'User Mode' - save options?

kypfer · 08-15-2020, 01:25 AM - **1 Like**

Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it. I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to save 'User Settings' to the SD card as well, then re-load from there. Each setting would only take up a few hundred bytes at most, so would hardly impinge on the overall capacity of the card.

Just a thought

bertwert · 08-15-2020, 04:09 AM

Originally posted by kypfer

Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it. I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to save 'User Settings' to the SD card as well, then re-load from there. Each setting would only take up a few hundred bytes at most, so would hardly impinge on the overall capacity of the card.

Just a thought

Why would you reset to the default user settings? The whole point of the user settings is for you to be able to save the settings combinations you like there...

kypfer · 08-15-2020, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by bertwert

Why would you reset to the default user settings? The whole point of the user settings is for you to be able to save the settings combinations you like there...

Exactly ... but there's not enough "spare" user settings ... the K-70 has three, all pre-allocated, at least two of which I use regularly, the KP has five, but only one "spare". All five "user modes" on the K-5 are initially free, but quickly used up. I just thought it'd be useful to be able to carry around a collection of named configurations that I'd found to be useful without having to refer to a notebook and spend time diving in and out of menus to set things up.

These modern cameras are so extensively configurable it can be easy to forget how to take advantage of any one feature when 'live, in the field', if, indeed, I can remember that the feature or capability is available at all

Fortunately, many of the options can be applied later, either by re-saving from within the camera or by using the supplied Digital Camera Utility ... however the Drive Mode options particularly need to be set at the time of exposure

Wheatfield · 08-16-2020, 10:44 AM

Originally posted by kypfer

Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it. I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to save 'User Settings' to the SD card as well, then re-load from there. Each setting would only take up a few hundred bytes at most, so would hardly impinge on the overall capacity of the card.

Just a thought

I’ve just filled my user settings, I see where you are coming from. A user setting, let’s call it “card 1” that looks to a directory on the card and let’s the operator choose from a selection of settings saved to the card would be a nice touch. It would also be nice to be able to load user settings from a card into the camera’s discrete settings rather than having to set the camera to the settings and then save them.
Canon did something like this with one of the EOS cameras back in the 1980s.

deus ursus · 10-02-2020, 12:15 AM

Also, it would be nice to have the settings saved to a file that you could review and edit in Notepad++. It'd give a better overview than diving into menus, + you could exchange settings with other users.

Unregistered User · 10-02-2020, 04:41 AM

I think that's a great idea, and you'd think it'd be pretty easy to implement. Only risk is that one might overwrite the stored settings by reformatting the memory card, or replacing the card in the camera with one that lacks the settings profile data.

deus ursus · 10-02-2020, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by dlh

I think that's a great idea, and you'd think it'd be pretty easy to implement. Only risk is that one might overwrite the stored settings by reformatting the memory card, or replacing the card in the camera with one that lacks the settings profile data.

Yeah, maybe writing it to the card shouldn't be an option, but rather transfer to a computer (or even mobile phone) via USB/wifi/bluetooth?

Unregistered User · 10-02-2020, 06:50 AM

Originally posted by deus ursus

Yeah, maybe writing it to the card shouldn't be an option, but rather transfer to a computer (or even mobile phone) via USB/wifi/bluetooth?

True. And, for that matter, it's always bugged me that I couldn't back up the entire settings database. If I could write it to a computer (whether directly via usb or indirectly via memory card) the way you can with, for example, router settings, I'd be a lot happier. It's really tedious to go through every setting to get the camera back to the way one wants it after something causes the database to be reset to defaults.

deus ursus · 10-02-2020, 07:11 AM - **1 Like**

And imagine having more than one camera body, and being able to copy user settings between them! (Provided both/all bodies are of the same model, or the settings are interchangable between models)

angerdan · 11-01-2020, 03:58 AM

Originally posted by kypfer

Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it.

I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default.

You can use this tool to make it more easy

The Spectacular K-1 User Mode Sharing Service! - PentaxForums.com

kypfer · 11-02-2020, 12:10 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by angerdan

You can use this tool to make it more easy

The Spectacular K-1 User Mode Sharing Service! - PentaxForums.com

Excellent … now I just need to figure out a way of running an Excel spreadsheet on my KP

**rogerstg** · 11-09-2020, 10:05 AM

I take a cell phone pic of the status screen for future reference:

kypfer · 11-30-2020, 12:39 AM

Originally posted by rogerstg

I take a cell phone pic of the status screen for future reference:

Hmmm … first, buy a cell-phone!

Then figure out a way of passing these settings to the camera "without having to refer to a notebook and spend time diving in and out of menus to set things up."

**rogerstg** · 11-30-2020, 06:27 AM

Originally posted by kypfer

Hmmm … first, buy a cell-phone!

Then figure out a way of passing these settings to the camera "without having to refer to a notebook and spend time diving in and out of menus to set things up."

Clearly it's too much for you as one in ~ten people that don't have a cell phone*. But since most people have one, a pic of a single screen is far less tedious than entering information into a spreadsheet or writing in a notebook. Speaking for myself, I prefer reducing an effort by half than by none. I hope you don't lose your notebook.

* Of people with electricity.

Gamblat · 06-25-2021, 10:56 PM

The cellphone sounds plausible.

