K-3 Firmware wishes....

bedo · 11-05-2013, 06:15 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by scole

Also, when in playback mode, I like to cycle through the various options by pressing the INFO button. On the K-3, this bring up a list of choices and you have to scroll to which one you want. I want this to return to continual INFO button presses to cycle through the various modes.

this! Please Pentax/Ricoh bring it back for all affected bodies and forever. This must have been the most stupid (I mean not very user friendly, you know) change ever.

645user · 11-05-2013, 06:53 AM - **1 Like**

Can any Pentax K3 owner answer question about top lcd lighting. Is there some button that I can push to turn light on or off like it is in Pentax K 20 ( +/- button) and Pentax 645 D ( dedicated button ) or there is pentax K5 solution ( Lcd lighting is active when camera exposure reading is active ) that I do not like at all.

If there is no way to assign that task to any button, then I add it to this firmware update wishlist thread. Thank you. And sorry my English

Bogartist · 11-05-2013, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by 645user

Can any Pentax K3 owner answer question about top lcd lighting. Is there some button that I can push to turn light on or off like it is in Pentax K 20 ( +/- button) and Pentax 645 D ( dedicated button ) or there is pentax K5 solution ( Lcd lighting is active when camera exposure reading is active ) that I do not like at all.

If there is no way to assign that task to any button, then I add it to this firmware update wishlist thread. Thank you. And sorry my English

The K-3 has two options for the LCD light:

You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again.

Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active.

LFLee · 11-05-2013, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by Bogartist

The K-3 has two options for the LCD light:

You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again.

Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active.

is there a way to turn off the back LCD all time (night photography)?

I would also like to see the top LCD light have an option to use low intensity red light instead of the green/yellow light as to change our night vision, again, useful for night photography. Simple implementation, but appeal to outdoor/ long exposure photography.

645user · 11-05-2013, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by Bogartist

The K-3 has two options for the LCD light:

You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again.

Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active.

Thank you Bogartist your answer was very helpful.

DimC · 11-05-2013, 04:10 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by LFLee

is there a way to turn off the back LCD all time (night photography)?

I would also like to see the top LCD light have an option to use low intensity red light instead of the green/yellow light as to change our night vision, again, useful for night photography. Simple implementation, but appeal to outdoor/ long exposure photography.

You can turn off the back LCD by double clicking the INFO button which brings the Status Screen panel, then choosing the "Display off" option. It's longer to write than actually doin it !

I can't see any option for Red light instead of Green on the top panel, but you can turn it off or dimmed light in the menus.

LFLee · 11-06-2013, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by Bogartist

The K-3 has two options for the LCD light:

You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again.

Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active.

Originally posted by DimC

You can turn off the back LCD by double clicking the INFO button which brings the Status Screen panel, then choosing the "Display off" option. It's longer to write than actually doin it !

I can't see any option for Red light instead of Green on the top panel, but you can turn it off or dimmed light in the menus.

Thanks!
Hope PENTAX add a red light options in the future.

bedo · 11-06-2013, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by LFLee

Hope PENTAX add a red light options in the future.

not via the firmware update I am afraid!

LFLee · 11-06-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by bedo

not via the firmware update I am afraid!

Probably... lol

but the screw drive/ SDM option is a simple thing to do to win the praise of many long time PENTAXIANS, if they do it.

Bogartist · 11-06-2013, 12:23 PM

Originally posted by LFLee

I would also like to see the top LCD light have an option to use low intensity red light instead of the green/yellow light as to change our night vision, again, useful for night photography. Simple implementation, but appeal to outdoor/ long exposure photography.

Yeah, there isn't a way to get the camera to do that, but I can recommend a Petzl Tikka Plus 2 headlamp as a great solution. In addition to the usual white LEDs, it switches over to a red LED when you hold the button down for a couple of seconds. Great for preserving night vision. So then you'd just leave the camera's LCD light off, and read it by the light of your red headlamp. Plus the headlamp lets you see everything else, too.

And as a further bonus, if you're doing long night exposures a headlamp is really handy for "painting" additional light into the scene - basically real-time dodging during the exposure. I always have one of those headlamps in my bag.

FireDog · 11-06-2013, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by 7samurai

3rd the screw drive idea. Does the screw drive look faster on youtube?

