K-5 Underexposure in Tv and Av

Robinvic · 11-24-2012, 05:05 PM

After working fine for nearly 2 years, my K-5 recently started consistently underexposing two or three stops in Tv and Av modes, regardless of which lens I use. Exposure with the Auto "Green" setting (which I never normally use) is perfect however, indicating that this is not a metering issue. Any suggestions what the problem might be?

GabrielFFontes · 11-24-2012, 05:30 PM

Have you tried a factory reset?

**Ex Finn.** · 11-24-2012, 05:30 PM

I just had that happen at thanksgiving. It ended up being an operator error in my case, forgot that I had dialed in -2.7 EV compensation.
Something to check, just in case.

**jatrax** · 11-24-2012, 05:51 PM

Check to make sure you do not have any exposure compensation dialed in. And if you are using flash check the flash exposure compensation as well.

Check a different lens just to rule out the lens.

calsan · 11-24-2012, 06:20 PM

Is the meter mode in spot, center or matrix?

Robinvic · 11-25-2012, 12:31 AM

Thanks for your suggestions. The underexposure occurs with three different lenses, I have checked that there is zero EV compensation set and I am not using flash. The metering mode is set to matrix but I have not changed that for several months (long before the problem started). I have not tried a "factory reset" - does that mean downloading and installing the latest firmware?

Fogel70 · 11-25-2012, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by Robinvic

After working fine for nearly 2 years, my K-5 recently started consistently underexposing two or three stops in Tv and Av modes, regardless of which lens I use. Exposure with the Auto "Green" setting (which I never normally use) is perfect however, indicating that this is not a metering issue. Any suggestions what the problem might be?

Using green mode will set most settings to the "green" default value. Many of the functions in the camera will be disabled, and all custom setting will be disabled.

FI, exposure compensation is not available in green mode, and metering will be multi-segment only. So if the camera is set for any other metering mode, and if you have set exposure compensation, it will only show when you use Tv or Av mode.

**Ex Finn.** · 11-25-2012, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by Robinvic

I have not tried a "factory reset" - does that mean downloading and installing the latest firmware?

No, it just resets everything back to "normal". You find it in Custom menu, page 4, last item at the bottom.

GabrielFFontes · 11-25-2012, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by Robinvic

Thanks for your suggestions. The underexposure occurs with three different lenses, I have checked that there is zero EV compensation set and I am not using flash. The metering mode is set to matrix but I have not changed that for several months (long before the problem started). I have not tried a "factory reset" - does that mean downloading and installing the latest firmware?

You go around the menu and reset every setting.
Custom settings, picture settings, blah blah blah...
Go around the menus and every "reset" thing there is, just click it...then turn the camera off, remove the battery, let it sit like that for a couple of seconds and put it back in and turn on.

Robinvic · 11-25-2012, 10:15 PM

Originally posted by Ex Finn.

No, it just resets everything back to "normal". You find it in Custom menu, page 4, last item at the bottom.

Thank you, I tried that but it did not help (there was only one small item in the Custom menu that was not already on the "1" default setting). However I will keep looking at the other menus in case there is some other setting that I have accidentally changed, and re-set them as necessary.

Robinvic · 11-27-2012, 04:58 PM

(with thanks to Rio and Maryland!). As previously mentioned, resetting the Custom menu did not help and I checked all my other settings individually without getting anywhere. However, as soon as I hit "Reset" on Set-up menu 3 the problem went away - and even when I reintroduced all my old settings as I had noted them, everything still looks good. So I guess the key is to quit treating it logically like a camera and remember that it's basically a computer (ie: if in doubt, re-boot!). Another inch up the learning curve . . .

GabrielFFontes · 11-27-2012, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by Robinvic

(with thanks to Rio and Maryland!). As previously mentioned, resetting the Custom menu did not help and I checked all my other settings individually without getting anywhere. However, as soon as I hit "Reset" on Set-up menu 3 the problem went away - and even when I reintroduced all my old settings as I had noted them, everything still looks good. So I guess the key is to quit treating it logically like a camera and remember that it's basically a computer (ie: if in doubt, re-boot!). Another inch up the learning curve . . .

Glad i could help =)
Yes, don't try to understand why doing that factory reset helps at all, and why rebooting and/or closing an opening again helps...it just works

11-24-2012, 05:05 PM	#1
Robinvic New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bragg Creek, Alberta Posts: 4	K-5 Underexposure in Tv and Av After working fine for nearly 2 years, my K-5 recently started consistently underexposing two or three stops in Tv and Av modes, regardless of which lens I use. Exposure with the Auto "Green" setting (which I never normally use) is perfect however, indicating that this is not a metering issue. Any suggestions what the problem might be?

