K5 IIs always wants to use high ISO

Trenton · 02-14-2015, 09:15 AM

I just made the leap to a DLSR and picked the K5 IIs with a 55-300mm zoom lens and a 50mm prime. In manual mode i am good, learning curve of all the buttons. The camera seems to always want to shoot in ISO 3200 in auto, when my wife is using or if you hand to someone else to take a photo. Any suggestions?

BrianR · 02-14-2015, 09:28 AM

Are you in poor lighting conditions? Indoors?

On page 3 of the 'Record Menu' (red camera for an icon), there's an "ISO AUTO Setting" option you can use to limit the iso range. In the same menu item you can also adjust it's preferences on how aggressive it's decisions are to raise the iso.

Limiting how high the iso can go under poor light can result in a slow shutter (camera shake or motion blur of subjects) or in a DoF that's too shallow for what you're doing (or both!). It's sometimes preferable to accept some grain in exchange for safer shutter/aperture but play around with the customization options

.

jayman_1975 · 02-14-2015, 10:14 AM

I find that too in lower light conditions. It seems it will always up the ISO instead of lower the shutter speed when using Green mode. The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur.

Biro · 02-14-2015, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by jayman_1975

I find that too in lower light conditions. It seems it will always up the ISO instead of lower the shutter speed when using Green mode. The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur.

And the camera is actually quite right. Besides, even with these 16mp sensors, which are not the latest, IQ is so good even at ISO 6400 that I wouldn't sweat it.

Parallax · 02-14-2015, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by jayman_1975

The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur.

Exactly. In Green, Program, and (I think) AV mode, it tries to keep the shutter speed at 1/1.5xFL sec.

Originally posted by Trenton

Any suggestions?

As BrianR said, you can limit the highest ISO. The other way would be to use TV mode, or Manual.

Trenton · 02-14-2015, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I understand in low light, it was just selecting that iso in mornings or when in a bit of a shadow. I will try limiting the iso, thanks again.

**Just1MoreDave** · 02-14-2015, 10:54 AM

The modes really influence the behaviors of auto settings. Green Auto mode sort of aggressively seizes control from your preferences and turns it all over to the camera. For example, BrianR's suggestion for limits on "ISO AUTO Setting" work just fine in other modes, but Green mode ignores that, and removes the option to change it from the menu. Take that, camera user! Green mode overrides a number of other settings too.

You could switch from Green mode to P mode. It is still Auto but you can change settings like limiting the ISO range. P mode has one drawback - all the buttons are active. If you hand the camera off to someone else and they accidentally turn an e-dial in the handoff, the camera thinks you really meant it. The display might show "Av HYPER" or some other scary thing, and won't go back if you turn the e-dial back. Hit the green button on the back to return to P mode and all is fixed.

With slower kit lenses, the camera sees 3200 as a good way to maintain other settings in reasonable values. You might want to just allow the camera to do noise reduction on high-ISO shots (if you are shooting JPEGs) or use software noise reduction on RAW files.

MadMathMind · 02-14-2015, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

With slower kit lenses, the camera sees 3200 as a good way to maintain other settings in reasonable values. You might want to just allow the camera to do noise reduction on high-ISO shots (if you are shooting JPEGs) or use software noise reduction on RAW files.

I've noticed that with lenses with lower resolution, higher ISO is a bit more usable because noise reduction works better on them. At leas, Topaz works better at higher settings. I think because Topax is trying to preserve detail, with a higher resolution, it confuses detail and noise. When the lens doesn't bring forth as much detail, what is noise is clearer and there's less detail loss at high settings (in part because there was less detail to start).

Originally posted by jayman_1975

I find that too in lower light conditions. It seems it will always up the ISO instead of lower the shutter speed when using Green mode. The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur.

I also suspect that some of programming is from back before shake reduction, so the camera avoids those low shutter speeds it can do now.

phoned · 02-14-2015, 12:00 PM

This is configurable. If you go into the ISO settings (assuming anything other than Auto mode) you can change how the ISO ramps up. You can either do slow (keep ISO low), high (ramp up ISO quickly) or normal which is somewhere in the middle.

