Pentax-a and K-30

jrcastillo · 08-01-2013, 08:04 PM

Are you supposed to select the focal length every time you turn the camera on?
I thought this was only in the Pentax-M lenses

**rbefly** · 08-01-2013, 08:09 PM

Hello jrcastillo,
I'm pretty sure it's all the manual-focus lenses, M42, K, M and A. The focal length input doesn't work automatically until the F series, then the FA and DA.
But I could be wrong!
Ron

**jatrax** · 08-01-2013, 08:17 PM

F series is the first to have an ID chip on board allowing the camera to identify the lens. Everything earlier you must input the focal length when asked by the SR mechanism.

stevebrot · 08-01-2013, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by rbefly

I'm pretty sure it's all the manual-focus lenses, M42, K, M and A.

What he said...

Steve

Na Horuk · 08-02-2013, 03:14 AM

Also, you can just ignore the input focal length. Just as long as you keep the SR OFF, and don't care about wrong data in the exif info.
If you have a modern lens (which has contacts on the lens mount) and its asking you to input focal length, make sure the contacts on the lens mount and the camera mount are clean. Also, make sure you aren't missing any pins on the lens mount (I remember someone getting a pretty old, second hand lens with a missing pin so the info was incomplete)

Kozlok · 08-02-2013, 07:37 AM

If you don't do anything, it just assumes it is the same as last time. Power up and start clicking.

jrcastillo · 08-02-2013, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by Kozlok

If you don't do anything, it just assumes it is the same as last time. Power up and start clicking

i noticed that last night. If you just power up and press other buttons it will just assumes the last one. So is not as bad as I thought in the beginning.

Thanks a lot everyone for your replies!

6BQ5 · 08-03-2013, 10:14 PM

Speaking of focal length selection...

Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation?

jrcastillo · 08-03-2013, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation?

the only problem with having 1mm increments is that if you have a 135mm prime and then want to go to 300mm... who are you going to call? the e-dial is going to get on fire as you click it 265 times!!!

There are other ways of doing something like this... but unfortunately pre-chosen steps is the easiest one to understand, deal with, etc. so that's the one we have

SteveB · 08-03-2013, 11:49 PM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

Speaking of focal length selection...

Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation?

I doubt that SR's requirements are so critical that it needs that level of accuracy in FL.

Na Horuk · 08-04-2013, 02:30 AM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation?

Mmh, maybe there could be some way to add more accurate number choices (like choosing each of the three dials separately), or to add shortcuts for a couple of the ones you use the most. But if its just a simple slider, 1mm would be too small. Going from 14mm to 300mm would take very long.
Btw, when you cant get right on it, I think its better to have a slightly wider input focal length than a slightly bigger one. Its better if the SR is less effective than overcompensating

6BQ5 · 08-04-2013, 09:05 AM

Why not make it like an alarm clock? The first increments to slow but if the dial continues to turn then the rate of increment increases too?

**mike.hiran** · 08-04-2013, 06:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Mmh, maybe there could be some way to add more accurate number choices (like choosing each of the three dials separately), or to add shortcuts for a couple of the ones you use the most.

This is the way it works on the Q - you just enter each digit individually...

08-01-2013, 08:04 PM	#1
jrcastillo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 161	Pentax-a and K-30 Are you supposed to select the focal length every time you turn the camera on? I thought this was only in the Pentax-M lenses

08-01-2013, 08:09 PM	#2
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030	Auto-Read? Hello jrcastillo, I'm pretty sure it's all the manual-focus lenses, M42, K, M and A. The focal length input doesn't work automatically until the F series, then the FA and DA. But I could be wrong! Ron

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08-01-2013, 08:17 PM	#3
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	F series is the first to have an ID chip on board allowing the camera to identify the lens. Everything earlier you must input the focal length when asked by the SR mechanism.

08-01-2013, 09:20 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by rbefly I'm pretty sure it's all the manual-focus lenses, M42, K, M and A. What he said... Steve

08-02-2013, 03:14 AM	#5
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Also, you can just ignore the input focal length. Just as long as you keep the SR OFF, and don't care about wrong data in the exif info. If you have a modern lens (which has contacts on the lens mount) and its asking you to input focal length, make sure the contacts on the lens mount and the camera mount are clean. Also, make sure you aren't missing any pins on the lens mount (I remember someone getting a pretty old, second hand lens with a missing pin so the info was incomplete)

08-02-2013, 07:37 AM	#6
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	If you don't do anything, it just assumes it is the same as last time. Power up and start clicking.

08-02-2013, 09:02 AM	#7
jrcastillo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 161 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kozlok If you don't do anything, it just assumes it is the same as last time. Power up and start clicking i noticed that last night. If you just power up and press other buttons it will just assumes the last one. So is not as bad as I thought in the beginning. Thanks a lot everyone for your replies!

08-03-2013, 10:14 PM	#8
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	Speaking of focal length selection... Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation?

08-03-2013, 10:42 PM	#9
jrcastillo Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 161 Original Poster	Originally posted by 6BQ5 Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation? the only problem with having 1mm increments is that if you have a 135mm prime and then want to go to 300mm... who are you going to call? the e-dial is going to get on fire as you click it 265 times!!! There are other ways of doing something like this... but unfortunately pre-chosen steps is the easiest one to understand, deal with, etc. so that's the one we have

08-03-2013, 11:49 PM	#10
SteveB Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 685	Originally posted by 6BQ5 Speaking of focal length selection... Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation? I doubt that SR's requirements are so critical that it needs that level of accuracy in FL.

08-04-2013, 02:30 AM	#11
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by 6BQ5 Am I the only one annoyed that the focal length can only be selected in pre-chosen steps vs. 1mm increments? What's the limitation? Mmh, maybe there could be some way to add more accurate number choices (like choosing each of the three dials separately), or to add shortcuts for a couple of the ones you use the most. But if its just a simple slider, 1mm would be too small. Going from 14mm to 300mm would take very long. Btw, when you cant get right on it, I think its better to have a slightly wider input focal length than a slightly bigger one. Its better if the SR is less effective than overcompensating

08-04-2013, 09:05 AM	#12
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	Why not make it like an alarm clock? The first increments to slow but if the dial continues to turn then the rate of increment increases too?

08-04-2013, 06:18 PM - 1 Like	#13
mike.hiran Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: portland Photos: Albums Posts: 1,491	Originally posted by Na Horuk Mmh, maybe there could be some way to add more accurate number choices (like choosing each of the three dials separately), or to add shortcuts for a couple of the ones you use the most. This is the way it works on the Q - you just enter each digit individually...