K3-III Using Auto (but restricting Aperture)

**snappyhoffy** · 05-12-2021, 07:40 AM

I am struggling to find an easy fix for this but is it possible within the menus to restrict the Aperture that it uses in AUTO mode. My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135.

I appreciate it is an AUTO setting after all but shame you cannot limit it some how. I wondered if you could change the Program Line [Camera 2 - Exposure Setting / Program Line] but it is fixed to AUTO.

Sometimes in the heat of the moment or if my wife wants to 'snap' we just use AUTO...

mtkeller · 05-12-2021, 08:47 AM

What if you used program mode and changed the program line there? Pentax's program mode lets you do all sorts of really nice manual adjustments that other manufacturers don't, but I think if you just switch to P, it is for all intents and purposes auto until you start turning dials.

**Larrymc** · 05-12-2021, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by snappyhoffy

I am struggling to find an easy fix for this but is it possible within the menus to restrict the Aperture that it uses in AUTO mode. My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135.

I appreciate it is an AUTO setting after all but shame you cannot limit it some how. I wondered if you could change the Program Line [Camera 2 - Exposure Setting / Program Line] but it is fixed to AUTO.

Sometimes in the heat of the moment or if my wife wants to 'snap' we just use AUTO...

Get the camera out of auto and you will be able to set the program line. Not sure how that affects the Auto mode though.

**Larrymc** · 05-12-2021, 09:06 AM

Originally posted by mtkeller

What if you used program mode and changed the program line there? Pentax's program mode lets you do all sorts of really nice manual adjustments that other manufacturers don't, but I think if you just switch to P, it is for all intents and purposes auto until you start turning dials.

Yep, that looks like his best option.

**snappyhoffy** · 05-12-2021, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by mtkeller

What if you used program mode and changed the program line there? Pentax's program mode lets you do all sorts of really nice manual adjustments that other manufacturers don't, but I think if you just switch to P, it is for all intents and purposes auto until you start turning dials.

Nah... good call, but just tried that. Maybe have to set up a USER mode for it.

stevebrot · 05-12-2021, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by snappyhoffy

My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135.

It shouldn't... ^ ^ ^

Behavior should be similar to that on the K-3.

Steve

wkraus · 05-12-2021, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by snappyhoffy

I am struggling to find an easy fix for this but is it possible within the menus to restrict the Aperture that it uses in AUTO mode. My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135.
…

MTF Priority program mode might be the right thing? See p. 52 in the English manual. An interesting concept that has been around since at least 1991 (Z-1/PZ-1). If light levels are too low of course it wont help. In that case, why not use Aperture Priority auto?

**snappyhoffy** · 05-12-2021, 12:10 PM

Originally posted by wkraus

MTF Priority program mode might be the right thing? See p. 52 in the English manual. An interesting concept that has been around since at least 1991 (Z-1/PZ-1). If light levels are too low of course it wont help. In that case, why not use Aperture Priority auto?

But that states that it effects P, Sv, TAv and M but not AUTO.... but I will continue to 'play'.

Thanks for your suggestion though.

C_Jones · 05-12-2021, 02:33 PM

I would suggest TAV mode if you want Aperture and Shutter Speed control while the ISO is automatically decided upon by the camera. Manual is valuable for full control of the camera, but TAV gives you a decision on 2 out of 3 of the settings while providing auto ISO.

Bertrand3000 · 05-12-2021, 02:47 PM - **1 Like**

I wonder why P mode isn't acceptable? It is an Auto mode with a program line. Just avoid turning any dials.

stevebrot · 05-12-2021, 03:06 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by snappyhoffy

But that states that it effects P, Sv, TAv and M but not AUTO.... but I will continue to 'play'.

Thanks for your suggestion though.

I believe it is we who are agreeing to 'play". Since there are no obvious menu settings that allow setting an aperture range for any purpose it is probably not a setting. Using a different program curve might work except that Auto mode sort of makes that decision for you based on scene analysis.

FWIW, variations of this thread come up every once in awhile where the user wants to stipulate a range of apertures for program auto exposure in a manner similar to restriction on ISO for auto-ISO; a common suggestion being to set minimum ISO to a fairly high value to force narrower apertures. Auto mode should respect the ISO range restrictions.

For your case, setting one of the User modes to be "Auto" with ISO range restriction might be a workable solution. You can call it "Heat of the Moment" mode.

Steve

**snappyhoffy** · 05-13-2021, 04:33 AM

'HOTM' Mode - I like it!

