How do you change Aspect Ratio on K-30?

HuddyBoy · 12-25-2015, 06:58 PM

Surely the K-30 has more than one Aspect Ratio available? I just noticed the LCD image does not fill the area. There are black bars at the top and bottom. I have searched the Menus and Manual with no results that I can find. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks...Dan

bigdavephoto · 12-25-2015, 07:52 PM

Afaik, You can not change the aspect ratio on a K30 or for that matter any of the Pentax DSLR's.

Maybe what you are wanting to do when you are reviewing photos you have taken in camera is zoom the photo. I believe all you need to do is while looking at a photo on the LCD screen is to move the rear dial on the camera.

Adam · 12-25-2015, 08:25 PM

Originally posted by HuddyBoy

Surely the K-30 has more than one Aspect Ratio available? I just noticed the LCD image does not fill the area. There are black bars at the top and bottom. I have searched the Menus and Manual with no results that I can find. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks...Dan

That's because the sensor captures the image in 3:2, but the screen has a 4:3 aspect. You cannot change the image aspect ratio, so there's no way to get rid of the black bars.

However, the K-3, K-3 II, K-S2, and K-S1 all have redesigned 3:2 screens, so playback / live view looks a lot nicer on those cameras. Here's a comparison of the K-5 and K-3; notice how there's no black bar below the image on the K-3:

Imp · 12-26-2015, 10:16 AM

On a slightly/completely different topic, i've heard the k-30 has "select-area expansion function for enhanced tracking of moving subjects" - where is this and how do I find it? Manual pg. number is good enough. I've used the k-30 for two years and didn't know this was a thing.

**boriscleto** · 12-26-2015, 10:24 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Imp

On a slightly/completely different topic, i've heard the k-30 has "select-area expansion function for enhanced tracking of moving subjects" - where is this and how do I find it? Manual pg. number is good enough. I've used the k-30 for two years and didn't know this was a thing.

Page 103

Quote:

When [Expanded Area AF] in [AF Settings] of the [A Rec. Mode 2] menu is enabled, if your subject briefly moves out from the focus point that was selected when the focus mode was set to k (or when [AF.A] was enabled), the camera will continue to focus on your subject based on information from the focus points (back-up focus points) surrounding the selected focus point. The back-up focus points are displayed in pink on the status screen.

I believe it only works when you are using Select AF point.

Imp · 12-26-2015, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Page 103

I believe it only works when you are using Select AF point.

how good is this for birding?

**boriscleto** · 12-26-2015, 11:32 AM

Originally posted by Imp

how good is this for birding?

No idea, I don't have a K-30. Just looked up the manual online and did a search...

HuddyBoy · 12-26-2015, 07:56 PM

So all think the K-30 can only produce one Aspect Ratio. I can now quite trying to change it. I thought with some Canon cameras more than one AR was available. Maby to do that would be confusing to the penta prism viewer. My others were point and shoot. Thanks all for settling the issue....Dan

bigdavephoto · 12-26-2015, 09:52 PM

Originally posted by HuddyBoy

So all think the K-30 can only produce one Aspect Ratio. I can now quite trying to change it. I thought with some Canon cameras more than one AR was available. Maby to do that would be confusing to the penta prism viewer. My others were point and shoot. Thanks all for settling the issue....Dan

I don't think that the aspect ratio has anything to do with the prism and the view finder. As Adam said the sensor is 3:2 but the LED screen is 4:3 (or was 4:3). When you are looking through the viewfinder, you are looking at a mirror that is reflecting the image from the lens. If you go to live view and look at the LCD screen, the image on the screen is straight from the sensor. Now, because the LCD screen is not the same ratio as the sensor, you will get an area that does not have a picture on it (letterbox) just like watching a widescreen movie from a DVD on a square screen TV. Pentax changed the LCD screen on the K3's and the K5's so that the ratio between the LCD and the sensor matched.

It could be possible that you can change the ratio on some Canon DSLR, but I wouldn't know about that because I have never owned a Canon DSLR. My guess would be, if you can, it would be the full frames like the 5d that has that feature.

AquaDome · 12-27-2015, 10:29 AM

APS Film cameras offered cropping to different aspect ratios. I recommend the Nikon Pronea 6i.

I don't know of any APSc digital cameras that offer in-camera cropping for different aspect ratios.

IchabodCrane · 12-27-2015, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by AquaDome

APS Film cameras offered cropping to different aspect ratios. I recommend the Nikon Pronea 6i.

I don't know of any APSc digital cameras that offer in-camera cropping for different aspect ratios.

