[damianc]

Setup: K1ii + Sigma 70mm macro in a poorly lit room.

I'm probably just overlooking a setting here but I often want to focus using live view for macro work when using flash. I set to M with a shutter speed appropriate for flash, but when I switch to live view the screen is almost black. DOF preview gives me a workable image but is awkward to hold while making focus adjustments. Just checked a K3 and it doesn't behave in the same manner: I get a usable image to focus with. I can press the green button (K1ii) and get a workable image on screen, but then my shutter speed and aperture settings are changed.
Is there something in the menus that will give me a usable image to focus with? I don't need to see a representation of what the shot might look like as lighting is controlled by the strobes, I just need to see and focus on what I'm photographing.

[biz-engineer]

same with K1, manual mode displays exposure simulation.

[photoptimist]

Hmmm... How about this, try switching the Bulb mode. On my ordinary K-1, that causes live view to auto-expose the scene on the LCD. Then after you've focused the image, just flip back to M and take the shot.

[damianc]

I've partially solved the problem, or at least found a workaround. I should be using X mode for flash. Of course that doesn't solve the problem when shooting fill in.

How about this, try switching the Bulb mode.

I had switched to and from AV, and yes that works (I'm guessing bulb does the same), but it just doesn't feel natural to me, maybe because I've got so used to the way I work with the K3 (and K30 for that matter). I'd be happy to rely on histograms for exposure data so long as I could see the scene rather than blackness

[Adam]

Setup: K1ii + Sigma 70mm macro in a poorly lit room.

I'm probably just overlooking a setting here but I often want to focus using live view for macro work when using flash. I set to M with a shutter speed appropriate for flash, but when I switch to live view the screen is almost black. DOF preview gives me a workable image but is awkward to hold while making focus adjustments. Just checked a K3 and it doesn't behave in the same manner: I get a usable image to focus with. I can press the green button (K1ii) and get a workable image on screen, but then my shutter speed and aperture settings are changed.
Is there something in the menus that will give me a usable image to focus with? I don't need to see a representation of what the shot might look like as lighting is controlled by the strobes, I just need to see and focus on what I'm photographing.

Indeed, M mode offers exposure simulation- it tries to show you what the actual shot might look like.

A workaround that I've shared previously is to set the camera to TAv mode and select a very narrow auto ISO range, i.e. 100 to 160. This will then essentially work exactly like M mode, except without the exposure simulation.

[stevebrot]

Manual focus in dim light using live view is a pain, particularly if one is intentionally underexposing. Yes, Av mode will serve as a work-around unless EC is used.

Here is another work-around...Use M mode and set aperture using the aperture ring on your Sigma 70/2.8 Macro. There is no exposure simulation when the camera does not control the aperture.


Steve

[GUB]

Manual focus in dim light using live view is a pain, particularly if one is intentionally underexposing. Yes, Av mode will serve as a work-around unless EC is used.

Here is another work-around...Use M mode and set aperture using the aperture ring on your Sigma 70/2.8 Macro. There is no exposure simulation when the camera does not control the aperture.


Steve

Yes I bumped into this when using A series lenses. Set the aperture on A and things get dark - set the aperture via the ring and all is good. (In M mode).

[damianc]

set the camera to TAv mode and select a very narrow auto ISO range, i.e. 100 to 160

I can see how this works, but is slightly dissatisfying

set aperture using the aperture ring on your Sigma 70/2.8 Macro

Unfortunately there's no aperture ring on the Sigma otherwise I'd be happy with this as the best solution (though for almost everything I do I think X mode should work)

It strikes me that there are valid arguments for both display modes: The situation as it is now suits most normal shooting, but a well exposed display for those shooting with flash under less than ideal lighting situations would be an advantage. The K-1ii behaviour has changed from the K3 which was straightforward for me. I'm confident I can adapt, but I would have thought that the option to configure behaviour in firmware would give us greater flexibility.

[stevebrot]

Unfortunately there's no aperture ring on the Sigma otherwise I'd be happy with this as the best solution (though for almost everything I do I think X mode should work)

I forgot that the highly desirable 70/2.8 is the sole member of the Sigma EX DG Macro trio (50, 70, and 105) lacking an aperture ring. I am not sure what you mean by using "X mode". I don't have a K-1II, but exposure emulation on my K-3 (firmware v1.30) is also active in X mode in that the screen darkens/lightens according to set EV. Green mode and B are the only modes on my camera where some aspect of this feature is not enabled.

I totally agree that making exposure emulation optional would be desirable.


Steve

[damianc]

I'm beginning again to think I've overlooked something in the settings. Just checked my GF's K3 (firmware - 1.30) and in both 'M' and 'X' gives me a well lit preview (albeit darker than other modes) whilst hiding under the dining room table. Changing aperture and shutter speed makes no difference to the display. As far as I recall this is how my K3 behaves (don't have it to hand)
The K-1ii is fine using 'X' but goes black using 'M'. Switching to an M50 f1.7 and the K-1ii 'M' works fine as both Steve and GUB hinted