All my shots are dark

dahabit · 05-19-2016, 07:59 PM

Hi Folk,

I'm kind of a noob when it comes to camera and photography. So I might not be using the correct terminology.

Recently when I take a picture all I get is a dark to black frame. And it seems like fellow user Flimamigo has the same issue.

Even if I leave it in Auto or selected SCN, I'm still getting the same sort of dark shot. I have tried both my 18-55 and 50-200 lens. There is even a delay in when taking a picture in Auto mode.

Any and all suggestions would help.

Here the link to the fellow user Flimamigo's post
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/184-pentax-k-s1-k-s2/320993-dark-frames-k-s2.html

Attached is a sample shot that I took in the afternoon.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

reh321 · 05-19-2016, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by dahabit

Hi Folk,

I'm kind of a noob when it comes to camera and photography. So I might not be using the correct terminology.

Recently when I take a picture all I get is a dark to black frame. And it seems like fellow user Flimamigo has the same issue.

Even if I leave it in Auto or selected SCN, I'm still getting the same sort of dark shot. I have tried both my 18-55 and 50-200 lens. There is even a delay in when taking a picture in Auto mode.

Any and all suggestions would help.

Here the link to the fellow user Flimamigo's post
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/184-pentax-k-s1-k-s2/320993-dark-frames-k-s2.html

Attached is a sample shot that I took in the afternoon.

Did you read all of the responses to Flimamigo's post? I thought the responses were as complete as we could do at the time {I even contributed a few words}. It would be helpful to me if you would explain here what you don't understand in that thread .

I know this sounds like a tiresome response, but it would help if you would read the following threads about a known problem with the K-30 and K-50 that this unfortunately sounds like:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/315725-dark-exposure...-me-first.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/307695-k-30-black-fr...sible-fix.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/311409-my-k50-kaput.html

robthebloke · 05-19-2016, 09:24 PM

According to the EXIF on that file, you're using a manual exposure mode? Have you considered either using the green button to meter? or use a mode other than M? Your 50-200 should meter just fine in say Av or Auto?

reh321 · 05-19-2016, 10:13 PM

Having spent the past hour on other things, mostly cleaning up images from scanned slides, I've decided that wasn't precise enough. If I were you, I would go through the first post in the thread

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/315725-dark-exposure...-me-first.html

as though I had a K-50. I really really really hope this isn't that problem again ... but at this point you should go through his procedure and either eliminate that as an issue or leave it as a possibility. If it is a possibility, the only true cure involves sending it back to Pentax for warranty service {if you are still under warranty} or repair; apart from repair, the only other solution I know of is to treat it as a totally manual M42 system - I am prepared for that possibility with my K-30, but I do really really really hope that won't be an issue here.

dahabit · 05-20-2016, 09:29 AM

Originally posted by robthebloke

According to the EXIF on that file, you're using a manual exposure mode? Have you considered either using the green button to meter? or use a mode other than M? Your 50-200 should meter just fine in say Av or Auto?

I forgot to mention, in my original post that if I take a shot in Manual mode then switch to Auto, for some reason all the setting from manual mode gets carried over to the auto mode. It's just the weirdest thing. As I mentioned in my original post, when I'm in auto mode there is actually a delay when the camera takes the picture.

Also, after making this post yesterday I put it on Auto HDR and took a few pictures and everything seemed normal.
So I'm not sure what the heck is going on. I still feel like I should send it it.

Clothears · 05-20-2016, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by dahabit

As I mentioned in my original post, when I'm in auto mode there is actually a delay when the camera takes the picture.

Have you got the camera set so that it won't take a picture unless it's in focus? Or have you got the timer set?

SpecialK · 05-20-2016, 02:22 PM

F9 and 1/250 at ISO 2000 should be nearly blown out regardless of the mode that got you there.

I would set the exposure compensation back to zero if it is not, for a baseline setting while you work it out.

I had the very, very occasional same issue in my K5 that I never figured out, but it only happened a couple times in its life, so it was not really a bother as yours is.

dahabit · 05-20-2016, 10:51 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

F9 and 1/250 at ISO 2000 should be nearly blown out regardless of the mode that got you there.

