A modest proposal....

wildman · 02-06-2016, 06:46 AM - **1 Like**

I think I'm much like others when it comes to using the menu system.

Most stuff in the menu I either set once and forget about or never use at all.

Why not allow the photographer to set up a user menu system that shows only those settings the user wants to display and hide the rest?

I wouldn't think it all that complicated - a few more lines of code in BIOs?

Na Horuk · 02-06-2016, 06:59 AM

That's a really interesting idea. Or maybe just a "favourites" Menu with user-chosen shortcuts. But it might really complicate things for beginners. Would be a cool function for higher tier cameras, though!

wildman · 02-06-2016, 07:11 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

But it might really complicate things for beginners.

Of course I assume you can always easily go back to factory default if you wish.

Imp · 02-06-2016, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by wildman

A modest proposal....

That's a very strange short story! You should read it if you haven't already

wildman · 02-06-2016, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by Imp

That's a very strange short story! You should read it if you haven't already

If you are referring to the Swift essay I read it decades ago in university.
My use of the phrase here is intended to be a bit more literal.

**WPRESTO** · 02-06-2016, 08:04 AM

In a sense, perhaps wildman is proposing we should be able to "cook" the menu options, certainly to decide what is on the menu.

mcgregni · 02-06-2016, 09:40 AM

I think it would be good to use the Control Panel for this sort of thing .... a customisable Control Panel where you can organise your own favourite menu items with an icon and place them in the positions you prefer ......

**erichope** · 02-06-2016, 09:43 AM

Extending this idea a bit further, how about enabling cameras to be configured through a computer application? Working on a computer screen could be a lot more pleasant than the 3" screen on the camera. And this app could give you access to settings not available on the in-camera menu system. The app could go well with a favorites or "most often used" in-camera menu.

Letting my imagination run wild:

1) how about if the app allowed add-ins to be installed, be they commercial, user defined or freeware downloadable from PF?

2) the application could display the appropriate manual page for each setting as it's selected.

3) how about incorporating some form of tethering in the app to provide, for example, focus adjustment from a laptop, or for that matter, let the app adjust focus for you.

4) Wildman's wish that never-used and set-and-forget items be hidden until needed would go a long way to making the camera simpler to use in the field. How about the capability to add user menu items, say... it the camera had the ability to execute user defined macros or stored procedures.

5) It would be great if the application could save firmware image complete with any customizing and add-ins, so that should something go wrong system restoration is possible.

Feel free to add new features to this fantasy application.

**jatrax** · 02-06-2016, 09:45 AM

Sony and some other cameras provide a user selectable "user" menu. So it is doable.

Pentax provide the "iinfo" menu but it is not user changeable. This would be the place to implement this just allow selection of what appears in that menu.

debakarma · 02-06-2016, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

In a sense, perhaps wildman is proposing we should be able to "cook" the menu options, certainly to decide what is on the menu.

You hit the nail on the head.

Originally posted by wildman

Why not allow the photographer to set up a user menu system that shows only those settings the user wants to display and hide the rest?

It would be a photographers dream to get this far and its surely possible with software tweaks. I dont see why no one is doing it so far - the herd mentality has clouded our vision long enough accept innovation in increments only.

**AggieDad** · 02-06-2016, 12:00 PM

Do you use the User Settings feature? It's not what you propose, but it does make things a bit easier. For example, I have one of my settings set up for manual lenses. I choose that setting and all my menu settings for manual lenses are automatically set. It's actually a pretty neat deal.

Imp · 02-06-2016, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by debakarma

It would be a photographers dream to get this far and its surely possible with software tweaks. I dont see why no one is doing it so far - the herd mentality has clouded our vision long enough accept innovation in increments only.

I thought some people do have it? At least some cinema cameras have got that feature. Don't Sony mirroless have that option?

**jatrax** · 02-06-2016, 01:22 PM

Yes Sony has this.

officiousbystander · 02-06-2016, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by erichope

1) how about if the app allowed add-ins to be installed, be they commercial, user defined or freeware downloadable from PF?

Let's not give Ricoh any ideas. Sony already does this:
'There are also some premium apps, including one to capture star trails ($9.99), another for time lapse photography ($9.99), and another that expands the bracketing functionality of the camera ($4.99). A full list is available on the Web so you can have an idea of what's available and how much each costs (no app is more than $10) before you invest in the Alpha 6000.' Wi-Fi and Apps - Sony Alpha 6000 Review & Rating | PCMag.com
Here's your K3. Now pay a little extra and you get to use your Astrotracer. It's as bad as in-game purchases for gaming.

narual · 02-06-2016, 05:19 PM

I think you can do that with Canon bodies using CHDK. Not sure how many people who use CHDK bother, though.

02-06-2016, 06:46 AM - 1 Like	#1
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	A modest proposal.... I think I'm much like others when it comes to using the menu system. Most stuff in the menu I either set once and forget about or never use at all. Why not allow the photographer to set up a user menu system that shows only those settings the user wants to display and hide the rest? I wouldn't think it all that complicated - a few more lines of code in BIOs?

