A simple question:

wildman · 06-19-2014, 04:17 AM

Has anyone else, besides Pentax, implemented the TAv mode?

bdery · 06-19-2014, 05:23 AM

No, not directly. Some companies aloow ISO to be set to auto in M mode (illogical but there you are) so you can achieve the same kind of results.

No other company has hyper-program (P mode with access to Tv and Av just by scrolling the wheels). I might be wrong but I think that no other companies have program lines such as MTF.

**TER-OR** · 06-19-2014, 05:44 AM

TAv was a big reason I picked Pentax - it seemed the most convenient and flexible way to control your exposure. I use it 90% of the time.
I have shown it to people using other brands, and they were a little jealous.

Why no one else seems to want to do this? I don't know, maybe they know their customers won't use it?

tuco · 06-19-2014, 06:04 AM

Having used auto ISO and manual mode to get the exact same functionality in another brand, I'd say having a devoted mode on a dial for it is no big deal. And it makes sense to me. You are in manual aperture/shutter mode but ISO is an option of either auto or manual.

wildman · 06-19-2014, 06:29 AM

Originally posted by tuco

I'd say having a devoted mode on a dial for it is no big deal.

Perhaps you would if, as in my case, TAv is my default mode.

tuco · 06-19-2014, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by wildman

Perhaps you would if, as in my case, TAv is my default mode.

I'm in the equivalent of TAv mode a lot too. Really, it is no big deal to have a devoted mark on a dial. It is fanboy talk to think so otherwise, IMHO.

wildman · 06-19-2014, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by tuco

it is no big deal

I'll decide for myself what is and is not a "big deal".

tuco · 06-19-2014, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by wildman

I'll decide for myself what is and is not a "big deal".

So I take you have used the "other system"?

wildman · 06-19-2014, 07:28 AM

Originally posted by TER-OR

it seemed the most convenient and flexible way to control your exposure.

Yes - I find it a very natural, intuitive and flexible mode.
On my k5 there are 11 positions on the mode dial and I use only two - TAv for normal shooting and Av for when I'm using the long glass on birds.

**blackcloudbrew** · 06-19-2014, 07:37 AM

Don't forget besides Tav, Sv mode is AFAIK Pentax unique as well. I find that Tav mode is very very useful for me when shooting flash.

**Bruce Clark** · 06-19-2014, 07:39 AM

I was recently introduced to the TAV mode and I find I now use it a lot especially on close up work. I feel that aperture is my most critical variable, shutter speed is usually around 1/250th for hand held is quite fast enough to manage camera or subject movements. I am quite happy to allow the ISO to go high as noise, if a problem, can be treated in PP to a fairly high degree, the other factors such as depth of field and subject blur can not.

**TER-OR** · 06-19-2014, 07:39 AM

I think it comes down to ergonomics. When I switch between modes it's because I like what these modes do. I also like the user modes on the dial - I've set up the camera for some common uses (for me). While I know I can use M or P to do a lot of what TAv does, just having the TAv means I can quickly set the camera for a dynamic situation and control the exposure with those two variables.

To me, it shows Pentax has thought ahead about how cameras are used. It's the same reason the K5 and other flagships are so easy for manual lens use, the designers know we're going to do this so they made things more convenient.

No, I haven't tried to replicate TAv on other brands. I have handed my camera to users of other brands and told them how to quickly change the settings with the two wheels, and almost universally I get a "that's pretty cool" in response.

tuco · 06-19-2014, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by TER-OR

I
No, I haven't tried to replicate TAv on other brands. I have handed my camera to users of other brands and told them how to quickly change the settings with the two wheels, and almost universally I get a "that's pretty cool" in response.

I can switch between being in auto ISO + aperture priority and the equivalent of TAv mode by turning a dial from "A" to "M". So I say again it is no big deal. And if we want to compile a list of this camera has that feature and the others don't I can certainly add several good ones Pentax does not have.

Advanced amateur digital cameras from all brands these days produce about the same images ( most have Sony senors) and have the same features with minor idiosyncrasies between brands and all get the job done. It is only when you crank up the power on your viewing microscope and get all emotional do you see much difference.

BrianR · 06-19-2014, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by tuco

Having used auto ISO and manual mode to get the exact same functionality in another brand, I'd say having a devoted mode on a dial for it is no big deal.

What was the brand and did they have exposure compensation in manual mode? I'm probably wrong and outdated, but I don't think Canon and Olympus allow exposure compensation in M mode, but Nikon does (it may also be camera dependent). That would kick an attempted pseudo-TAv implementation's usefulness down a couple notches.

wildman · 06-19-2014, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

Sv mode is AFAIK Pentax unique as well.

Haven't paid much attention to Sv mode. I guess I'm a bit suspicious how well two variables can be set at once.
Have to give it a try sometime and see how it works.

Originally posted by Bruce Clark

I am quite happy to allow the ISO to go high as noise, if a problem, can be treated in PP

Yea that's pretty much my approach. Let the ISO go high if need be and if not recoverable in PP nothing ventured nothing gained.