I would set the exposure compensation back to zero if it is not, for a baseline setting while you work it out.

I had the very, very occasional same issue in my K5 that I never figured out, but it only happened a couple times in its life, so it was not really a bother as yours is.

Same thing happened today. All shots were coming out dark so I put in Auto HDR took a few snaps, and all of a sudden everything seemed normal. I'm wondering if it's the software.

Clothears · 05-21-2016, 04:38 AM

Originally posted by dahabit

Same thing happened today. All shots were coming out dark so I put in Auto HDR took a few snaps, and all of a sudden everything seemed normal.

What do you mean by "Auto HDR"?

dahabit · 05-21-2016, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Clothears

What do you mean by "Auto HDR"?

It's the A-HDR on the wheel.

Clothears · 05-21-2016, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by dahabit

It's the A-HDR on the wheel.

That doesn't help at all, I'm afraid. What does this mode do ?

gatorguy · 05-21-2016, 03:24 PM

Originally posted by Clothears

That doesn't help at all, I'm afraid. What does this mode do ?

From the forum review:
"The K-S2 has a new mode dial setting: A-HDR, or Advanced HDR. We are still in the process of testing this shooting mode, but in a nutshell, the camera will automatically take and combine 3 photos to create a strong HDR image with a surreal look. This mode only outputs JPEGs. Automatic compensation of camera shake is included."

reh321 · 05-21-2016, 04:25 PM

Originally posted by gatorguy

From the forum review:
"The K-S2 has a new mode dial setting: A-HDR, or Advanced HDR. We are still in the process of testing this shooting mode, but in a nutshell, the camera will automatically take and combine 3 photos to create a strong HDR image with a surreal look. This mode only outputs JPEGs. Automatic compensation of camera shake is included."

My Q-7 has an in-camera HDR as one of the "scenes", but the results look normal, not "surreal".

gatorguy · 05-21-2016, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by reh321

My Q-7 has an in-camera HDR as one of the "scenes", but the results look normal, not "surreal".

Yeah, I don't think Q7 HDR and KS2 AHDR are supposed to be the same.

Vmax911 · 05-21-2016, 11:30 PM

I wonder if the AHDR takes three shots back to back.
This would be similar to using burst mode to loosen up a bad aperture drive.

05-21-2016, 10:43 AM	#10
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by Clothears What do you mean by "Auto HDR"? It's the A-HDR on the wheel. Attached Images

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05-19-2016, 08:45 PM	#2
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	Originally posted by dahabit Hi Folk, I'm kind of a noob when it comes to camera and photography. So I might not be using the correct terminology. Recently when I take a picture all I get is a dark to black frame. And it seems like fellow user Flimamigo has the same issue. Even if I leave it in Auto or selected SCN, I'm still getting the same sort of dark shot. I have tried both my 18-55 and 50-200 lens. There is even a delay in when taking a picture in Auto mode. Any and all suggestions would help. Here the link to the fellow user Flimamigo's post https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/184-pentax-k-s1-k-s2/320993-dark-frames-k-s2.html Attached is a sample shot that I took in the afternoon. Did you read all of the responses to Flimamigo's post? I thought the responses were as complete as we could do at the time {I even contributed a few words}. It would be helpful to me if you would explain here what you don't understand in that thread . I know this sounds like a tiresome response, but it would help if you would read the following threads about a known problem with the K-30 and K-50 that this unfortunately sounds like: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/315725-dark-exposure...-me-first.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/307695-k-30-black-fr...sible-fix.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/311409-my-k50-kaput.html

05-19-2016, 09:24 PM	#3
robthebloke Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 844	According to the EXIF on that file, you're using a manual exposure mode? Have you considered either using the green button to meter? or use a mode other than M? Your 50-200 should meter just fine in say Av or Auto?