02-06-2016, 07:27 AM	#5
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by Imp That's a very strange short story! You should read it if you haven't already If you are referring to the Swift essay I read it decades ago in university. My use of the phrase here is intended to be a bit more literal. Last edited by wildman; 02-06-2016 at 07:35 AM.

02-06-2016, 09:43 AM	#8
erichope Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 36	Extending this idea a bit further, how about enabling cameras to be configured through a computer application? Working on a computer screen could be a lot more pleasant than the 3" screen on the camera. And this app could give you access to settings not available on the in-camera menu system. The app could go well with a favorites or "most often used" in-camera menu. Letting my imagination run wild: 1) how about if the app allowed add-ins to be installed, be they commercial, user defined or freeware downloadable from PF? 2) the application could display the appropriate manual page for each setting as it's selected. 3) how about incorporating some form of tethering in the app to provide, for example, focus adjustment from a laptop, or for that matter, let the app adjust focus for you. 4) Wildman's wish that never-used and set-and-forget items be hidden until needed would go a long way to making the camera simpler to use in the field. How about the capability to add user menu items, say... it the camera had the ability to execute user defined macros or stored procedures. 5) It would be great if the application could save firmware image complete with any customizing and add-ins, so that should something go wrong system restoration is possible. Feel free to add new features to this fantasy application. Last edited by erichope; 02-06-2016 at 12:37 PM. Reason: Additional content

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A Modest Proposal for Samyang	MJSfoto1956	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	02-11-2015 11:32 PM
A modest proposal for a small improvement	wildman	Pentax DSLR Discussion	19	08-14-2013 02:08 PM

02-06-2016, 06:59 AM	#2
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	That's a really interesting idea. Or maybe just a "favourites" Menu with user-chosen shortcuts. But it might really complicate things for beginners. Would be a cool function for higher tier cameras, though!

02-06-2016, 07:11 AM	#3
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by Na Horuk But it might really complicate things for beginners. Of course I assume you can always easily go back to factory default if you wish.

02-06-2016, 07:23 AM	#4
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by wildman A modest proposal.... That's a very strange short story! You should read it if you haven't already

02-06-2016, 08:04 AM	#6
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,108	In a sense, perhaps wildman is proposing we should be able to "cook" the menu options, certainly to decide what is on the menu.

02-06-2016, 09:40 AM	#7
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	I think it would be good to use the Control Panel for this sort of thing .... a customisable Control Panel where you can organise your own favourite menu items with an icon and place them in the positions you prefer ......

02-06-2016, 09:45 AM	#9
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Sony and some other cameras provide a user selectable "user" menu. So it is doable. Pentax provide the "iinfo" menu but it is not user changeable. This would be the place to implement this just allow selection of what appears in that menu.

02-06-2016, 10:54 AM	#10
debakarma Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,294	Originally posted by WPRESTO In a sense, perhaps wildman is proposing we should be able to "cook" the menu options, certainly to decide what is on the menu. You hit the nail on the head. Originally posted by wildman Why not allow the photographer to set up a user menu system that shows only those settings the user wants to display and hide the rest? It would be a photographers dream to get this far and its surely possible with software tweaks. I dont see why no one is doing it so far - the herd mentality has clouded our vision long enough accept innovation in increments only.

02-06-2016, 12:00 PM	#11
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,453	Do you use the User Settings feature? It's not what you propose, but it does make things a bit easier. For example, I have one of my settings set up for manual lenses. I choose that setting and all my menu settings for manual lenses are automatically set. It's actually a pretty neat deal.

02-06-2016, 01:19 PM	#12
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by debakarma It would be a photographers dream to get this far and its surely possible with software tweaks. I dont see why no one is doing it so far - the herd mentality has clouded our vision long enough accept innovation in increments only. I thought some people do have it? At least some cinema cameras have got that feature. Don't Sony mirroless have that option?

02-06-2016, 01:22 PM	#13
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Yes Sony has this.

02-06-2016, 02:50 PM	#14
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 912	Originally posted by erichope 1) how about if the app allowed add-ins to be installed, be they commercial, user defined or freeware downloadable from PF? Let's not give Ricoh any ideas. Sony already does this: 'There are also some premium apps, including one to capture star trails ($9.99), another for time lapse photography ($9.99), and another that expands the bracketing functionality of the camera ($4.99). A full list is available on the Web so you can have an idea of what's available and how much each costs (no app is more than $10) before you invest in the Alpha 6000.' Wi-Fi and Apps - Sony Alpha 6000 Review & Rating \| PCMag.com Here's your K3. Now pay a little extra and you get to use your Astrotracer. It's as bad as in-game purchases for gaming.

02-06-2016, 05:19 PM	#15
narual Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,988	I think you can do that with Canon bodies using CHDK. Not sure how many people who use CHDK bother, though.