K-3 II + Manual Lens + Live View + Green Button = ???

Quicksand · 07-12-2015, 01:28 PM

OK, this has me stumped.

I'm using my K-3 II with a manual K-mount lens (specifically a Cosina 55/1.2 -- no AF, no A pin). When in Live View the green button doesn't seem to work to set exposure.

So I'm in M mode, of course. And with Live View turned off, I can hold the camera up to my eye, point it at dark and light things, and when I press the green button I can hear the aperture mechanism actuate and the shutter speed changes appropriately.

In Live View, I point the camera around at light and dark objects, and when I press the green button I can hear the aperture mechanism actuate, the screen blinks momentarily, but the shutter speed never changes.

Am I the one doing something wrong here? Can someone else check this out?

Green button works normally in M mode with modern (FA) lenses, as expected.

Last edited by Quicksand; 07-14-2015 at 09:22 AM. Reason: changed title for better visibility

View · 07-12-2015, 02:49 PM

Don't have the II just the K3.

With 50mm 1.4 A lens, both Live View and viewfinder view green button works to set shutter speed using Aperture ring. As too does my 28mm M lens.

C Menu 27 "Using Aperture Ring" = 2 enabled

May help

Quicksand · 07-12-2015, 09:21 PM

Originally posted by View

C Menu 27 "Using Aperture Ring" = 2 enabled

May help

Thanks for giving it a shot - but that's set, or I wouldn't be able to use this lens at all because I think it locks out the shutter button otherwise.

Is there anyone with a II and a manual lens who could try it? I'm thinking it's possibly a bug at this point.

Frogonastring · 07-13-2015, 04:58 AM

Hi Quicksand,

I've got the II and noticed the same behaviour - I'm new to Pentax and assumed that it was operating correctly, I haven't yet found out a way of resolving it.

Adam · 07-13-2015, 05:41 AM

Have you tried using the dof preview button?

enoeske · 07-13-2015, 06:55 AM

This sounds similar to the problem a lot of people had with extension tubes after the K-5 came out. The mount has to be shorted for the camera to register a lens and actually stop down the aperture for the exposure. Try putting a piece of tin-foil between the lens and mount when you screw on the lens.

**Mikesul** · 07-13-2015, 07:19 AM

I rarely use the green button so I had not noticed this but I just tried it on my K3ii and there is no adjustment when I pressed the green button in live view. Preview will show darkening or lightening if i change the aperture but the exposure is not altered. Exposure is adjusted as expected in the viewfinder.

Not a Number · 07-13-2015, 07:34 AM

Does it expose correctly (or close to it) when you take the photo?

View · 07-13-2015, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by enoeske

This sounds similar to the problem a lot of people had with extension tubes after the K-5 came out. The mount has to be shorted for the camera to register a lens and actually stop down the aperture for the exposure. Try putting a piece of tin-foil between the lens and mount when you screw on the lens.

I'll go along with this. Took lens off and metered OK through view finder adjusting speed. No speed adjustment with Live View. DoF metered through View Finder +/- but didn't adjust speed. Live View darkened screen, no speed adjustment.

**OvidiuRoSb** · 07-13-2015, 01:31 PM

I have also tried with a Revuenon M 50mm and in live-view it doesn't adjusted the shutter speed. But I have tried also with Pentax FA 50mm and with this lens it did adjusted the shutter speed, in both cases.

Quicksand · 07-13-2015, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by OvidiuRoSb

I have also tried with a Revuenon M 50mm and in live-view it doesn't adjusted the shutter speed. But I have tried also with Pentax FA 50mm and with this lens it did adjusted the shutter speed, in both cases.

Exactly my experience. I'm still leaning toward firmware bug.

If it were a problem with the contacts and lens mount conductivity then I doubt it would work in one mode (viewfinder) and not the other (LV).

M-mode green button metering works fine on my K-01 with the same lens, incidentally.