Sorry - I see someone had already suggested this. I didn't read close enough

Trenton · 02-14-2015, 08:11 PM

I wish this forum was around when I had my MV1 and then my MX. Thanks for the help.

**Lowell Goudge** · 02-15-2015, 08:49 AM

What you will find is that in auto "everything" modes, the camera will try to out think you in the settings.

It's first priority will be to meet the program line you have set, let's assume the camera is trying to follow the lens MTF curve. It will want to set optimum aperture, then a minimum shutter speed of 1/focal length, then, it will reduce ISO only once the first two criteria are met.

This can leave you with a high ISO when you don't really want it.

Best to start taking control of the shots yourself

**Kerrowdown** · 02-15-2015, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by Parallax

The other way would be to use TV mode, or Manual

Or give that camera a good talking to and let it know who's boss.

Trenton · 02-15-2015, 09:38 AM

When I am using the camera it is in manual, just when I hand off to be in photo or wife grabs it. I have been extremely happy so far.

aleonx3 · 02-15-2015, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by Parallax

Exactly. In Green, Program, and (I think) AV mode, it tries to keep the shutter speed at 1/1.5xFL sec.As BrianR said, you can limit the highest ISO. The other way would be to use TV mode, or Manual.

Since I shoot mostly with m42 lens and use stop down metering in Av mode. I set the PLINE to the 'speed'; the camera seems to default to 1/60, no matter what focal length I set when I turn the camera on. Any suggestion as to how I can set the minimum shutter speed to 1/125? Thanks...

**Lowell Goudge** · 02-15-2015, 12:33 PM

Originally posted by aleonx3

Since I shoot mostly with m42 lens and use stop down metering in Av mode. I set the PLINE to the 'speed'; the camera seems to default to 1/60, no matter what focal length I set when I turn the camera on. Any suggestion as to how I can set the minimum shutter speed to 1/125? Thanks...

No that's one of the quirks. The cameras only use FL for shake rduction

02-14-2015, 09:15 AM	#1
Trenton New Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 8	K5 IIs always wants to use high ISO I just made the leap to a DLSR and picked the K5 IIs with a 55-300mm zoom lens and a 50mm prime. In manual mode i am good, learning curve of all the buttons. The camera seems to always want to shoot in ISO 3200 in auto, when my wife is using or if you hand to someone else to take a photo. Any suggestions?

02-14-2015, 09:28 AM	#2
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Are you in poor lighting conditions? Indoors? On page 3 of the 'Record Menu' (red camera for an icon), there's an "ISO AUTO Setting" option you can use to limit the iso range. In the same menu item you can also adjust it's preferences on how aggressive it's decisions are to raise the iso. Limiting how high the iso can go under poor light can result in a slow shutter (camera shake or motion blur of subjects) or in a DoF that's too shallow for what you're doing (or both!). It's sometimes preferable to accept some grain in exchange for safer shutter/aperture but play around with the customization options.

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02-14-2015, 10:14 AM	#3
jayman_1975 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 385	I find that too in lower light conditions. It seems it will always up the ISO instead of lower the shutter speed when using Green mode. The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur.

02-14-2015, 10:26 AM	#4
Biro Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,200	Originally posted by jayman_1975 I find that too in lower light conditions. It seems it will always up the ISO instead of lower the shutter speed when using Green mode. The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur. And the camera is actually quite right. Besides, even with these 16mp sensors, which are not the latest, IQ is so good even at ISO 6400 that I wouldn't sweat it.

02-14-2015, 10:27 AM	#5
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by jayman_1975 The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur. Exactly. In Green, Program, and (I think) AV mode, it tries to keep the shutter speed at 1/1.5xFL sec. Originally posted by Trenton Any suggestions? As BrianR said, you can limit the highest ISO. The other way would be to use TV mode, or Manual.

02-14-2015, 10:37 AM	#6
Trenton New Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Thanks for the suggestions. I understand in low light, it was just selecting that iso in mornings or when in a bit of a shadow. I will try limiting the iso, thanks again.