I'll 4th the selectable focus drive mode.
It seems that it should be so damned easy to program, why haven't they done it?
I've been tempted to insulate the SDM contacts and see what happens.
Someday I may have to. Hope it works!

Class A · 11-06-2013, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by FireDog

I've been tempted to insulate the SDM contacts and see what happens.

It won't enable screw-drive.

People have tried that before.

FireDog · 11-06-2013, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by Class A

It won't enable screw-drive.

People have tried that before.

oh crap...
I've been writing firmware/software for almost 40 years.
I pride myself in making options available.
Even if it means "giving them too much rope"...RTFM
And selectable focus drive seems such an obvious option
"I just wanna shoot somebody"

**jbinpg** · 11-07-2013, 02:45 PM

OK, just finished testing out all the shutter release options. The interval mode would be perfect for astrophotography *if* there was an ability to lock up the mirror ahead of the run. As it is now, you can have MUP but only outside of the interval option. Can't see why this would not be doable in a firmware update. I find myself yearning for the physical MUP lever of the MX and LX (and also the Nikon shutter blind lever).

Jack

FireDog · 11-07-2013, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by jbinpg

OK, just finished testing out all the shutter release options. The interval mode would be perfect for astrophotography *if* there was an ability to lock up the mirror ahead of the run. As it is now, you can have MUP but only outside of the interval option. Can't see why this would not be doable in a firmware update. I find myself yearning for the physical MUP lever of the MX and LX (and also the Nikon shutter blind lever).

Jack

Welcome to the "brave new world" of virtual control.
A physical switch to enable an option?
That's "so yesteryear"!

11-06-2013, 10:57 PM	#73
FireDog Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 47	Originally posted by Class A It won't enable screw-drive. People have tried that before. oh crap... I've been writing firmware/software for almost 40 years. I pride myself in making options available. Even if it means "giving them too much rope"...RTFM And selectable focus drive seems such an obvious option "I just wanna shoot somebody" Last edited by FireDog; 11-06-2013 at 11:14 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Firmware for K-500, K-50, K-5 II, K-5 IIs, K-5, K-30, K-01, K-r, and 645D is out	Adam	Pentax News and Rumors	60	09-16-2013 05:46 AM
K-5 II replacement wishes?	Louicio	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	14	07-05-2013 02:02 PM
K-01 Firmware update wishes!	RonHendriks1966	Pentax K-01	65	01-13-2013 06:12 PM
k-5 firmware same as k-5iis firmware?	grant richie	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	2	12-09-2012 12:15 PM
K-7, Firmware 1.3, software bug??	bymy141	Pentax DSLR Discussion	6	04-18-2010 05:52 AM

11-05-2013, 06:15 AM - 1 Like	#61
bedo New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 20	Originally posted by scole Also, when in playback mode, I like to cycle through the various options by pressing the INFO button. On the K-3, this bring up a list of choices and you have to scroll to which one you want. I want this to return to continual INFO button presses to cycle through the various modes. this! Please Pentax/Ricoh bring it back for all affected bodies and forever. This must have been the most stupid (I mean not very user friendly, you know) change ever.

11-05-2013, 06:53 AM - 1 Like	#62
645user Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 37	Can any Pentax K3 owner answer question about top lcd lighting. Is there some button that I can push to turn light on or off like it is in Pentax K 20 ( +/- button) and Pentax 645 D ( dedicated button ) or there is pentax K5 solution ( Lcd lighting is active when camera exposure reading is active ) that I do not like at all. If there is no way to assign that task to any button, then I add it to this firmware update wishlist thread. Thank you. And sorry my English

11-05-2013, 12:55 PM	#63
Bogartist Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 20	Originally posted by 645user Can any Pentax K3 owner answer question about top lcd lighting. Is there some button that I can push to turn light on or off like it is in Pentax K 20 ( +/- button) and Pentax 645 D ( dedicated button ) or there is pentax K5 solution ( Lcd lighting is active when camera exposure reading is active ) that I do not like at all. If there is no way to assign that task to any button, then I add it to this firmware update wishlist thread. Thank you. And sorry my English The K-3 has two options for the LCD light: You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again. Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active.

11-05-2013, 01:15 PM	#64
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Originally posted by Bogartist The K-3 has two options for the LCD light: You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again. Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active. is there a way to turn off the back LCD all time (night photography)? I would also like to see the top LCD light have an option to use low intensity red light instead of the green/yellow light as to change our night vision, again, useful for night photography. Simple implementation, but appeal to outdoor/ long exposure photography.