EDIT: And I just checked, in Live View mode it does stop down -- I see the iris close down briefly -- but it just doesn't change the exposure. And the DOF preview options (optical and digital) both seem to work properly.

stevebrot · 07-13-2015, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by Quicksand

I'm still leaning toward firmware bug.

If it were a problem with the contacts and lens mount conductivity then I doubt it would work in one mode (viewfinder) and not the other (LV).

Or a hardware problem.

Is your K-3II within the range of serial numbers in the recall?

Steve

**OvidiuRoSb** · 07-13-2015, 11:49 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Or a hardware problem.

Is your K-3II within the range of serial numbers in the recall?

Steve

My K-3II is on that list, but without experiencing the power switch problem. I don't think this issue is related, but we can find out from a K-3II owner which is not on the list.

Frogonastring · 07-14-2015, 01:37 AM

My K3ii is also on the serial number list and also without the power switch problem - it might well be a firmware feature/failure - it doesn't feel like hardware fault.

**Mikesul** · 07-14-2015, 06:54 AM - **1 Like**

Update to my earlier post. I have an K-3ii which is within the suspect range. I tried the LV Green BUtton again this morning in M mode and it works as expected when the A setting is selected on the aperture ring. However, when the A setting is not selected it does not change the metering and Preview flashes a brighter exposure briefly. I tried same settings and lens on my K-3 and it functioned as expected. I got the same behavior with the Samyang 85 1.4 and the Pentax FA 77 1.8 limited. Both have aperture rings so I could test with and without the A setting. All tests were done in M mode with manual focusing set on the camera. So it looks like OPs experience extends to other K-3iis. The problem will only appear with lenses not having A settings on the aperture, which is a lot of older lenses. Work around would be to meter in the viewfinder with Green button and focus with LV. I have not tested this.

07-12-2015, 01:28 PM	#1
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	K-3 II Live View Metering Bug (was: K-3 II + Manual Lens + Live View + Green Btn...) OK, this has me stumped. I'm using my K-3 II with a manual K-mount lens (specifically a Cosina 55/1.2 -- no AF, no A pin). When in Live View the green button doesn't seem to work to set exposure. So I'm in M mode, of course. And with Live View turned off, I can hold the camera up to my eye, point it at dark and light things, and when I press the green button I can hear the aperture mechanism actuate and the shutter speed changes appropriately. In Live View, I point the camera around at light and dark objects, and when I press the green button I can hear the aperture mechanism actuate, the screen blinks momentarily, but the shutter speed never changes. Am I the one doing something wrong here? Can someone else check this out? Green button works normally in M mode with modern (FA) lenses, as expected. Last edited by Quicksand; 07-14-2015 at 09:22 AM. Reason: changed title for better visibility

07-13-2015, 05:41 AM	#5
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Have you tried using the dof preview button? 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:

07-13-2015, 01:45 PM	#11
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519 Original Poster	Originally posted by OvidiuRoSb I have also tried with a Revuenon M 50mm and in live-view it doesn't adjusted the shutter speed. But I have tried also with Pentax FA 50mm and with this lens it did adjusted the shutter speed, in both cases. Exactly my experience. I'm still leaning toward firmware bug. If it were a problem with the contacts and lens mount conductivity then I doubt it would work in one mode (viewfinder) and not the other (LV). M-mode green button metering works fine on my K-01 with the same lens, incidentally. EDIT: And I just checked, in Live View mode it does stop down -- I see the iris close down briefly -- but it just doesn't change the exposure. And the DOF preview options (optical and digital) both seem to work properly. Last edited by Quicksand; 07-13-2015 at 09:42 PM.

