K3 III - Wish list and 'bug reports' for future firmware updates / upgrades

sbc · 06-05-2021, 04:16 AM

Originally posted by sbc

When flash comp is assigned to Smart Function, the Smart Function dial can only set +0.5 and +1.0. To select other values, I have to do it at the rear LCD panel after pressing the S.Fn button.

I changed the EV values to 1/3 instead of 1/2 and the smart function worked as intended. I returned it to 1/2 stop and again it cannot be set to anything other than that 2 values.

Last edited by sbc; 08-29-2021 at 11:19 PM.

mtkeller · 06-05-2021, 09:16 PM

Have you looked at the options for flash compensation when it is added to the smart function? For instance, with white balance, you can control which white balances are selectable via the dial. Perhaps you need to enable more of them in the setup.

Class A · 06-06-2021, 11:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by MrNPhoto

I'm hoping for a quick firmware update to fix this as it has happened several times now.

You may want to try firmware version V1. 02 particularly if you are using both card slots.

Painter · 06-07-2021, 10:54 AM

On the wish list note As they have implemented several bracketing modes I would like them to implement a smooth transition focus composite mode. A simple explanation would be aperture bracketing with image combining. The result is that the in focus area is not impacted but the out of focus areas are averaged giving a smoother background. You can do it manually but everything is there to do it automatically.

The Minolta Maxxum 7 could do it Smooth Transition Focus – Simulation with the Minolta Maxxum 7 | Wallace Koopmans Artlog

mctaveck · 08-12-2021, 06:38 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

It was happening consistently with the DA 18-135 mounted. I then tried it with the 16-85, 55-300 (non-PLM), DA 40 Ltd, DA 15 Ltd, and Sigma 35 mm Art, ... and it didn't happen with any of them!

So I put the 18-135 back on and tried again, and it still happens about a third of the time. The contacts are clean. Focal length (between 18 and 135) seems to have no effect; it can happen at any. Curiouser and curiouser.

I would be interested to know if anyone else is seeing this with the DA 18-135. One of my sons also has that lens; I'll try his when I get a chance..

Just take mine after a couple of days, maybe more, and I notice that strange fluttering sound, before reading this thread. Not the same sound each time , sometime more sometime less evident; I had the 16-86. I try with the 100mm dfa macro and no fluttering sound. I put back the 16-85 and ... no more strange fluttering sound. M, AV, TAV ... nothing seem to be a cause.
Pure Pentax mistery.

sbc · 08-29-2021, 11:22 PM - **2 Likes**

I sold my Hoya starburst filter because my previous Pentax DSLRs had such a digital filter. Now it is gone from the K-3III

kypfer · 08-30-2021, 11:55 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by sbc

I sold my Hoya starburst filter because my previous Pentax DSLRs had such a digital filter. Now it is gone from the K-3III

I miss the "Water Color", "Pastel" and "Poster" filters so much I carry an older camera as well, just in case I want to use them!
It's not necessarily that the effects can't be created in "post", but as a preview feature to see if a particular scene will "work" at all with the filter applied and if any compositional adjustments might improve the effect.

**Weevil** · 09-21-2021, 03:52 PM

Hi, just at the learning curve phase with the new flagship...
not sure if that has been raised, but when using the K3MK3 with a battery grip, I can set it to auto, or use the battery from body or the grip as priority... that's fine.

But in previous models (K-3ii, K-1, K-5iis at the least), I could also see the battery charge levels on the same screen menu... but not in the K3MK3 !!!

That was useful to see the battery level on the body before dismantling the grip (yes I use the Grip battery in priority).

So if the body level is 100%, I don't need to remove the grip to access the one on-body.

Maybe I am not looking at the right place, but I miss that feature

**StigVidar** · 09-22-2021, 04:37 AM

Originally posted by Weevil

That was useful to see the battery level on the body before dismantling the grip (yes I use the Grip battery in priority).

So if the body level is 100%, I don't need to remove the grip to access the one on-body.

Maybe I am not looking at the right place, but I miss that feature

It is there on the screen when you press the info button.

**Weevil** · 09-22-2021, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by StigVidar

It is there on the sceen when you press the info button.

Thanks for the tip!
I've never really used the (info) button from the control panel in all those years that I am with Pentax (since 2012), and I just realized that it also addresses another annoyance I never tried to search for: The "ISO Auto Max" setting from the same screnn ataht allows me to avoid going to the menus under auto ISO parameters to fix the max value... OMG !

I just check some of my older Pentax Bodies, and they are all the same kind of feature .... OMG !! I am making a fool of me!

Know I could change it there in a snap with the back wheel... OMG!!!

No way !! I am flabbergasted that I missed that feature for all these years !

