Hello, brand new to this. Just received a Pentax K-70

Pjbontheroad · 03-13-2020, 10:20 AM

I am hoping the issue I am facing is simply my ignorance. Shipping and receiving anything in Nicaragua is a challenge. At night, while attempting to shoot the stars, my live view screen is filled with what looks like a blizzard of snow. I can’t see what the camera is looking at and certainly can’t focus. The interference however does not translate to the final picture. Once again, any time I set the camera up to shoot at night the live view screen fills with snow. Is this normal? B&H referred me to Pentax and Pentax will not answer my emails.

mblanc · 03-13-2020, 11:45 AM

Does not sound right. You may want to try the "Ask B&H" forum.

**Crooski** · 03-13-2020, 12:14 PM

Check if you have set the camera to focus peaking, then switch off focus peaking

**UncleVanya** · 03-13-2020, 12:22 PM

Focus peaking and the blown highlight indication (can't recall what it is called) also can interact.

1) If you use LiveView during the day - is it normal?
2) Can you recreate the problem indoors?
3) Can you use a cellphone or something else to capture it happening?

**PJ1** · 03-13-2020, 01:38 PM

Welcome to the Forums. The K70 is a great camera. But your current issue would be frustrating. It does sound like something to do with focus peaking or an interaction with some other camera setting. I am sure there will be someone here who can identify the problem. All modern DSLRs are complicated and I don't think any of us are immune from things like this. When we find the answer it is usually something simple.

**Mikesul** · 03-13-2020, 02:00 PM

Welcome to Pentax Forums.

BigMackCam · 03-13-2020, 02:17 PM

Hello and welcome to the forums

Which of the camera's modes are you using to photograph the night sky? Also, what is the ISO setting? A very high ISO setting will result in a lot of noise in Live View... and if you're using an automatic or semi-automatic mode for shooting, the camera may be pushing the ISO setting to a very high level.

It would be immensely helpful if you could take a JPEG photo and upload it here - not so much for us to look at the photo itself, but so we can examine the EXIF data contained within the image. This will tell us many of your settings, which might have something to do with what you're experiencing...

swanlefitte · 03-13-2020, 02:21 PM

It sounds like noise. My guess is with long exposure the live view has to amp the little light the sensor is getting. Over the long exposure the sensor accumulates enough light for a proper exposure. If liveview waited for that light instead of just amplifying it, the lag would be unacceptable.

Edit. My ks-2 uses f4 for liveview and even with a 10s exposure panning looks instant which means the ssmpling rate is at best 1/30s. Since f4 is used i bet liveview has a specific sample rate also. Probably 1/50 or 1/60 based on what country you are in for video use and flicker control.

Pjbontheroad · 03-13-2020, 05:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Crooski

Check if you have set the camera to focus peaking, then switch off focus peaking

Wow.....I believe that was the problem. I am going out on the balcony now to experiment. Thank you so much....all of you.

Pjbontheroad · 03-13-2020, 05:30 PM - **1 Like**

I shut off focus peaking and the live view screen looks much less noisy.....thank you to all of you. Here in Nicaragua shipping in or out of the country is next to impossible so I was not looking forward to shipping it back for repairs. I had a hunch it was my own inexperience and so it was. Thanks again.

mkgd1 · 03-13-2020, 07:40 PM

Glad you solved the problem. Welcome to the forum.

**Kerrowdown** · 03-14-2020, 12:09 AM

Welcome to the forum, glad your issue has been resolved quickly.

**SharkyCA** · 03-15-2020, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by Pjbontheroad

I am hoping the issue I am facing is simply my ignorance. Shipping and receiving anything in Nicaragua is a challenge. At night, while attempting to shoot the stars, my live view screen is filled with what looks like a blizzard of snow. I can’t see what the camera is looking at and certainly can’t focus. The interference however does not translate to the final picture. Once again, any time I set the camera up to shoot at night the live view screen fills with snow. Is this normal? B&H referred me to Pentax and Pentax will not answer my emails.

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Focus peaking and the blown highlight indication (can't recall what it is called) also can interact.

1) If you use LiveView during the day - is it normal?
2) Can you recreate the problem indoors?
3) Can you use a cellphone or something else to capture it happening?

Just a thought the K-70 has a switch in the menu for "night vision" turns the lcd screen red for astrotracing shots at night, I haven't used it myself but you may want to try.

Also you may be interested in the E-Book available on this forum published by a member who recently passed (Yvon Bourque) Pentax eBook Downloads - Now on PF! (purchase here for instant access) - PentaxForums.com

Cheers, Ola, Welcome to the forum!

**aslyfox** · 03-15-2020, 06:25 AM

Welcome

as you have discovered you will find friendly members and knowledge here

check out what is available under " cameras ", " lenses " and " articles " above

and ask for any type of help you need

the members will do their best for you

and above all

have fun with your equipment

03-13-2020, 10:20 AM	#1
Pjbontheroad New Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Posts: 10	Hello, brand new to this. Just received a Pentax K-70 I am hoping the issue I am facing is simply my ignorance. Shipping and receiving anything in Nicaragua is a challenge. At night, while attempting to shoot the stars, my live view screen is filled with what looks like a blizzard of snow. I can’t see what the camera is looking at and certainly can’t focus. The interference however does not translate to the final picture. Once again, any time I set the camera up to shoot at night the live view screen fills with snow. Is this normal? B&H referred me to Pentax and Pentax will not answer my emails.