08-15-2020, 01:25 AM - 1 Like	#1
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,594	'User Mode' - save options? Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it. I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to save 'User Settings' to the SD card as well, then re-load from there. Each setting would only take up a few hundred bytes at most, so would hardly impinge on the overall capacity of the card. Just a thought

11-09-2020, 10:05 AM	#12
rogerstg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 1,168	I take a cell phone pic of the status screen for future reference: Attached Images

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08-15-2020, 04:09 AM	#2
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Originally posted by kypfer Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it. I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to save 'User Settings' to the SD card as well, then re-load from there. Each setting would only take up a few hundred bytes at most, so would hardly impinge on the overall capacity of the card. Just a thought Why would you reset to the default user settings? The whole point of the user settings is for you to be able to save the settings combinations you like there...

08-15-2020, 07:50 AM	#3
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,594 Original Poster	Originally posted by bertwert Why would you reset to the default user settings? The whole point of the user settings is for you to be able to save the settings combinations you like there... Exactly ... but there's not enough "spare" user settings ... the K-70 has three, all pre-allocated, at least two of which I use regularly, the KP has five, but only one "spare". All five "user modes" on the K-5 are initially free, but quickly used up. I just thought it'd be useful to be able to carry around a collection of named configurations that I'd found to be useful without having to refer to a notebook and spend time diving in and out of menus to set things up. These modern cameras are so extensively configurable it can be easy to forget how to take advantage of any one feature when 'live, in the field', if, indeed, I can remember that the feature or capability is available at all Fortunately, many of the options can be applied later, either by re-saving from within the camera or by using the supplied Digital Camera Utility ... however the Drive Mode options particularly need to be set at the time of exposure

08-16-2020, 10:44 AM	#4
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by kypfer Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it. I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to save 'User Settings' to the SD card as well, then re-load from there. Each setting would only take up a few hundred bytes at most, so would hardly impinge on the overall capacity of the card. Just a thought I’ve just filled my user settings, I see where you are coming from. A user setting, let’s call it “card 1” that looks to a directory on the card and let’s the operator choose from a selection of settings saved to the card would be a nice touch. It would also be nice to be able to load user settings from a card into the camera’s discrete settings rather than having to set the camera to the settings and then save them. Canon did something like this with one of the EOS cameras back in the 1980s.

10-02-2020, 12:15 AM	#5
deus ursus Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stårheim, Norway Posts: 658	Also, it would be nice to have the settings saved to a file that you could review and edit in Notepad++. It'd give a better overview than diving into menus, + you could exchange settings with other users.

10-02-2020, 04:41 AM	#6
Unregistered User Guest	I think that's a great idea, and you'd think it'd be pretty easy to implement. Only risk is that one might overwrite the stored settings by reformatting the memory card, or replacing the card in the camera with one that lacks the settings profile data.

10-02-2020, 06:03 AM	#7
deus ursus Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stårheim, Norway Posts: 658	Originally posted by dlh I think that's a great idea, and you'd think it'd be pretty easy to implement. Only risk is that one might overwrite the stored settings by reformatting the memory card, or replacing the card in the camera with one that lacks the settings profile data. Yeah, maybe writing it to the card shouldn't be an option, but rather transfer to a computer (or even mobile phone) via USB/wifi/bluetooth?

10-02-2020, 06:50 AM	#8
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by deus ursus Yeah, maybe writing it to the card shouldn't be an option, but rather transfer to a computer (or even mobile phone) via USB/wifi/bluetooth? True. And, for that matter, it's always bugged me that I couldn't back up the entire settings database. If I could write it to a computer (whether directly via usb or indirectly via memory card) the way you can with, for example, router settings, I'd be a lot happier. It's really tedious to go through every setting to get the camera back to the way one wants it after something causes the database to be reset to defaults.

10-02-2020, 07:11 AM - 1 Like	#9
deus ursus Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stårheim, Norway Posts: 658	And imagine having more than one camera body, and being able to copy user settings between them! (Provided both/all bodies are of the same model, or the settings are interchangable between models)

11-01-2020, 03:58 AM	#10
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by kypfer Every so often I come up with a combination of settings that have been useful for a particular scenario or set of circumstances and find I have no "User Settings" available to save it. I usually overwrite one of the default settings, write everything down in a notebook or whatever, usually when I get home, then re-enable the previously over-written default. You can use this tool to make it more easy The Spectacular K-1 User Mode Sharing Service! - PentaxForums.com

11-02-2020, 12:10 AM - 1 Like	#11
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,594 Original Poster	Originally posted by angerdan You can use this tool to make it more easy The Spectacular K-1 User Mode Sharing Service! - PentaxForums.com Excellent … now I just need to figure out a way of running an Excel spreadsheet on my KP

11-30-2020, 12:39 AM	#13
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,594 Original Poster	Originally posted by rogerstg I take a cell phone pic of the status screen for future reference: Hmmm … first, buy a cell-phone! Then figure out a way of passing these settings to the camera "without having to refer to a notebook and spend time diving in and out of menus to set things up."

11-30-2020, 06:27 AM	#14
rogerstg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 1,168	Originally posted by kypfer Hmmm … first, buy a cell-phone! Then figure out a way of passing these settings to the camera "without having to refer to a notebook and spend time diving in and out of menus to set things up." Clearly it's too much for you as one in ~ten people that don't have a cell phone. But since most people have one, a pic of a single screen is far less tedious than entering information into a spreadsheet or writing in a notebook. Speaking for myself, I prefer reducing an effort by half than by none. I hope you don't lose your notebook. Of people with electricity.

06-25-2021, 10:56 PM	#15
Gamblat Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 87	The cellphone sounds plausible.