11-05-2013, 03:53 PM	#65
645user Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 37	Originally posted by Bogartist The K-3 has two options for the LCD light: You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again. Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active. Thank you Bogartist your answer was very helpful.

11-05-2013, 04:10 PM - 1 Like	#66
DimC Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 813	Originally posted by LFLee is there a way to turn off the back LCD all time (night photography)? I would also like to see the top LCD light have an option to use low intensity red light instead of the green/yellow light as to change our night vision, again, useful for night photography. Simple implementation, but appeal to outdoor/ long exposure photography. You can turn off the back LCD by double clicking the INFO button which brings the Status Screen panel, then choosing the "Display off" option. It's longer to write than actually doin it ! I can't see any option for Red light instead of Green on the top panel, but you can turn it off or dimmed light in the menus.

11-06-2013, 10:29 AM	#67
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Originally posted by Bogartist The K-3 has two options for the LCD light: You can assign the top LCD light to the Fx button. Pressing the Fx button will then light up the LCD for a while, after which it goes off and stays off until you press Fx again. Or you can use the Special Function method like on the K-5, where the LCD is lit (either high or low) while the exposure meter is active. Originally posted by DimC You can turn off the back LCD by double clicking the INFO button which brings the Status Screen panel, then choosing the "Display off" option. It's longer to write than actually doin it ! I can't see any option for Red light instead of Green on the top panel, but you can turn it off or dimmed light in the menus. Thanks! Hope PENTAX add a red light options in the future.

11-06-2013, 10:34 AM	#68
bedo New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 20	Originally posted by LFLee Hope PENTAX add a red light options in the future. not via the firmware update I am afraid!

11-06-2013, 10:45 AM	#69
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Originally posted by bedo not via the firmware update I am afraid! Probably... lol but the screw drive/ SDM option is a simple thing to do to win the praise of many long time PENTAXIANS, if they do it.

11-06-2013, 12:23 PM	#70
Bogartist Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 20	Originally posted by LFLee I would also like to see the top LCD light have an option to use low intensity red light instead of the green/yellow light as to change our night vision, again, useful for night photography. Simple implementation, but appeal to outdoor/ long exposure photography. Yeah, there isn't a way to get the camera to do that, but I can recommend a Petzl Tikka Plus 2 headlamp as a great solution. In addition to the usual white LEDs, it switches over to a red LED when you hold the button down for a couple of seconds. Great for preserving night vision. So then you'd just leave the camera's LCD light off, and read it by the light of your red headlamp. Plus the headlamp lets you see everything else, too. And as a further bonus, if you're doing long night exposures a headlamp is really handy for "painting" additional light into the scene - basically real-time dodging during the exposure. I always have one of those headlamps in my bag.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

11-06-2013, 01:31 PM	#71
FireDog Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 47	Originally posted by 7samurai 3rd the screw drive idea. Does the screw drive look faster on youtube? I'll 4th the selectable focus drive mode. It seems that it should be so damned easy to program, why haven't they done it? I've been tempted to insulate the SDM contacts and see what happens. Someday I may have to. Hope it works!

11-06-2013, 10:38 PM	#72
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by FireDog I've been tempted to insulate the SDM contacts and see what happens. It won't enable screw-drive. People have tried that before.

11-07-2013, 02:45 PM	#74
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	OK, just finished testing out all the shutter release options. The interval mode would be perfect for astrophotography if there was an ability to lock up the mirror ahead of the run. As it is now, you can have MUP but only outside of the interval option. Can't see why this would not be doable in a firmware update. I find myself yearning for the physical MUP lever of the MX and LX (and also the Nikon shutter blind lever). Jack

11-07-2013, 03:02 PM	#75
FireDog Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 47	Originally posted by jbinpg OK, just finished testing out all the shutter release options. The interval mode would be perfect for astrophotography if there was an ability to lock up the mirror ahead of the run. As it is now, you can have MUP but only outside of the interval option. Can't see why this would not be doable in a firmware update. I find myself yearning for the physical MUP lever of the MX and LX (and also the Nikon shutter blind lever). Jack Welcome to the "brave new world" of virtual control. A physical switch to enable an option? That's "so yesteryear"!