05-19-2016, 10:13 PM	#4
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	Having spent the past hour on other things, mostly cleaning up images from scanned slides, I've decided that wasn't precise enough. If I were you, I would go through the first post in the thread https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/315725-dark-exposure...-me-first.html as though I had a K-50. I really really really hope this isn't that problem again ... but at this point you should go through his procedure and either eliminate that as an issue or leave it as a possibility. If it is a possibility, the only true cure involves sending it back to Pentax for warranty service {if you are still under warranty} or repair; apart from repair, the only other solution I know of is to treat it as a totally manual M42 system - I am prepared for that possibility with my K-30, but I do really really really hope that won't be an issue here.

05-20-2016, 09:29 AM	#5
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by robthebloke According to the EXIF on that file, you're using a manual exposure mode? Have you considered either using the green button to meter? or use a mode other than M? Your 50-200 should meter just fine in say Av or Auto? I forgot to mention, in my original post that if I take a shot in Manual mode then switch to Auto, for some reason all the setting from manual mode gets carried over to the auto mode. It's just the weirdest thing. As I mentioned in my original post, when I'm in auto mode there is actually a delay when the camera takes the picture. Also, after making this post yesterday I put it on Auto HDR and took a few pictures and everything seemed normal. So I'm not sure what the heck is going on. I still feel like I should send it it.

05-20-2016, 01:58 PM	#6
Clothears Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canterbury Posts: 170	Originally posted by dahabit As I mentioned in my original post, when I'm in auto mode there is actually a delay when the camera takes the picture. Have you got the camera set so that it won't take a picture unless it's in focus? Or have you got the timer set?

05-20-2016, 02:22 PM	#7
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	F9 and 1/250 at ISO 2000 should be nearly blown out regardless of the mode that got you there. I would set the exposure compensation back to zero if it is not, for a baseline setting while you work it out. I had the very, very occasional same issue in my K5 that I never figured out, but it only happened a couple times in its life, so it was not really a bother as yours is.

05-20-2016, 10:51 PM	#8
dahabit Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 62 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpecialK F9 and 1/250 at ISO 2000 should be nearly blown out regardless of the mode that got you there. I would set the exposure compensation back to zero if it is not, for a baseline setting while you work it out. I had the very, very occasional same issue in my K5 that I never figured out, but it only happened a couple times in its life, so it was not really a bother as yours is. Same thing happened today. All shots were coming out dark so I put in Auto HDR took a few snaps, and all of a sudden everything seemed normal. I'm wondering if it's the software.

05-21-2016, 04:38 AM	#9
Clothears Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canterbury Posts: 170	Originally posted by dahabit Same thing happened today. All shots were coming out dark so I put in Auto HDR took a few snaps, and all of a sudden everything seemed normal. What do you mean by "Auto HDR"?

05-21-2016, 03:09 PM	#11
Clothears Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canterbury Posts: 170	Originally posted by dahabit It's the A-HDR on the wheel. That doesn't help at all, I'm afraid. What does this mode do ?

05-21-2016, 03:24 PM	#12
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by Clothears That doesn't help at all, I'm afraid. What does this mode do ? From the forum review: "The K-S2 has a new mode dial setting: A-HDR, or Advanced HDR. We are still in the process of testing this shooting mode, but in a nutshell, the camera will automatically take and combine 3 photos to create a strong HDR image with a surreal look. This mode only outputs JPEGs. Automatic compensation of camera shake is included."

05-21-2016, 04:25 PM	#13
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	Originally posted by gatorguy From the forum review: "The K-S2 has a new mode dial setting: A-HDR, or Advanced HDR. We are still in the process of testing this shooting mode, but in a nutshell, the camera will automatically take and combine 3 photos to create a strong HDR image with a surreal look. This mode only outputs JPEGs. Automatic compensation of camera shake is included." My Q-7 has an in-camera HDR as one of the "scenes", but the results look normal, not "surreal".

05-21-2016, 07:18 PM	#14
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by reh321 My Q-7 has an in-camera HDR as one of the "scenes", but the results look normal, not "surreal". Yeah, I don't think Q7 HDR and KS2 AHDR are supposed to be the same.

05-21-2016, 11:30 PM	#15
Vmax911 Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ABQ Photos: Gallery Posts: 826	I wonder if the AHDR takes three shots back to back. This would be similar to using burst mode to loosen up a bad aperture drive.