User Mode for astro: Night Vision and LCD brightness can't be saved?

DeadJohn · 01-02-2017, 08:35 AM

I want to configure a user mode for the astrotracer, with screen brightness as dim as possible. Night Vision, LCD brightness, and Outdoor View are apparently global settings that can't go into a user mode. They are found on wrench-icon menu pages. According to the manual, only the camera-icon and custom pages get saved with the user modes.

The best solution I found so far is to customize the info menu by adding Night Vision. When I pick my astro user mode, I use the info menu to make my screen red, then the outdoor view button to dim the screen. When I go to another mode I have to revisit the info menu and outdoor view button. It's inconvenient but not a disaster.

Anyone have a better solution?

MJKoski · 01-02-2017, 10:11 AM

I have the exact same procedure to use night vision and outdoor setting. It gets tiring to quickly check the "color" version of recorded photo and then swap back to night vision for example. Red Eye mode does not show up overexposed areas properly, thus normal vision is sometimes needed.

biz-engineer · 01-02-2017, 11:15 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by DeadJohn

Anyone have a better solution?

Yes. The solution is not to switch off your camera, and use the auto-power off timer instead. This way, you save power and when you press the shutter or image display button, the camera wakes up in night vision mode ready to shoot with your preferred settings.

**lithedreamer** · 01-02-2017, 11:27 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Yes. The solution is not to switch off your camera, and use the auto-power off timer instead. This way, you save power and when you press the shutter or image display button, the camera wakes up in night vision mode ready to shoot with your preferred settings.

Why is it important not to power off your camera? I just have the camera set remember my night vision setting through power cycles.

DeadJohn · 01-02-2017, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Yes. The solution is not to switch off your camera, and use the auto-power off timer instead. This way, you save power and when you press the shutter or image display button, the camera wakes up in night vision mode ready to shoot with your preferred settings.

I do use auto power off, but that's unrelated to getting my LCD to automatically switch to dim red in a user mode. What you're saying only works if I never use the camera during daylight. I want one user mode for astro, others for regular lighting, with custom LCD brightness for each mode.

Once it's red it stays there, but I have to 1) pick my user mode, 2) manually turn on Night Vision, 3) manually pick brightness.

biz-engineer · 01-02-2017, 11:35 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by lithedreamer

Why is it important not to power off your camera? I just have the camera set remember my night vision setting through power cycles.

Ah yes, you are right, in "memory" menu, 3rd column, they've also added the night vision mode, I just discovered , thanks :-)

**smigol** · 01-13-2017, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Ah yes, you are right, in "memory" menu, 3rd column, they've also added the night vision mode, I just discovered , thanks :-)

This is awesome - didn't realize that this was added and had frustrations in the field.

01-02-2017, 08:35 AM	#1
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	User Mode for astro: Night Vision and LCD brightness can't be saved? I want to configure a user mode for the astrotracer, with screen brightness as dim as possible. Night Vision, LCD brightness, and Outdoor View are apparently global settings that can't go into a user mode. They are found on wrench-icon menu pages. According to the manual, only the camera-icon and custom pages get saved with the user modes. The best solution I found so far is to customize the info menu by adding Night Vision. When I pick my astro user mode, I use the info menu to make my screen red, then the outdoor view button to dim the screen. When I go to another mode I have to revisit the info menu and outdoor view button. It's inconvenient but not a disaster. Anyone have a better solution?

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01-02-2017, 10:11 AM	#2
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784	I have the exact same procedure to use night vision and outdoor setting. It gets tiring to quickly check the "color" version of recorded photo and then swap back to night vision for example. Red Eye mode does not show up overexposed areas properly, thus normal vision is sometimes needed.

01-02-2017, 11:15 AM - 1 Like	#3
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,245	Originally posted by DeadJohn Anyone have a better solution? Yes. The solution is not to switch off your camera, and use the auto-power off timer instead. This way, you save power and when you press the shutter or image display button, the camera wakes up in night vision mode ready to shoot with your preferred settings.

01-02-2017, 11:27 AM - 1 Like	#4
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by biz-engineer Yes. The solution is not to switch off your camera, and use the auto-power off timer instead. This way, you save power and when you press the shutter or image display button, the camera wakes up in night vision mode ready to shoot with your preferred settings. Why is it important not to power off your camera? I just have the camera set remember my night vision setting through power cycles.

01-02-2017, 11:31 AM	#5
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834 Original Poster	Originally posted by biz-engineer Yes. The solution is not to switch off your camera, and use the auto-power off timer instead. This way, you save power and when you press the shutter or image display button, the camera wakes up in night vision mode ready to shoot with your preferred settings. I do use auto power off, but that's unrelated to getting my LCD to automatically switch to dim red in a user mode. What you're saying only works if I never use the camera during daylight. I want one user mode for astro, others for regular lighting, with custom LCD brightness for each mode. Once it's red it stays there, but I have to 1) pick my user mode, 2) manually turn on Night Vision, 3) manually pick brightness.

01-02-2017, 11:35 AM - 3 Likes	#6
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,245	Originally posted by lithedreamer Why is it important not to power off your camera? I just have the camera set remember my night vision setting through power cycles. Ah yes, you are right, in "memory" menu, 3rd column, they've also added the night vision mode, I just discovered , thanks :-)

01-13-2017, 01:44 PM	#7
smigol Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Menlo Park, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 422	Originally posted by biz-engineer Ah yes, you are right, in "memory" menu, 3rd column, they've also added the night vision mode, I just discovered , thanks :-) This is awesome - didn't realize that this was added and had frustrations in the field.