Thanks for steering me into tahat direction

mtkeller · 09-22-2021, 06:57 PM

You can also customize what widgets are on the info screen, as if you needed more to customize on this camera

Painter · 09-23-2021, 10:29 PM

With the user modes I can assign settings to any of the 10 boxes but when I want to recall them to assign to a user mode on the dial I can only see the 5 that are already assigned to a dial. Essentially boxes 5-10 can hold settings but you can never access them. I’m using firmware 1.10

Edit- I just figured it out you have to select the dial position first then the box to move to it. I’m sure there is a better implementation of user mode assignments they could have come up with.

kypfer · 09-24-2021, 11:35 PM

Originally posted by Painter

With the user modes I can assign settings to any of the 10 boxes but when I want to recall them to assign to a user mode on the dial I can only see the 5 that are already assigned to a dial. Essentially boxes 5-10 can hold settings but you can never access them. I’m using firmware 1.10

Edit- I just figured it out you have to select the dial position first then the box to move to it. I’m sure there is a better implementation of user mode assignments they could have come up with.

You can assign "Recall User Mode Setting" to a space on the Control Panel.
The feature is only available when already in a User Mode, but it enables you to scroll through all ten Boxes and choose whichever … the assigned name is also visible at this point as well.
I'm getting to the stage of using my K-3iii almost exclusively in pre-configured User Modes, simply using the Av, Tv, TAv etc. settings to configure a User Mode then storing it

Lloyd_Christmas · 11-19-2021, 07:57 AM

I had a sofware lockup so bad I had to remove the battery as "off" didn't even work.
I was in aperture priority and had just gone to menu to switch to highlight metering mode.
Also had an external shutterboss connected up, but it had no batteries in it...just shutter operation.

Don't know if I can repeat it....don't know if I want to... that stuff scares me.

**Larrymc** · 11-21-2021, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by Lloyd_Christmas

I had a sofware lockup so bad I had to remove the battery as "off" didn't even work.
I was in aperture priority and had just gone to menu to switch to highlight metering mode.
Also had an external shutterboss connected up, but it had no batteries in it...just shutter operation.

Don't know if I can repeat it....don't know if I want to... that stuff scares me.

Sounds like the "Shutterboss" could have created the problem. They do have some functionality even with the batteries removed. Why go to the menu to change metering mode simply use the metering button if its not setup as one of your smart functions?

08-29-2021, 11:22 PM - 2 Likes	#81
sbc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 357	Give me back starburst! I sold my Hoya starburst filter because my previous Pentax DSLRs had such a digital filter. Now it is gone from the K-3III

09-22-2021, 04:37 AM	#84
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 705	Originally posted by Weevil That was useful to see the battery level on the body before dismantling the grip (yes I use the Grip battery in priority). So if the body level is 100%, I don't need to remove the grip to access the one on-body. Maybe I am not looking at the right place, but I miss that feature It is there on the screen when you press the info button. Last edited by StigVidar; 09-22-2021 at 10:02 PM.

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06-05-2021, 04:16 AM	#76
sbc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 357	Originally posted by sbc When flash comp is assigned to Smart Function, the Smart Function dial can only set +0.5 and +1.0. To select other values, I have to do it at the rear LCD panel after pressing the S.Fn button. I changed the EV values to 1/3 instead of 1/2 and the smart function worked as intended. I returned it to 1/2 stop and again it cannot be set to anything other than that 2 values. Last edited by sbc; 08-29-2021 at 11:19 PM.

06-05-2021, 09:16 PM	#77
mtkeller Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Sioux City, IA Photos: Gallery Posts: 938	Have you looked at the options for flash compensation when it is added to the smart function? For instance, with white balance, you can control which white balances are selectable via the dial. Perhaps you need to enable more of them in the setup.

06-06-2021, 11:28 PM - 1 Like	#78
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by MrNPhoto I'm hoping for a quick firmware update to fix this as it has happened several times now. You may want to try firmware version V1. 02 particularly if you are using both card slots.

06-07-2021, 10:54 AM	#79
Painter Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 348	On the wish list note As they have implemented several bracketing modes I would like them to implement a smooth transition focus composite mode. A simple explanation would be aperture bracketing with image combining. The result is that the in focus area is not impacted but the out of focus areas are averaged giving a smoother background. You can do it manually but everything is there to do it automatically. The Minolta Maxxum 7 could do it Smooth Transition Focus – Simulation with the Minolta Maxxum 7 \| Wallace Koopmans Artlog

08-12-2021, 06:38 AM	#80
mctaveck Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 165	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman It was happening consistently with the DA 18-135 mounted. I then tried it with the 16-85, 55-300 (non-PLM), DA 40 Ltd, DA 15 Ltd, and Sigma 35 mm Art, ... and it didn't happen with any of them! So I put the 18-135 back on and tried again, and it still happens about a third of the time. The contacts are clean. Focal length (between 18 and 135) seems to have no effect; it can happen at any. Curiouser and curiouser. I would be interested to know if anyone else is seeing this with the DA 18-135. One of my sons also has that lens; I'll try his when I get a chance.. Just take mine after a couple of days, maybe more, and I notice that strange fluttering sound, before reading this thread. Not the same sound each time , sometime more sometime less evident; I had the 16-86. I try with the 100mm dfa macro and no fluttering sound. I put back the 16-85 and ... no more strange fluttering sound. M, AV, TAV ... nothing seem to be a cause. Pure Pentax mistery.

