[c.a.m]

(I thought this item would be better placed in its own thread, rather than in the thread on K-3 III Tips and Tricks at K-3 iii tips and tricks (let's all contribute) - PentaxForums.com)

I would appreciate if someone would go through the steps to confirm that I've described the set-up and use properly, and that it works. Also, please let me know if this or another method has already been posted. I didn't find anything in my search here (just various members lamenting the U1, U2 display... )

- Craig


When the Mode Dial of the K-3 Mark III is used to select a User Mode, the User Mode is identified as U1, U2, etc, on the Status Screen. The descriptive name that the user has made does not appear. This is inconvenient and time-wasting.

Basically, each User Mode 1 to 5 can be assigned to one of ten pre-saved and named 'Boxes' of favourite settings. Here is a work-around that displays the name of the User Mode and provides a convenient way to select the settings from the ten boxes. The key is the Memo that appears on the left panel of page 101 of the (English) Operating Manual concerning the [Recall User Mode Setting].


Set-up

1. Save your frequently-used settings in BOX1 through BOX10, and name the Boxes (Saving the Settings, page 100). For convenience, initially assign BOX1 to U1, BOX2 to U2, and so on to BOX5/U5.

2. In the rear Control Panel, register [Recall User Mode Setting] as one of the Control Panel items (Customizing the Control Panel, p. 106). The small icon square will display BOX1 as its default.



Using the User Mode

1. Set the mode dial to U1.

2. Display the Control Panel on the rear screen.

3. Select the icon for [Recall User Mode Setting] (BOX1) on the Control Panel.

4. The name of the User Mode will be displayed at the top left of the screen.

5. To select another User Mode, leave the User Mode dial at U1, and scroll the rear e-dial to change the BOX (Changing the Settings, p. 101). (Alternatively, change the Mode Dial to another User Mode to go directly to its saved BOX.)

---

Last edited by c.a.m; 12-22-2021 at 07:35 AM.

[Mikesul]

Good job. I will check this tomorrow but it sure seems to be what we are after. Thanks.

[nixxo2002]

definitely , i will try it tomorrow

[kypfer]

Super !!
It's a cloudy drizzly day here so I've now got something useful to occupy my time
Thank you


Just wondering, does this make the various Ux settings on the Mode Dial effectively redundant … I'm sure I'll find out over the next few minutes

[c.a.m]

Just wondering, does this make the various Ux settings on the Mode Dial effectively redundant

I think so. That thought occurred to me as I was testing the setup. In effect, the [Recall User Mode Setting] on the Control Panel provides ready access to ten different User Modes. The mapping of the User Modes to the BOXes makes for a versatile customization.

In use, this approach requires a three-step process: Set the Mode Dial to U1-U5; Press INFO button to bring up the Control Panel; Select the desired BOX settings. So, it's a little more involved than simply setting the Mode Dial, but I don't think it's overly cumbersome.

- Craig

[kypfer]

I think so. That thought occurred to me as I was testing the setup. In effect, the [Recall User Mode Setting] on the Control Panel provides ready access to ten different User Modes. The mapping of the User Modes to the BOXes makes for a versatile customization.

Agreed!
These days I almost invariably use one User Mode or another as 'starting points' for whatever I'm doing, so using the Control Panel to switch between User Modes actually makes more sense to me than to fiddle with the Mode Dial and it's locking mechanism! The "normal" exposure modes are rapidly becoming simply a blank canvas for a new set of User Configurations

In use, this approach requires a three-step process: Set the Mode Dial to U1-U5; Press INFO button to bring up the Control Panel; Select the desired BOX settings. So, it's a little more involved than simply setting the Mode Dial, but I don't think it's overly cumbersome.
- Craig

Not overly cumbersome at all!
Once the User Mode is 'programmed in' to a 'Box', as I'm almost invariably in a User Mode anyway, I'll effectively have an immediate choice of up to 10 configurations available and accessable to my right thumb without having to shift the grip on my camera to use two hands to operate the Mode Dial

The more I get to grips with the K-3iii the more I get to realise how supremely sophisticated it is!
Assuming you "know what you're doing" sufficiently well to take advantage of the features and assemble them into specific configurations, actually using the configurations "out in the wild" can make the whole experience so much more satisfying, without having to worry about "did I remember to set this or that?!" or endless tweaking in "post"

[RobG]

Interesting, thanks!