[vonBaloney]

I thought that the k-5 allows users, as obscura said, to change the ISO settings to fast normal or slow - which I suspect translates to 1/4xFL, 1/2xFL, and 1/FL. They don't go below 1/FL, though.

I may be slightly wrong on the exact definitions of fast, normal, and slow, but I remember reading that somewhere.

It does, but its behavior doesn't change based on whether SR is on or off (that I know of). This would be an SR-specific feature.

[JinDesu]

It does, but its behavior doesn't change based on whether SR is on or off (that I know of). This would be an SR-specific feature.

It would be good to tie it into the SR. And it would be nice to have a feature that allows us to change the desired shutter speed configuration by stops as opposed to "Fast, Normal, Slow" - but I don't think it's reasonable to fault Pentax for defaulting to 1/FL minimum.

[vonBaloney]

It would be good to tie it into the SR. And it would be nice to have a feature that allows us to change the desired shutter speed configuration by stops as opposed to "Fast, Normal, Slow" - but I don't think it's reasonable to fault Pentax for defaulting to 1/FL minimum.

Yes, it would be good, as long we can can choose it or not. There are too many situations where the SR is off automatically -- remote, mirror-lock up, etc, or where you may just turn it on and off often for whatever reason. I certainly don't want the shutter speed jumping around automatically every time I do that, but for much normal handheld shooting where I've got SR on pretty much all the time, that would be cool, sure...

[Lowell Goudge]

I n reading the replies, it is clear that there is a great misunderstanding about SR and the "golden rule" , and shooting in low light under controlled conditions.

If you want to shoot in low light and control both aperture and shutter shoot Tav mode and let thenISO go where the metering is, set the shutter where you believe your super steady hands will permit, and shoot away

For me, I have shot at shutter speeds below 4 1/2 stops from the "golden rule and up gotten away with it. I would not recommend any one do so in a bar, it requires good standing and posture and holding the camera to your eye, not at arms length using the back screen.

Technique is rewarded with crisp images.

Also note that the golden rule, as applied to APS C sensors is 1/(FL x 1.5)

If the camera is tracking at 1/FL it is giving you the crop factor as an improvement

[vonBaloney]

If you want to shoot in low light and control both aperture and shutter shoot Tav mode and let thenISO go where the metering is, set the shutter where you believe your super steady hands will permit, and shoot away

Fine for a prime, but not a zoom when the ideal shutter speed changes all the time. The OP wants a tweaked formula -- it's reasonable.

[obscura]

i did a little test...
SR on
18-55 wr
Av
auto iso range 80-12800
@18/4
slow auto iso reads: iso 200 1/25
normal auto iso reads: iso 400 1/50
fast auto iso reads : iso 800 1/100

Av
auto iso range 80-12800
@55/5.6
slow auto iso reads : iso1600 1/50 (it should be 1/80 considering 1.5 crop)
as with the 18mm the other settings are 1 stop increments...

now lets see 50-200wr
Av
auto iso range 80-12800
@200/5.6
slow auto iso reads :iso 1600 1/100 (it should be 1/300 if you take crop into consideration... but its 1/100)
setting to normal goes iso 3200 1/200 etc.

now i take sr off...
guess what... nothing happened, same speeds...

i know for a fact that using the 40limited i can take clear photos at 1/8 when i'm leaning to a wall for stability, otherwise i can shoot 1/15 and 8 out of 10 times it'll be ok...
1/15 is 3stops 2stops down from what it should be 40x1.5=60