Popular uses for the green button?

Iksobarg · 02-12-2013, 03:35 PM

that and I'm a little stumped about the depth of field (digital and otherwise) preview (is that what I mean?) or some form of preview...
I'm not certain what I am seeing/looking for. It's terrible, really, I've read about it but well... it didn't stick.

But I go back to the question about popular uses for the green button.

Thanks guys!

Na Horuk · 02-12-2013, 04:55 PM

Usually people use it to meter, especially with manual lenses where stop down metering is required. On my K-01 I'm experimenting with the green button enabling focus peaking, but I'm not quite sure I like it

drugal · 02-12-2013, 05:26 PM

On my K-5 I routinely use it for putting my exposure compensation to zero.

calsan · 02-12-2013, 06:13 PM

Set the depth of field preview to optical, not digital in the custom settings.
Set the camera to aperture mode and aperture as wide open as possible with your lens.
Focus on a close object.
Try the optical preview - nothing happens!

Now set the aperture to f/11 (for example...)
Try the optical preview - the viewfinder darkens a lot, but also notice that the object you are looking at becomes a bit sharper and also you have more depth of field!

So basically, all that is happening is that you are looking through your lens with it stopped down to f/11. You can confirm this by looking at your lens from the front as you set the optical preview - the aperture will get smaller as you set the preview on.

Digital preview is just taking a photo that doesn't get saved.

**colonel00** · 02-13-2013, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by calsan

Digital preview is just taking a photo that doesn't get saved.

Still don't understand the point of digital preview. Just take the shots and review. Is there something else I am missing?

**lawsonstone** · 02-13-2013, 11:34 AM

I use it to trigger the ejector seat in my car. Seriously, they never know what hit 'em.

Na Horuk · 02-13-2013, 12:05 PM

Oh yeah, I also use it to reset the AF point and set the Ev to 0 and for resetting P shift and setting EV to 0. Basically, its an extra button that other brands don't have. If you don't like it, fine, don't use it. I mean, nobody will ever force you to use it. But people using other brands often wish they had one extra button.

calsan · 02-13-2013, 06:09 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by colonel00

Still don't understand the point of digital preview. Just take the shots and review. Is there something else I am missing?

Digital preview - why?
If you have the blinkies and the histogram turned on you can use it to check exposure and (if you zoom in) focus. This is mainly if your subject isn't changing, like when you're shooting architecture and using a tripod or circular polariser or a flash, for instance.

The advantage is that you don't save your 'test shots' to the memory card, so you don't have to delete them or sort through them later on. When shooting architecture, you often take hundreds of shots and don't really want to have to bracket each shot and then wade through 3x more photos at the computer. Easier to check and choose in the field.

**colonel00** · 02-13-2013, 08:47 PM

Originally posted by calsan

Digital preview - why?
If you have the blinkies and the histogram turned on you can use it to check exposure and (if you zoom in) focus. This is mainly if your subject isn't changing, like when you're shooting architecture and using a tripod or circular polariser or a flash, for instance.

The advantage is that you don't save your 'test shots' to the memory card, so you don't have to delete them or sort through them later on. When shooting architecture, you often take hundreds of shots and don't really want to have to bracket each shot and then wade through 3x more photos at the computer. Easier to check and choose in the field.

Good points especially about bracketed shots. Thanks.

yusuf · 02-14-2013, 04:34 AM

I wish I could use it to automatically move the histogram/exposure to rightmost side (ETR button).

**Rondec** · 02-14-2013, 04:50 AM

Green button uses: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-beginners-corner-q/60081-usage-green-button.html.

Rafael · 07-04-2013, 05:54 PM

Personally I hate two things about these modern digital camera: No dedicated DOF preview [I think my k100 had one....miss that body!] and no threaded attachment for a remote shutter release. Why are those things so hard to incorporate? I have two remotes but they don't work from BEHIND the camera, where I usually stand.

As for the green button, I've always used it to overcome my first complaint: As a DOF preview button.

MegaPower · 07-05-2013, 12:01 AM

never use it.

I hope the can add exposure bracket or shooting mode.

tclausen · 07-05-2013, 12:43 AM

Originally posted by Rafael

Personally I hate two things about these modern digital camera: No dedicated DOF preview [I think my k100 had one....miss that body!] and no threaded attachment for a remote shutter release. Why are those things so hard to incorporate? I have two remotes but they don't work from BEHIND the camera, where I usually stand.

As for the green button, I've always used it to overcome my first complaint: As a DOF preview button.

Hmmmm, K-01 to the rescue: the "red" button can be programmed as DOF preview button, leaving the "green" button to the other stuff that it's usually used for

That said, the K10D and *istD had DOF preview on the on/off switch around the shutter. I thought that was a good idea, and had expected all the K20/7/5/30/50 to carry that over, are you saying that that's not the case?

**JimJohnson** · 07-05-2013, 06:02 AM

On my K-r, the green button was set to DOF (viewfinder) preview. I didn't truly like that because there are other important uses for the green button that I now locked myself out of using. On the K-30 (this IS the K-30 section), my green button is left to its default function, which is mostly a quick way to zero previously selected exposure adjustments. I am shooting RAW all the time anyhow, so the RAW/Fx button is not needed to save RAW data. I reprogrammed this button to do DOF preview.