05-12-2021, 07:40 AM	#1
snappyhoffy Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK Posts: 185	K3-III Using Auto (but restricting Aperture) I am struggling to find an easy fix for this but is it possible within the menus to restrict the Aperture that it uses in AUTO mode. My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135. I appreciate it is an AUTO setting after all but shame you cannot limit it some how. I wondered if you could change the Program Line [Camera 2 - Exposure Setting / Program Line] but it is fixed to AUTO. Sometimes in the heat of the moment or if my wife wants to 'snap' we just use AUTO...

05-12-2021, 03:06 PM - 1 Like	#11
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by snappyhoffy But that states that it effects P, Sv, TAv and M but not AUTO.... but I will continue to 'play'. Thanks for your suggestion though. I believe it is we who are agreeing to 'play". Since there are no obvious menu settings that allow setting an aperture range for any purpose it is probably not a setting. Using a different program curve might work except that Auto mode sort of makes that decision for you based on scene analysis. FWIW, variations of this thread come up every once in awhile where the user wants to stipulate a range of apertures for program auto exposure in a manner similar to restriction on ISO for auto-ISO; a common suggestion being to set minimum ISO to a fairly high value to force narrower apertures. Auto mode should respect the ISO range restrictions. For your case, setting one of the User modes to be "Auto" with ISO range restriction might be a workable solution. You can call it "Heat of the Moment" mode. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 05-12-2021 at 03:08 PM. Reason: forgot end of sentence.

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05-12-2021, 08:47 AM	#2
mtkeller Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Sioux City, IA Photos: Gallery Posts: 938	What if you used program mode and changed the program line there? Pentax's program mode lets you do all sorts of really nice manual adjustments that other manufacturers don't, but I think if you just switch to P, it is for all intents and purposes auto until you start turning dials.

05-12-2021, 09:03 AM	#3
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,252	Originally posted by snappyhoffy I am struggling to find an easy fix for this but is it possible within the menus to restrict the Aperture that it uses in AUTO mode. My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135. I appreciate it is an AUTO setting after all but shame you cannot limit it some how. I wondered if you could change the Program Line [Camera 2 - Exposure Setting / Program Line] but it is fixed to AUTO. Sometimes in the heat of the moment or if my wife wants to 'snap' we just use AUTO... Get the camera out of auto and you will be able to set the program line. Not sure how that affects the Auto mode though.

05-12-2021, 09:06 AM	#4
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,252	Originally posted by mtkeller What if you used program mode and changed the program line there? Pentax's program mode lets you do all sorts of really nice manual adjustments that other manufacturers don't, but I think if you just switch to P, it is for all intents and purposes auto until you start turning dials. Yep, that looks like his best option.

05-12-2021, 09:07 AM	#5
snappyhoffy Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK Posts: 185 Original Poster	Originally posted by mtkeller What if you used program mode and changed the program line there? Pentax's program mode lets you do all sorts of really nice manual adjustments that other manufacturers don't, but I think if you just switch to P, it is for all intents and purposes auto until you start turning dials. Nah... good call, but just tried that. Maybe have to set up a USER mode for it.

05-12-2021, 09:40 AM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by snappyhoffy My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135. It shouldn't... ^ ^ ^ Behavior should be similar to that on the K-3. Steve

05-12-2021, 10:42 AM	#7
wkraus Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Near Vienna, Austria Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,065	Originally posted by snappyhoffy I am struggling to find an easy fix for this but is it possible within the menus to restrict the Aperture that it uses in AUTO mode. My concern is that it defaults to wide open and this is not the 'best' place for my DA* 16-50 and 50-135. … MTF Priority program mode might be the right thing? See p. 52 in the English manual. An interesting concept that has been around since at least 1991 (Z-1/PZ-1). If light levels are too low of course it wont help. In that case, why not use Aperture Priority auto?

05-12-2021, 12:10 PM	#8
snappyhoffy Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK Posts: 185 Original Poster	Originally posted by wkraus MTF Priority program mode might be the right thing? See p. 52 in the English manual. An interesting concept that has been around since at least 1991 (Z-1/PZ-1). If light levels are too low of course it wont help. In that case, why not use Aperture Priority auto? But that states that it effects P, Sv, TAv and M but not AUTO.... but I will continue to 'play'. Thanks for your suggestion though.

05-12-2021, 02:33 PM	#9
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,074	I would suggest TAV mode if you want Aperture and Shutter Speed control while the ISO is automatically decided upon by the camera. Manual is valuable for full control of the camera, but TAV gives you a decision on 2 out of 3 of the settings while providing auto ISO.

05-12-2021, 02:47 PM - 1 Like	#10
Bertrand3000 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 2,009	I wonder why P mode isn't acceptable? It is an Auto mode with a program line. Just avoid turning any dials.

05-13-2021, 04:33 AM	#12
snappyhoffy Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK Posts: 185 Original Poster	'HOTM' Mode - I like it!