08-30-2021, 11:55 PM - 1 Like	#82
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,593	Originally posted by sbc I sold my Hoya starburst filter because my previous Pentax DSLRs had such a digital filter. Now it is gone from the K-3III I miss the "Water Color", "Pastel" and "Poster" filters so much I carry an older camera as well, just in case I want to use them! It's not necessarily that the effects can't be created in "post", but as a preview feature to see if a particular scene will "work" at all with the filter applied and if any compositional adjustments might improve the effect.

09-21-2021, 03:52 PM	#83
Weevil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Near Montréal, Québec Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,445	Hi, just at the learning curve phase with the new flagship... not sure if that has been raised, but when using the K3MK3 with a battery grip, I can set it to auto, or use the battery from body or the grip as priority... that's fine. But in previous models (K-3ii, K-1, K-5iis at the least), I could also see the battery charge levels on the same screen menu... but not in the K3MK3 !!! That was useful to see the battery level on the body before dismantling the grip (yes I use the Grip battery in priority). So if the body level is 100%, I don't need to remove the grip to access the one on-body. Maybe I am not looking at the right place, but I miss that feature

09-22-2021, 06:41 PM	#85
Weevil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Near Montréal, Québec Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,445	Originally posted by StigVidar It is there on the sceen when you press the info button. Thanks for the tip! I've never really used the (info) button from the control panel in all those years that I am with Pentax (since 2012), and I just realized that it also addresses another annoyance I never tried to search for: The "ISO Auto Max" setting from the same screnn ataht allows me to avoid going to the menus under auto ISO parameters to fix the max value... OMG ! I just check some of my older Pentax Bodies, and they are all the same kind of feature .... OMG !! I am making a fool of me! Know I could change it there in a snap with the back wheel... OMG!!! No way !! I am flabbergasted that I missed that feature for all these years ! Thanks for steering me into tahat direction

09-22-2021, 06:57 PM	#86
mtkeller Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Sioux City, IA Photos: Gallery Posts: 938	You can also customize what widgets are on the info screen, as if you needed more to customize on this camera

09-23-2021, 10:29 PM	#87
Painter Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 348	With the user modes I can assign settings to any of the 10 boxes but when I want to recall them to assign to a user mode on the dial I can only see the 5 that are already assigned to a dial. Essentially boxes 5-10 can hold settings but you can never access them. I’m using firmware 1.10 Edit- I just figured it out you have to select the dial position first then the box to move to it. I’m sure there is a better implementation of user mode assignments they could have come up with.

09-24-2021, 11:35 PM	#88
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,593	Originally posted by Painter With the user modes I can assign settings to any of the 10 boxes but when I want to recall them to assign to a user mode on the dial I can only see the 5 that are already assigned to a dial. Essentially boxes 5-10 can hold settings but you can never access them. I’m using firmware 1.10 Edit- I just figured it out you have to select the dial position first then the box to move to it. I’m sure there is a better implementation of user mode assignments they could have come up with. You can assign "Recall User Mode Setting" to a space on the Control Panel. The feature is only available when already in a User Mode, but it enables you to scroll through all ten Boxes and choose whichever … the assigned name is also visible at this point as well. I'm getting to the stage of using my K-3iii almost exclusively in pre-configured User Modes, simply using the Av, Tv, TAv etc. settings to configure a User Mode then storing it

11-19-2021, 07:57 AM	#89
Lloyd_Christmas Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 458	I had a sofware lockup so bad I had to remove the battery as "off" didn't even work. I was in aperture priority and had just gone to menu to switch to highlight metering mode. Also had an external shutterboss connected up, but it had no batteries in it...just shutter operation. Don't know if I can repeat it....don't know if I want to... that stuff scares me.

11-21-2021, 06:19 AM	#90
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,251	Originally posted by Lloyd_Christmas I had a sofware lockup so bad I had to remove the battery as "off" didn't even work. I was in aperture priority and had just gone to menu to switch to highlight metering mode. Also had an external shutterboss connected up, but it had no batteries in it...just shutter operation. Don't know if I can repeat it....don't know if I want to... that stuff scares me. Sounds like the "Shutterboss" could have created the problem. They do have some functionality even with the batteries removed. Why go to the menu to change metering mode simply use the metering button if its not setup as one of your smart functions?