02-14-2015, 10:54 AM	#7
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The modes really influence the behaviors of auto settings. Green Auto mode sort of aggressively seizes control from your preferences and turns it all over to the camera. For example, BrianR's suggestion for limits on "ISO AUTO Setting" work just fine in other modes, but Green mode ignores that, and removes the option to change it from the menu. Take that, camera user! Green mode overrides a number of other settings too. You could switch from Green mode to P mode. It is still Auto but you can change settings like limiting the ISO range. P mode has one drawback - all the buttons are active. If you hand the camera off to someone else and they accidentally turn an e-dial in the handoff, the camera thinks you really meant it. The display might show "Av HYPER" or some other scary thing, and won't go back if you turn the e-dial back. Hit the green button on the back to return to P mode and all is fixed. With slower kit lenses, the camera sees 3200 as a good way to maintain other settings in reasonable values. You might want to just allow the camera to do noise reduction on high-ISO shots (if you are shooting JPEGs) or use software noise reduction on RAW files.

02-14-2015, 11:15 AM	#8
MadMathMind Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,717	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave With slower kit lenses, the camera sees 3200 as a good way to maintain other settings in reasonable values. You might want to just allow the camera to do noise reduction on high-ISO shots (if you are shooting JPEGs) or use software noise reduction on RAW files. I've noticed that with lenses with lower resolution, higher ISO is a bit more usable because noise reduction works better on them. At leas, Topaz works better at higher settings. I think because Topax is trying to preserve detail, with a higher resolution, it confuses detail and noise. When the lens doesn't bring forth as much detail, what is noise is clearer and there's less detail loss at high settings (in part because there was less detail to start). Originally posted by jayman_1975 I find that too in lower light conditions. It seems it will always up the ISO instead of lower the shutter speed when using Green mode. The camera must figure you can edit out noise but you can't do anything with motion blur. I also suspect that some of programming is from back before shake reduction, so the camera avoids those low shutter speeds it can do now.

02-14-2015, 12:00 PM	#9
phoned Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 40	This is configurable. If you go into the ISO settings (assuming anything other than Auto mode) you can change how the ISO ramps up. You can either do slow (keep ISO low), high (ramp up ISO quickly) or normal which is somewhere in the middle. Sorry - I see someone had already suggested this. I didn't read close enough

02-14-2015, 08:11 PM	#10
Trenton New Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 8 Original Poster	I wish this forum was around when I had my MV1 and then my MX. Thanks for the help.

02-15-2015, 08:49 AM	#11
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	What you will find is that in auto "everything" modes, the camera will try to out think you in the settings. It's first priority will be to meet the program line you have set, let's assume the camera is trying to follow the lens MTF curve. It will want to set optimum aperture, then a minimum shutter speed of 1/focal length, then, it will reduce ISO only once the first two criteria are met. This can leave you with a high ISO when you don't really want it. Best to start taking control of the shots yourself

02-15-2015, 09:19 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: 57,805	Originally posted by Parallax The other way would be to use TV mode, or Manual Or give that camera a good talking to and let it know who's boss.

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02-15-2015, 09:38 AM	#13
Trenton New Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 8 Original Poster	When I am using the camera it is in manual, just when I hand off to be in photo or wife grabs it. I have been extremely happy so far.

02-15-2015, 09:58 AM	#14
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by Parallax Exactly. In Green, Program, and (I think) AV mode, it tries to keep the shutter speed at 1/1.5xFL sec.As BrianR said, you can limit the highest ISO. The other way would be to use TV mode, or Manual. Since I shoot mostly with m42 lens and use stop down metering in Av mode. I set the PLINE to the 'speed'; the camera seems to default to 1/60, no matter what focal length I set when I turn the camera on. Any suggestion as to how I can set the minimum shutter speed to 1/125? Thanks...

02-15-2015, 12:33 PM	#15
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Originally posted by aleonx3 Since I shoot mostly with m42 lens and use stop down metering in Av mode. I set the PLINE to the 'speed'; the camera seems to default to 1/60, no matter what focal length I set when I turn the camera on. Any suggestion as to how I can set the minimum shutter speed to 1/125? Thanks... No that's one of the quirks. The cameras only use FL for shake rduction