02-12-2013, 03:35 PM	#1
Iksobarg Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 208	Popular uses for the green button? that and I'm a little stumped about the depth of field (digital and otherwise) preview (is that what I mean?) or some form of preview... I'm not certain what I am seeing/looking for. It's terrible, really, I've read about it but well... it didn't stick. But I go back to the question about popular uses for the green button. Thanks guys!

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02-12-2013, 04:55 PM	#2
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Usually people use it to meter, especially with manual lenses where stop down metering is required. On my K-01 I'm experimenting with the green button enabling focus peaking, but I'm not quite sure I like it

02-12-2013, 05:26 PM	#3
drugal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Detroit suburbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 259	On my K-5 I routinely use it for putting my exposure compensation to zero.

02-12-2013, 06:13 PM	#4
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	Set the depth of field preview to optical, not digital in the custom settings. Set the camera to aperture mode and aperture as wide open as possible with your lens. Focus on a close object. Try the optical preview - nothing happens! Now set the aperture to f/11 (for example...) Try the optical preview - the viewfinder darkens a lot, but also notice that the object you are looking at becomes a bit sharper and also you have more depth of field! So basically, all that is happening is that you are looking through your lens with it stopped down to f/11. You can confirm this by looking at your lens from the front as you set the optical preview - the aperture will get smaller as you set the preview on. Digital preview is just taking a photo that doesn't get saved.

02-13-2013, 10:24 AM	#5
colonel00 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 483	Originally posted by calsan Digital preview is just taking a photo that doesn't get saved. Still don't understand the point of digital preview. Just take the shots and review. Is there something else I am missing?

02-13-2013, 11:34 AM	#6
lawsonstone Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wilmore, KY Posts: 376	I use it to trigger the ejector seat in my car. Seriously, they never know what hit 'em.

02-13-2013, 12:05 PM	#7
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Oh yeah, I also use it to reset the AF point and set the Ev to 0 and for resetting P shift and setting EV to 0. Basically, its an extra button that other brands don't have. If you don't like it, fine, don't use it. I mean, nobody will ever force you to use it. But people using other brands often wish they had one extra button.

02-13-2013, 06:09 PM - 1 Like	#8
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	Originally posted by colonel00 Still don't understand the point of digital preview. Just take the shots and review. Is there something else I am missing? Digital preview - why? If you have the blinkies and the histogram turned on you can use it to check exposure and (if you zoom in) focus. This is mainly if your subject isn't changing, like when you're shooting architecture and using a tripod or circular polariser or a flash, for instance. The advantage is that you don't save your 'test shots' to the memory card, so you don't have to delete them or sort through them later on. When shooting architecture, you often take hundreds of shots and don't really want to have to bracket each shot and then wade through 3x more photos at the computer. Easier to check and choose in the field.

02-13-2013, 08:47 PM	#9
colonel00 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 483	Originally posted by calsan Digital preview - why? If you have the blinkies and the histogram turned on you can use it to check exposure and (if you zoom in) focus. This is mainly if your subject isn't changing, like when you're shooting architecture and using a tripod or circular polariser or a flash, for instance. The advantage is that you don't save your 'test shots' to the memory card, so you don't have to delete them or sort through them later on. When shooting architecture, you often take hundreds of shots and don't really want to have to bracket each shot and then wade through 3x more photos at the computer. Easier to check and choose in the field. Good points especially about bracketed shots. Thanks.

02-14-2013, 04:34 AM	#10
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	I wish I could use it to automatically move the histogram/exposure to rightmost side (ETR button).

02-14-2013, 04:50 AM	#11
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Green button uses: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-beginners-corner-q/60081-usage-green-button.html.

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07-04-2013, 05:54 PM	#12
Rafael Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 30	Personally I hate two things about these modern digital camera: No dedicated DOF preview [I think my k100 had one....miss that body!] and no threaded attachment for a remote shutter release. Why are those things so hard to incorporate? I have two remotes but they don't work from BEHIND the camera, where I usually stand. As for the green button, I've always used it to overcome my first complaint: As a DOF preview button.

07-05-2013, 12:01 AM	#13
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	never use it. I hope the can add exposure bracket or shooting mode.

07-05-2013, 12:43 AM	#14
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Originally posted by Rafael Personally I hate two things about these modern digital camera: No dedicated DOF preview [I think my k100 had one....miss that body!] and no threaded attachment for a remote shutter release. Why are those things so hard to incorporate? I have two remotes but they don't work from BEHIND the camera, where I usually stand. As for the green button, I've always used it to overcome my first complaint: As a DOF preview button. Hmmmm, K-01 to the rescue: the "red" button can be programmed as DOF preview button, leaving the "green" button to the other stuff that it's usually used for That said, the K10D and *istD had DOF preview on the on/off switch around the shutter. I thought that was a good idea, and had expected all the K20/7/5/30/50 to carry that over, are you saying that that's not the case?

07-05-2013, 06:02 AM	#15
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	On my K-r, the green button was set to DOF (viewfinder) preview. I didn't truly like that because there are other important uses for the green button that I now locked myself out of using. On the K-30 (this IS the K-30 section), my green button is left to its default function, which is mostly a quick way to zero previously selected exposure adjustments. I am shooting RAW all the time anyhow, so the RAW/Fx button is not needed to save RAW data. I reprogrammed this button to do DOF preview.