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07-12-2015, 02:49 PM	#2
View Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Stafordshire UK Posts: 26	Don't have the II just the K3. With 50mm 1.4 A lens, both Live View and viewfinder view green button works to set shutter speed using Aperture ring. As too does my 28mm M lens. C Menu 27 "Using Aperture Ring" = 2 enabled May help

07-12-2015, 09:21 PM	#3
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519 Original Poster	Originally posted by View C Menu 27 "Using Aperture Ring" = 2 enabled May help Thanks for giving it a shot - but that's set, or I wouldn't be able to use this lens at all because I think it locks out the shutter button otherwise. Is there anyone with a II and a manual lens who could try it? I'm thinking it's possibly a bug at this point.

07-13-2015, 04:58 AM	#4
Frogonastring Forum Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 51	Hi Quicksand, I've got the II and noticed the same behaviour - I'm new to Pentax and assumed that it was operating correctly, I haven't yet found out a way of resolving it.

07-13-2015, 06:55 AM	#6
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	This sounds similar to the problem a lot of people had with extension tubes after the K-5 came out. The mount has to be shorted for the camera to register a lens and actually stop down the aperture for the exposure. Try putting a piece of tin-foil between the lens and mount when you screw on the lens.

07-13-2015, 07:19 AM	#7
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	I rarely use the green button so I had not noticed this but I just tried it on my K3ii and there is no adjustment when I pressed the green button in live view. Preview will show darkening or lightening if i change the aperture but the exposure is not altered. Exposure is adjusted as expected in the viewfinder.

07-13-2015, 07:34 AM	#8
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Does it expose correctly (or close to it) when you take the photo?

07-13-2015, 11:55 AM	#9
View Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Stafordshire UK Posts: 26	Originally posted by enoeske This sounds similar to the problem a lot of people had with extension tubes after the K-5 came out. The mount has to be shorted for the camera to register a lens and actually stop down the aperture for the exposure. Try putting a piece of tin-foil between the lens and mount when you screw on the lens. I'll go along with this. Took lens off and metered OK through view finder adjusting speed. No speed adjustment with Live View. DoF metered through View Finder +/- but didn't adjust speed. Live View darkened screen, no speed adjustment.

07-13-2015, 01:31 PM	#10
OvidiuRoSb Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Sibiu Posts: 175	I have also tried with a Revuenon M 50mm and in live-view it doesn't adjusted the shutter speed. But I have tried also with Pentax FA 50mm and with this lens it did adjusted the shutter speed, in both cases.

07-13-2015, 10:11 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Quicksand I'm still leaning toward firmware bug. If it were a problem with the contacts and lens mount conductivity then I doubt it would work in one mode (viewfinder) and not the other (LV). Or a hardware problem. Is your K-3II within the range of serial numbers in the recall? Steve

07-13-2015, 11:49 PM	#13
OvidiuRoSb Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Sibiu Posts: 175	Originally posted by stevebrot Or a hardware problem. Is your K-3II within the range of serial numbers in the recall? Steve My K-3II is on that list, but without experiencing the power switch problem. I don't think this issue is related, but we can find out from a K-3II owner which is not on the list.

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07-14-2015, 01:37 AM	#14
Frogonastring Forum Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 51	My K3ii is also on the serial number list and also without the power switch problem - it might well be a firmware feature/failure - it doesn't feel like hardware fault.

07-14-2015, 06:54 AM - 1 Like	#15
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Update to my earlier post. I have an K-3ii which is within the suspect range. I tried the LV Green BUtton again this morning in M mode and it works as expected when the A setting is selected on the aperture ring. However, when the A setting is not selected it does not change the metering and Preview flashes a brighter exposure briefly. I tried same settings and lens on my K-3 and it functioned as expected. I got the same behavior with the Samyang 85 1.4 and the Pentax FA 77 1.8 limited. Both have aperture rings so I could test with and without the A setting. All tests were done in M mode with manual focusing set on the camera. So it looks like OPs experience extends to other K-3iis. The problem will only appear with lenses not having A settings on the aperture, which is a lot of older lenses. Work around would be to meter in the viewfinder with Green button and focus with LV. I have not tested this.