K-3 Dim Viewfinder Data

brosen · 11-17-2013, 04:12 PM

Today I played with the K-3 and noticed the Viewfinder data is very dim, the green color information at the bottom of the viewfinder is extremely dim, is there a way to make it brighter?, for me personally that's a deal breaker, thanks

Adam · 11-17-2013, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by brosen

Today I played with the K-3 and noticed the Viewfinder data is very dim, the green color information at the bottom of the viewfinder is extremely dim, is there a way to make it brighter?, for me personally that's a deal breaker, thanks

There's no setting for that. Perhaps your unit is defective though? The data should be as bright as on earlier cameras.

**wizofoz** · 11-17-2013, 04:19 PM

The viewfinder data shouldn't be dim. I don't notice any difference from the k-7 or k-5 to the k-3.

What are you comparing it to? Have you looked at a 2nd copy to make sure the unit you were looking at isn't somehow defective?

brosen · 11-17-2013, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by wizofoz

The viewfinder data shouldn't be dim. I don't notice any difference from the k-7 or k-5 to the k-3.

What are you comparing it to? Have you looked at a 2nd copy to make sure the unit you were looking at isn't somehow defective?

There was 1 display unit only, I couldn't compare with another K-3, but I checked at the store a D800, D7100 and a 5D Mark III and all of them where much brighter and crisp, I am not talking about VF brightness, only the information at the bottom.

Adam · 11-17-2013, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by brosen

There was 1 display unit only, I couldn't compare with another K-3, but I checked at the store a D800, D7100 and a 5D Mark III and all of them where much brighter and crisp, I am not talking about VF brightness, only the information at the bottom.

Think you can manage to get a photo of what it looks like?

Dr_who · 11-17-2013, 04:26 PM

Were you looking at it in a dark area. The viewfinder display dims in dark areas and brightens in brighter areas. Just putting the lens cap on makes a bit of difference.

brosen · 11-17-2013, 04:26 PM

Originally posted by Dr_who

Were you looking at it in a dark area. The viewfinder display dims in dark areas and brightens in brighter areas. Just putting the lens cap on makes a bit of difference.

Was inside the store that was very well lit

Dr_who · 11-17-2013, 04:54 PM

Without seeing what the display was and knowing what you consider dim is, I'd suggest viewing another model at another location. Or not but it. If your not happy with it than there is no point in buying it.

jfuqua11 · 11-17-2013, 05:39 PM

Sure there must be a problem with it or not to be insulting at all but maybe you have the same problem like my uncle did (bad eyes) again not trying to be insulting.

**Eric Auer** · 11-17-2013, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Think you can manage to get a photo of what it looks like?

Originally posted by Dr_who

Without seeing what the display was and knowing what you consider dim is, I'd suggest viewing another model at another location. Or not but it. If your not happy with it than there is no point in buying it.

Originally posted by jfuqua11

Sure there must be a problem with it or not to be insulting at all but maybe you have the same problem like my uncle did (bad eyes) again not trying to be insulting.

He said he was in a Store, And compared it to other cameras.

So It's just a First hand report from him with not much more to add, Unfortunately.... /Shrug

VisualDarkness · 11-17-2013, 06:59 PM

Is the eyepiece glass clean? Is the diopter set to fit your eyesight?

**RobA_Oz** · 11-17-2013, 08:31 PM

Just received my K-3. The viewfinder data looks no dimmer than in my K-5 or K20D, either in interiors or bright sunlight, and it's quite bright to my dim eyes. So, I doubt the OP's experience is typical of the model, unless the viewfinder data brightness is adjusted up and down with the LCD brightness.

K David · 11-17-2013, 08:39 PM

My K-3 has noticeably dimmer LCD information than my K-7.

K David · 11-17-2013, 08:40 PM

Sorry. Let me clarify. That's the LCD readout within the viewfinder which is noticeably dimmer.

rawr · 11-17-2013, 10:06 PM

My K-x has a slightly dimmer viewfinder display than my K-5. But the K-x also more actively adjusts the brightness of the info display according to the brightness of the image. Perhaps there is something influencing the responsiveness of the K-3 display.

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

unless the viewfinder data brightness is adjusted up and down with the LCD brightness

Memo to Ricoh: that's a good idea.

