Optical preview not working with M series lenses

scottike · 04-15-2022, 03:25 PM

I discovered my K-3 won't stop down my M series lenses with the optical preview. It works with A series and more modern lenses. Is this related to the new Auto-expose feature with these older lenses? Any known way to get optical preview working? I really rely on it for my macro photography.

Not a Number · 04-15-2022, 03:46 PM

Did you enable use aperture ring (or something to that effect) in the settings menu?

scottike · 04-15-2022, 09:21 PM

I did. Could that be a problem?

Not a Number · 04-15-2022, 11:02 PM

It needs to be enabled for lenses with rings. Camera should be in M mode as well with M or K lenses or lenses off "A" mode. It might work in Av mode on the K-3iii - not sure about that.

kypfer · 04-16-2022, 01:27 AM

Assuming the OP is referring to a K-3iii, "Optical Preview" needs to be set in Menu C2 - Preview Dial and "Using Aperture Ring" in the Menu C6 needs to be set on.
Optical Preview will then work with a non-A lens (or an A lens not set to A) in Manual and Tv modes.
Having the ISO set to Auto when in Tv Mode may affect functionality … as with much of the K-3iii, there are an extensive number of optional settings which may or may not affect something else

scottike · 04-17-2022, 07:50 PM

kypfer had the solution. The preview only works in M mode or Tv with fixed ISO. Any idea why? It seems I should be able to actuate the aperture lever in any of the valid modes. I'm not setting the exposure at that point, just grabbing a DoF estimate.

**clackers** · 04-17-2022, 09:03 PM

Originally posted by scottike

kypfer had the solution. The preview only works in M mode or Tv with fixed ISO. Any idea why? It seems I should be able to actuate the aperture lever in any of the valid modes. I'm not setting the exposure at that point, just grabbing a DoF estimate.

The M lenses' aperture is controlled from their own ring, not from the camera body.

Not a Number · 04-21-2022, 06:41 AM

The setting "Using aperture ring" is labeled such for this very reason

04-15-2022, 03:25 PM	#1
scottike Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 51	Optical preview not working with M series lenses I discovered my K-3 won't stop down my M series lenses with the optical preview. It works with A series and more modern lenses. Is this related to the new Auto-expose feature with these older lenses? Any known way to get optical preview working? I really rely on it for my macro photography.

04-16-2022, 01:27 AM	#5
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 2,532	Assuming the OP is referring to a K-3iii, "Optical Preview" needs to be set in Menu C2 - Preview Dial and "Using Aperture Ring" in the Menu C6 needs to be set on. Optical Preview will then work with a non-A lens (or an A lens not set to A) in Manual and Tv modes. Having the ISO set to Auto when in Tv Mode may affect functionality … as with much of the K-3iii, there are an extensive number of optional settings which may or may not affect something else Last edited by kypfer; 04-16-2022 at 01:35 AM.

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04-15-2022, 03:46 PM	#2
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 9,625	Did you enable use aperture ring (or something to that effect) in the settings menu?

04-15-2022, 09:21 PM	#3
scottike Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 51 Original Poster	I did. Could that be a problem?

04-15-2022, 11:02 PM	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 9,625	It needs to be enabled for lenses with rings. Camera should be in M mode as well with M or K lenses or lenses off "A" mode. It might work in Av mode on the K-3iii - not sure about that.

04-17-2022, 07:50 PM	#6
scottike Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 51 Original Poster	kypfer had the solution. The preview only works in M mode or Tv with fixed ISO. Any idea why? It seems I should be able to actuate the aperture lever in any of the valid modes. I'm not setting the exposure at that point, just grabbing a DoF estimate.

04-17-2022, 09:03 PM	#7
clackers Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 15,982	Originally posted by scottike kypfer had the solution. The preview only works in M mode or Tv with fixed ISO. Any idea why? It seems I should be able to actuate the aperture lever in any of the valid modes. I'm not setting the exposure at that point, just grabbing a DoF estimate. The M lenses' aperture is controlled from their own ring, not from the camera body.

04-21-2022, 06:41 AM	#8
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 9,625	The setting "Using aperture ring" is labeled such for this very reason

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