03-13-2020, 02:21 PM	#8
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,016	It sounds like noise. My guess is with long exposure the live view has to amp the little light the sensor is getting. Over the long exposure the sensor accumulates enough light for a proper exposure. If liveview waited for that light instead of just amplifying it, the lag would be unacceptable. Edit. My ks-2 uses f4 for liveview and even with a 10s exposure panning looks instant which means the ssmpling rate is at best 1/30s. Since f4 is used i bet liveview has a specific sample rate also. Probably 1/50 or 1/60 based on what country you are in for video use and flicker control. Last edited by swanlefitte; 03-13-2020 at 02:32 PM.

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03-13-2020, 11:45 AM	#2
mblanc Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 555	Does not sound right. You may want to try the "Ask B&H" forum.

03-13-2020, 12:14 PM	#3
Crooski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Rozenburg , Zuid-Holland Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,493	Check if you have set the camera to focus peaking, then switch off focus peaking

03-13-2020, 12:22 PM	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,451	Focus peaking and the blown highlight indication (can't recall what it is called) also can interact. 1) If you use LiveView during the day - is it normal? 2) Can you recreate the problem indoors? 3) Can you use a cellphone or something else to capture it happening?

03-13-2020, 01:38 PM	#5
PJ1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mosquito Creek, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,167	Welcome to the Forums. The K70 is a great camera. But your current issue would be frustrating. It does sound like something to do with focus peaking or an interaction with some other camera setting. I am sure there will be someone here who can identify the problem. All modern DSLRs are complicated and I don't think any of us are immune from things like this. When we find the answer it is usually something simple.

03-13-2020, 02:00 PM	#6
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,102	Welcome to Pentax Forums.

03-13-2020, 02:17 PM	#7
BigMackCam - Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 18,745	Hello and welcome to the forums Which of the camera's modes are you using to photograph the night sky? Also, what is the ISO setting? A very high ISO setting will result in a lot of noise in Live View... and if you're using an automatic or semi-automatic mode for shooting, the camera may be pushing the ISO setting to a very high level. It would be immensely helpful if you could take a JPEG photo and upload it here - not so much for us to look at the photo itself, but so we can examine the EXIF data contained within the image. This will tell us many of your settings, which might have something to do with what you're experiencing...

03-13-2020, 05:27 PM - 1 Like	#9
Pjbontheroad New Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Posts: 10 Original Poster	Originally posted by Crooski Check if you have set the camera to focus peaking, then switch off focus peaking Wow.....I believe that was the problem. I am going out on the balcony now to experiment. Thank you so much....all of you.

03-13-2020, 05:30 PM - 1 Like	#10
Pjbontheroad New Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Posts: 10 Original Poster	I shut off focus peaking and the live view screen looks much less noisy.....thank you to all of you. Here in Nicaragua shipping in or out of the country is next to impossible so I was not looking forward to shipping it back for repairs. I had a hunch it was my own inexperience and so it was. Thanks again.

03-13-2020, 07:40 PM	#11
mkgd1 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Mohave county Arizona Photos: Albums Posts: 1,076	Glad you solved the problem. Welcome to the forum.

03-14-2020, 12:09 AM	#12
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 56,034	Welcome to the forum, glad your issue has been resolved quickly.

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03-15-2020, 06:10 AM	#13
SharkyCA Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 806	Originally posted by Pjbontheroad I am hoping the issue I am facing is simply my ignorance. Shipping and receiving anything in Nicaragua is a challenge. At night, while attempting to shoot the stars, my live view screen is filled with what looks like a blizzard of snow. I can’t see what the camera is looking at and certainly can’t focus. The interference however does not translate to the final picture. Once again, any time I set the camera up to shoot at night the live view screen fills with snow. Is this normal? B&H referred me to Pentax and Pentax will not answer my emails. Originally posted by UncleVanya Focus peaking and the blown highlight indication (can't recall what it is called) also can interact. 1) If you use LiveView during the day - is it normal? 2) Can you recreate the problem indoors? 3) Can you use a cellphone or something else to capture it happening? Just a thought the K-70 has a switch in the menu for "night vision" turns the lcd screen red for astrotracing shots at night, I haven't used it myself but you may want to try. Also you may be interested in the E-Book available on this forum published by a member who recently passed (Yvon Bourque) Pentax eBook Downloads - Now on PF! (purchase here for instant access) - PentaxForums.com Cheers, Ola, Welcome to the forum!

03-15-2020, 06:25 AM	#14
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,316	Welcome as you have discovered you will find friendly members and knowledge here check out what is available under " cameras ", " lenses " and " articles " above and ask for any type of help you need the members will do their best for you and above all have fun with your equipment