08-2012, 10:11 AM

luckily i don't have to worry about that as i'm always on auto *mostly*

Kirill_est · 03-08-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by Clicker

luckily i don't have to worry about that as i'm always on auto *mostly*

Mate, you don't get Auto (or anything except A and M) with the Fish-eye and the two "toy" lenses, or is my camera malfunctioning?

Clicker · 03-08-2012, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by Kirill_est

Mate, you don't get Auto (or anything except A and M) with the Fish-eye and the two "toy" lenses, or is my camera malfunctioning?

On auto it just selects what you're suppose to be in, i haven't read my manual but that's how it is with mine...or it could be mine is broken and not yours LOL

03-07-2012, 10:23 AM - 1 Like	#1
devorama Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 638	TAV workaround To those of you not familiar, the TAV mode that's included on some of Pentax's DLSRs is a shooting mode that allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture, with the camera determining the ISO based on its metering. This mode is found in the higher level cameras like the K-5, but not on the K-r or the Q. I used to shoot almost exclusively in Av mode. I tend to shoot a lot of low light, no flash pictures with wide primes at parties. So I'd set my ISO to maybe 1600 or 3200, set my aperture to the widest, and let the camera choose the shutter speed. The problem with this would be when I would shoot a darker corner, the shutter speed might be maybe 1/8 sec. Which might be too long to get a blur free picture, especially when shooting candids. I remedied this by switching to TAV mode when I got my K-5. I'd set the aperture to it's widest value, set shutter speed to maybe 1/25 sec, and let ISO be determined by the camera. That way, even if I shoot a dark area, I still get the blur free shot, just with more noise. And if I hit a bright area, I get a cleaner picture with low ISO. The problem is, there is no TAV mode on the Q. So I was back to shooting my Av mode again. Then it hit me. I can get a similar mode to TAV by using Tv mode. Let me explain. By using Tv mode, I manually set the shutter to 1/25 sec. Then I set ISO to automatic with a maximum ISO of 1600. So the camera is really choosing aperture and ISO. But the Q will use a wider aperture before it will boost the ISO. So in low light, it's shooting wide open already. So any lighting differences will be compensated for by the auto ISO. My other low light shooting method for the Q uses M mode for a long-ish exposure with a fill in flash set to -2EV. This give a more balanced available light/flash picture.

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03-07-2012, 10:27 AM	#2
snappychappy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 1,636	Thank you for the tip.

03-07-2012, 10:57 AM	#3
Kirill_est Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tallinn Posts: 110	I wish all modes, including the scene modes, were available with Q's three fixed-aperture lenses, instead of just A and M. So what if the aperture cannot be changed, the camera can still play with shutter speed and ISO. Silly limitation. For instance sometimes I really need the night HDR merging scene mode or whatever it is called.

03-08-2012, 10:11 AM	#4
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	luckily i don't have to worry about that as i'm always on auto mostly

03-08-2012, 12:49 PM	#5
Kirill_est Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tallinn Posts: 110	Originally posted by Clicker luckily i don't have to worry about that as i'm always on auto mostly Mate, you don't get Auto (or anything except A and M) with the Fish-eye and the two "toy" lenses, or is my camera malfunctioning?

03-08-2012, 12:55 PM	#6
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	Originally posted by Kirill_est Mate, you don't get Auto (or anything except A and M) with the Fish-eye and the two "toy" lenses, or is my camera malfunctioning? On auto it just selects what you're suppose to be in, i haven't read my manual but that's how it is with mine...or it could be mine is broken and not yours LOL

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