06-19-2014, 04:17 AM	#1
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	A simple question: Has anyone else, besides Pentax, implemented the TAv mode?

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06-19-2014, 05:23 AM	#2
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	No, not directly. Some companies aloow ISO to be set to auto in M mode (illogical but there you are) so you can achieve the same kind of results. No other company has hyper-program (P mode with access to Tv and Av just by scrolling the wheels). I might be wrong but I think that no other companies have program lines such as MTF.

06-19-2014, 05:44 AM	#3
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	TAv was a big reason I picked Pentax - it seemed the most convenient and flexible way to control your exposure. I use it 90% of the time. I have shown it to people using other brands, and they were a little jealous. Why no one else seems to want to do this? I don't know, maybe they know their customers won't use it?

06-19-2014, 06:04 AM	#4
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,025	Having used auto ISO and manual mode to get the exact same functionality in another brand, I'd say having a devoted mode on a dial for it is no big deal. And it makes sense to me. You are in manual aperture/shutter mode but ISO is an option of either auto or manual.

06-19-2014, 06:29 AM	#5
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by tuco I'd say having a devoted mode on a dial for it is no big deal. Perhaps you would if, as in my case, TAv is my default mode.

06-19-2014, 06:53 AM	#6
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,025	Originally posted by wildman Perhaps you would if, as in my case, TAv is my default mode. I'm in the equivalent of TAv mode a lot too. Really, it is no big deal to have a devoted mark on a dial. It is fanboy talk to think so otherwise, IMHO.

06-19-2014, 07:06 AM	#7
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by tuco it is no big deal I'll decide for myself what is and is not a "big deal".

06-19-2014, 07:23 AM	#8
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,025	Originally posted by wildman I'll decide for myself what is and is not a "big deal". So I take you have used the "other system"?

06-19-2014, 07:28 AM	#9
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by TER-OR it seemed the most convenient and flexible way to control your exposure. Yes - I find it a very natural, intuitive and flexible mode. On my k5 there are 11 positions on the mode dial and I use only two - TAv for normal shooting and Av for when I'm using the long glass on birds.

06-19-2014, 07:37 AM	#10
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	Don't forget besides Tav, Sv mode is AFAIK Pentax unique as well. I find that Tav mode is very very useful for me when shooting flash.

06-19-2014, 07:39 AM	#11
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	I was recently introduced to the TAV mode and I find I now use it a lot especially on close up work. I feel that aperture is my most critical variable, shutter speed is usually around 1/250th for hand held is quite fast enough to manage camera or subject movements. I am quite happy to allow the ISO to go high as noise, if a problem, can be treated in PP to a fairly high degree, the other factors such as depth of field and subject blur can not.

06-19-2014, 07:39 AM	#12
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	I think it comes down to ergonomics. When I switch between modes it's because I like what these modes do. I also like the user modes on the dial - I've set up the camera for some common uses (for me). While I know I can use M or P to do a lot of what TAv does, just having the TAv means I can quickly set the camera for a dynamic situation and control the exposure with those two variables. To me, it shows Pentax has thought ahead about how cameras are used. It's the same reason the K5 and other flagships are so easy for manual lens use, the designers know we're going to do this so they made things more convenient. No, I haven't tried to replicate TAv on other brands. I have handed my camera to users of other brands and told them how to quickly change the settings with the two wheels, and almost universally I get a "that's pretty cool" in response.

06-19-2014, 07:57 AM	#13
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,025	Originally posted by TER-OR I No, I haven't tried to replicate TAv on other brands. I have handed my camera to users of other brands and told them how to quickly change the settings with the two wheels, and almost universally I get a "that's pretty cool" in response. I can switch between being in auto ISO + aperture priority and the equivalent of TAv mode by turning a dial from "A" to "M". So I say again it is no big deal. And if we want to compile a list of this camera has that feature and the others don't I can certainly add several good ones Pentax does not have. Advanced amateur digital cameras from all brands these days produce about the same images ( most have Sony senors) and have the same features with minor idiosyncrasies between brands and all get the job done. It is only when you crank up the power on your viewing microscope and get all emotional do you see much difference.

06-19-2014, 08:17 AM	#14
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by tuco Having used auto ISO and manual mode to get the exact same functionality in another brand, I'd say having a devoted mode on a dial for it is no big deal. What was the brand and did they have exposure compensation in manual mode? I'm probably wrong and outdated, but I don't think Canon and Olympus allow exposure compensation in M mode, but Nikon does (it may also be camera dependent). That would kick an attempted pseudo-TAv implementation's usefulness down a couple notches.

06-19-2014, 09:22 AM	#15
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew Sv mode is AFAIK Pentax unique as well. Haven't paid much attention to Sv mode. I guess I'm a bit suspicious how well two variables can be set at once. Have to give it a try sometime and see how it works. Originally posted by Bruce Clark I am quite happy to allow the ISO to go high as noise, if a problem, can be treated in PP Yea that's pretty much my approach. Let the ISO go high if need be and if not recoverable in PP nothing ventured nothing gained.