11-25-2012, 08:45 AM	#8
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Originally posted by Robinvic I have not tried a "factory reset" - does that mean downloading and installing the latest firmware? No, it just resets everything back to "normal". You find it in Custom menu, page 4, last item at the bottom. Last edited by Ex Finn.; 11-25-2012 at 09:20 AM.

11-27-2012, 04:58 PM	#11
Robinvic New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bragg Creek, Alberta Posts: 4 Original Poster	Success finally! (with thanks to Rio and Maryland!). As previously mentioned, resetting the Custom menu did not help and I checked all my other settings individually without getting anywhere. However, as soon as I hit "Reset" on Set-up menu 3 the problem went away - and even when I reintroduced all my old settings as I had noted them, everything still looks good. So I guess the key is to quit treating it logically like a camera and remember that it's basically a computer (ie: if in doubt, re-boot!). Another inch up the learning curve . . .

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Are Tv and Av obsolete on the K-5?	Yeti	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	9	03-31-2012 04:32 PM
DOF preview with M lens and Av/Tv mode	atekant	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	14	02-23-2012 07:58 PM
Is Av Shift and/or Tv Shift in TAv Mode possible.	robert_s	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	3	09-30-2011 09:03 AM
Metering in Av or Tv mode	sany	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	23	04-27-2011 09:31 PM
Different exposure TV and AV mode	Sekul	Pentax K-r	4	12-26-2010 04:09 PM

11-24-2012, 05:30 PM	#2
GabrielFFontes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 647	Have you tried a factory reset?

11-24-2012, 05:51 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Check to make sure you do not have any exposure compensation dialed in. And if you are using flash check the flash exposure compensation as well. Check a different lens just to rule out the lens.

11-24-2012, 06:20 PM	#5
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	Is the meter mode in spot, center or matrix?

11-25-2012, 12:31 AM	#6
Robinvic New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bragg Creek, Alberta Posts: 4 Original Poster	Thanks for your suggestions. The underexposure occurs with three different lenses, I have checked that there is zero EV compensation set and I am not using flash. The metering mode is set to matrix but I have not changed that for several months (long before the problem started). I have not tried a "factory reset" - does that mean downloading and installing the latest firmware?

11-25-2012, 04:13 AM	#7
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by Robinvic After working fine for nearly 2 years, my K-5 recently started consistently underexposing two or three stops in Tv and Av modes, regardless of which lens I use. Exposure with the Auto "Green" setting (which I never normally use) is perfect however, indicating that this is not a metering issue. Any suggestions what the problem might be? Using green mode will set most settings to the "green" default value. Many of the functions in the camera will be disabled, and all custom setting will be disabled. FI, exposure compensation is not available in green mode, and metering will be multi-segment only. So if the camera is set for any other metering mode, and if you have set exposure compensation, it will only show when you use Tv or Av mode.

11-25-2012, 08:50 AM	#9
GabrielFFontes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 647	Originally posted by Robinvic Thanks for your suggestions. The underexposure occurs with three different lenses, I have checked that there is zero EV compensation set and I am not using flash. The metering mode is set to matrix but I have not changed that for several months (long before the problem started). I have not tried a "factory reset" - does that mean downloading and installing the latest firmware? You go around the menu and reset every setting. Custom settings, picture settings, blah blah blah... Go around the menus and every "reset" thing there is, just click it...then turn the camera off, remove the battery, let it sit like that for a couple of seconds and put it back in and turn on.

11-25-2012, 10:15 PM	#10
Robinvic New Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bragg Creek, Alberta Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ex Finn. No, it just resets everything back to "normal". You find it in Custom menu, page 4, last item at the bottom. Thank you, I tried that but it did not help (there was only one small item in the Custom menu that was not already on the "1" default setting). However I will keep looking at the other menus in case there is some other setting that I have accidentally changed, and re-set them as necessary.

11-27-2012, 06:38 PM	#12
GabrielFFontes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 647	Originally posted by Robinvic (with thanks to Rio and Maryland!). As previously mentioned, resetting the Custom menu did not help and I checked all my other settings individually without getting anywhere. However, as soon as I hit "Reset" on Set-up menu 3 the problem went away - and even when I reintroduced all my old settings as I had noted them, everything still looks good. So I guess the key is to quit treating it logically like a camera and remember that it's basically a computer (ie: if in doubt, re-boot!). Another inch up the learning curve . . . Glad i could help =) Yes, don't try to understand why doing that factory reset helps at all, and why rebooting and/or closing an opening again helps...it just works

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search