11-17-2013, 04:12 PM	#1
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183	K-3 Dim Viewfinder Data Today I played with the K-3 and noticed the Viewfinder data is very dim, the green color information at the bottom of the viewfinder is extremely dim, is there a way to make it brighter?, for me personally that's a deal breaker, thanks

11-17-2013, 04:16 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by brosen Today I played with the K-3 and noticed the Viewfinder data is very dim, the green color information at the bottom of the viewfinder is extremely dim, is there a way to make it brighter?, for me personally that's a deal breaker, thanks There's no setting for that. Perhaps your unit is defective though? The data should be as bright as on earlier cameras. 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:

11-17-2013, 04:23 PM	#5
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by brosen There was 1 display unit only, I couldn't compare with another K-3, but I checked at the store a D800, D7100 and a 5D Mark III and all of them where much brighter and crisp, I am not talking about VF brightness, only the information at the bottom. Think you can manage to get a photo of what it looks like? 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:

11-17-2013, 08:31 PM	#12
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Just received my K-3. The viewfinder data looks no dimmer than in my K-5 or K20D, either in interiors or bright sunlight, and it's quite bright to my dim eyes. So, I doubt the OP's experience is typical of the model, unless the viewfinder data brightness is adjusted up and down with the LCD brightness. Last edited by RobA_Oz; 11-17-2013 at 10:12 PM.

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11-17-2013, 04:19 PM	#3
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	The viewfinder data shouldn't be dim. I don't notice any difference from the k-7 or k-5 to the k-3. What are you comparing it to? Have you looked at a 2nd copy to make sure the unit you were looking at isn't somehow defective?

11-17-2013, 04:22 PM	#4
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	Originally posted by wizofoz The viewfinder data shouldn't be dim. I don't notice any difference from the k-7 or k-5 to the k-3. What are you comparing it to? Have you looked at a 2nd copy to make sure the unit you were looking at isn't somehow defective? There was 1 display unit only, I couldn't compare with another K-3, but I checked at the store a D800, D7100 and a 5D Mark III and all of them where much brighter and crisp, I am not talking about VF brightness, only the information at the bottom.

11-17-2013, 04:26 PM	#6
Dr_who Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	Were you looking at it in a dark area. The viewfinder display dims in dark areas and brightens in brighter areas. Just putting the lens cap on makes a bit of difference.

11-17-2013, 04:26 PM	#7
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	Originally posted by Dr_who Were you looking at it in a dark area. The viewfinder display dims in dark areas and brightens in brighter areas. Just putting the lens cap on makes a bit of difference. Was inside the store that was very well lit

11-17-2013, 04:54 PM	#8
Dr_who Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	Without seeing what the display was and knowing what you consider dim is, I'd suggest viewing another model at another location. Or not but it. If your not happy with it than there is no point in buying it.

11-17-2013, 05:39 PM	#9
jfuqua11 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 36	Sure there must be a problem with it or not to be insulting at all but maybe you have the same problem like my uncle did (bad eyes) again not trying to be insulting.

11-17-2013, 06:33 PM	#10
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211	Originally posted by Adam Think you can manage to get a photo of what it looks like? Originally posted by Dr_who Without seeing what the display was and knowing what you consider dim is, I'd suggest viewing another model at another location. Or not but it. If your not happy with it than there is no point in buying it. Originally posted by jfuqua11 Sure there must be a problem with it or not to be insulting at all but maybe you have the same problem like my uncle did (bad eyes) again not trying to be insulting. He said he was in a Store, And compared it to other cameras. So It's just a First hand report from him with not much more to add, Unfortunately.... /Shrug

11-17-2013, 06:59 PM	#11
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Is the eyepiece glass clean? Is the diopter set to fit your eyesight?

11-17-2013, 08:39 PM	#13
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	My K-3 has noticeably dimmer LCD information than my K-7.

11-17-2013, 08:40 PM	#14
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	Sorry. Let me clarify. That's the LCD readout within the viewfinder which is noticeably dimmer.

11-17-2013, 10:06 PM	#15
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	My K-x has a slightly dimmer viewfinder display than my K-5. But the K-x also more actively adjusts the brightness of the info display according to the brightness of the image. Perhaps there is something influencing the responsiveness of the K-3 display. Originally posted by RobA_Oz unless the viewfinder data brightness is adjusted up and down with the LCD brightness Memo to Ricoh: that's a good idea.