Some do but it might be a case of only offering different aspect ratios in live view mode. The K-01 offered multiple aspect ratios but it obviously only has live view mode.

vankasteelj · 12-27-2015, 03:23 PM

If it is for filming, you maybe can do like a friend of mine did when shooting short-film: hook your device to a TV, put some ducktape on the screen where the black bars should be (so you only see what you wanna see), and then add the real lines in post-prod. 10/10 confirmed that works great

12-25-2015, 06:58 PM	#1
HuddyBoy New Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 6	How do you change Aspect Ratio on K-30? Surely the K-30 has more than one Aspect Ratio available? I just noticed the LCD image does not fill the area. There are black bars at the top and bottom. I have searched the Menus and Manual with no results that I can find. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks...Dan

12-25-2015, 08:25 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Originally posted by HuddyBoy Surely the K-30 has more than one Aspect Ratio available? I just noticed the LCD image does not fill the area. There are black bars at the top and bottom. I have searched the Menus and Manual with no results that I can find. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks...Dan That's because the sensor captures the image in 3:2, but the screen has a 4:3 aspect. You cannot change the image aspect ratio, so there's no way to get rid of the black bars. However, the K-3, K-3 II, K-S2, and K-S1 all have redesigned 3:2 screens, so playback / live view looks a lot nicer on those cameras. Here's a comparison of the K-5 and K-3; notice how there's no black bar below the image on the K-3: Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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12-25-2015, 07:52 PM	#2
bigdavephoto Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: East central Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 893	Afaik, You can not change the aspect ratio on a K30 or for that matter any of the Pentax DSLR's. Maybe what you are wanting to do when you are reviewing photos you have taken in camera is zoom the photo. I believe all you need to do is while looking at a photo on the LCD screen is to move the rear dial on the camera.

12-26-2015, 10:16 AM	#4
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	On a slightly/completely different topic, i've heard the k-30 has "select-area expansion function for enhanced tracking of moving subjects" - where is this and how do I find it? Manual pg. number is good enough. I've used the k-30 for two years and didn't know this was a thing.

12-26-2015, 10:24 AM - 1 Like	#5
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by Imp On a slightly/completely different topic, i've heard the k-30 has "select-area expansion function for enhanced tracking of moving subjects" - where is this and how do I find it? Manual pg. number is good enough. I've used the k-30 for two years and didn't know this was a thing. Page 103 Quote: When [Expanded Area AF] in [AF Settings] of the [A Rec. Mode 2] menu is enabled, if your subject briefly moves out from the focus point that was selected when the focus mode was set to k (or when [AF.A] was enabled), the camera will continue to focus on your subject based on information from the focus points (back-up focus points) surrounding the selected focus point. The back-up focus points are displayed in pink on the status screen. I believe it only works when you are using Select AF point.

12-26-2015, 10:26 AM	#6
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by boriscleto Page 103 I believe it only works when you are using Select AF point. how good is this for birding?

12-26-2015, 11:32 AM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by Imp how good is this for birding? No idea, I don't have a K-30. Just looked up the manual online and did a search...

12-26-2015, 07:56 PM	#8
HuddyBoy New Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 6 Original Poster	So all think the K-30 can only produce one Aspect Ratio. I can now quite trying to change it. I thought with some Canon cameras more than one AR was available. Maby to do that would be confusing to the penta prism viewer. My others were point and shoot. Thanks all for settling the issue....Dan

12-26-2015, 09:52 PM	#9
bigdavephoto Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: East central Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 893	Originally posted by HuddyBoy So all think the K-30 can only produce one Aspect Ratio. I can now quite trying to change it. I thought with some Canon cameras more than one AR was available. Maby to do that would be confusing to the penta prism viewer. My others were point and shoot. Thanks all for settling the issue....Dan I don't think that the aspect ratio has anything to do with the prism and the view finder. As Adam said the sensor is 3:2 but the LED screen is 4:3 (or was 4:3). When you are looking through the viewfinder, you are looking at a mirror that is reflecting the image from the lens. If you go to live view and look at the LCD screen, the image on the screen is straight from the sensor. Now, because the LCD screen is not the same ratio as the sensor, you will get an area that does not have a picture on it (letterbox) just like watching a widescreen movie from a DVD on a square screen TV. Pentax changed the LCD screen on the K3's and the K5's so that the ratio between the LCD and the sensor matched. It could be possible that you can change the ratio on some Canon DSLR, but I wouldn't know about that because I have never owned a Canon DSLR. My guess would be, if you can, it would be the full frames like the 5d that has that feature.

12-27-2015, 10:29 AM	#10
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	APS Film cameras offered cropping to different aspect ratios. I recommend the Nikon Pronea 6i. I don't know of any APSc digital cameras that offer in-camera cropping for different aspect ratios.

12-27-2015, 02:34 PM	#11
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Originally posted by AquaDome APS Film cameras offered cropping to different aspect ratios. I recommend the Nikon Pronea 6i. I don't know of any APSc digital cameras that offer in-camera cropping for different aspect ratios. Some do but it might be a case of only offering different aspect ratios in live view mode. The K-01 offered multiple aspect ratios but it obviously only has live view mode.

12-27-2015, 03:23 PM	#12
vankasteelj Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Charleroi (Belgium) Posts: 60	If it is for filming, you maybe can do like a friend of mine did when shooting short-film: hook your device to a TV, put some ducktape on the screen where the black bars should be (so you only see what you wanna see), and then add the real lines in post-prod. 10/10 confirmed that works great