Can't figure out interval shooting on K500

**MossyRocks** · 12-23-2019, 03:43 PM

A while back I picked up a K500 with the aperture block failure to use as a second astro body, mostly for doing wide astro shots with old all manual lenses. However for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get it into interval shooting mode. I have the dial set to M but in the menu Mult-exposure remains enabled and I can't see how to disable unless I set the camera to shoot jpeg and then set HDR capture but that doens't result in interval mode being set. I have tried setting the various drive modes to see if that affects it and none did.

I figure this is something that should be fairly easy to get set correctly and there is some setting that I am missing but for the life of me I can't find it. So here is the currently settings for the camera:
Custom Image - neutral
digital filter - grayed out but set to off
HDR capture - grayed out but set to off
Image Capture settings:

File Format - RAW

JPEG Recorded Pixels 16m

JPEG Quality - ***

Color Space - sRGB

AE Metering - Spot
AF Settings:

AF .A - Grayed out

Expanded Area AF - unchecked

AF Active Area - Spot

AF Assist Light - Unchecked

Lens Correction - Off Off
Multi-Exposure - Is not grayed out
Interval Shooting - Is grayed out
D-Range Settings - Off Off

Mode: Manual
AF switch: Manual
Firmware: 1.02

**DWS1** · 12-23-2019, 07:19 PM

According to the manual, when on the multi exposure screen, press the menu button twice and multi exposure ends. If that doesn't work, I would try resetting the camera to factory defaults. Since you're on the latest firmware, you might re-flash it in case it's somehow corrupted. I have heard of people flashing the K500 with the K50 firmware to activate the KAF4 mount. It may give you some added functionality. I don't know how that's done or if it will even work.

bertwert · 12-23-2019, 07:31 PM

I believe the menu system is the same as the K-50 (though correct me if I'm wrong...) so to get interval shooting, which should be doable from any mode (except movie...): Into Menu, then submenu 2 under the camera icon. Select "Interval Shooting", adjust the interval and # of shots to your liking, click 'Start shooting'. Take a picture (with the shutter button) then leave the camera to do it's thing. Unless I've misunderstood your problem here, this should help

**MossyRocks** · 12-23-2019, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by DWS1

I would try resetting the camera to factory defaults.

I've done that already to see if it would solve my problem and got nothing.

Originally posted by DWS1

According to the manual, when on the multi exposure screen, press the menu button twice and multi exposure ends.

I read that as well. I gave it a try before and that is basically a way to interrupt an ongoing multi-exposure session but that doesn't solve the problem.

I will give it a fresh flash and full reset.

**MossyRocks** · 12-24-2019, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by bertwert

I believe the menu system is the same as the K-50 (though correct me if I'm wrong...) so to get interval shooting, which should be doable from any mode (except movie...): Into Menu, then submenu 2 under the camera icon. Select "Interval Shooting", adjust the interval and # of shots to your liking, click 'Start shooting'. Take a picture (with the shutter button) then leave the camera to do it's thing. Unless I've misunderstood your problem here, this should help

That is what I thought as well but the option to enter interval shooting is always grayed out and disabled. After doing a full reset of everything even multi-exposure is grayed out. When I go into the custom function menu and set use aperture ring then multi-exposure becomes enabled. However after a full reset both multi-exposure and interval shooting are grayed out. Because of this I am thinking that there is some setting somewhere that just needs to be flipped but I am not sure what it is. The fact that enabling aperture ring in custom menu enables and disables multi-exposure seems to be an odd dependency. I've tried toggling other settings to no avail. I did read the manual first so that I wouldn't waste others't time.

bertwert · 12-24-2019, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by MossyRocks

That is what I thought as well but the option to enter interval shooting is always grayed out and disabled. After doing a full reset of everything even multi-exposure is grayed out. When I go into the custom function menu and set use aperture ring then multi-exposure becomes enabled. However after a full reset both multi-exposure and interval shooting are grayed out. Because of this I am thinking that there is some setting somewhere that just needs to be flipped but I am not sure what it is. The fact that enabling aperture ring in custom menu enables and disables multi-exposure seems to be an odd dependency. I've tried toggling other settings to no avail. I did read the manual first so that I wouldn't waste others't time.

Hmmm... I'm sorry I can't help, I went and did some trials...
I have my K-50 set to using aperture ring.
Interval and multi exposure work as expected with an M42 lens.
They both work fine with an 'A' lens.
Both work fine with an 'M' lens, either just shooting wide open or using green button metering in M mode.

Not sure what to do, maybe firmware update...?

**MossyRocks** · 12-24-2019, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by bertwert

Not sure what to do, maybe firmware update...?

It is currently fully updated but maybe reverting to a previous one might work, now to see if I can find one. I plan on using only as an astro body and apart from taking pictures in manual mode the only thing I want is interval shooting so I can set it up and let it run with a wide/ultrawide lens on it while I run the K-3 with a long lens chasing deep sky objects.

nipscm · 04-23-2020, 11:54 AM

Did you ever get this figured out? I'm having the exact same problem.

**MossyRocks** · 04-24-2020, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by nipscm

Did you ever get this figured out? I'm having the exact same problem.

No unfortunately not. For what I do with it I figured out that I would be fine with just putting the camera in continuous shooting mode and using a release cable that I could just flip is toggle switch on and let it run until I turn it off. With that realization I stopped trying to figure out a solution.

I tried flashing with firmware several times, resetting to factory, flashing back to the old firmware, etc. and none of them solved the problem for me.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

bertwert · 04-24-2020, 08:29 AM

Originally posted by nipscm

Did you ever get this figured out? I'm having the exact same problem.

Originally posted by MossyRocks

No unfortunately not. For what I do with it I figured out that I would be fine with just putting the camera in continuous shooting mode and using a release cable that I could just flip is toggle switch on and let it run until I turn it off. With that realization I stopped trying to figure out a solution.

I tried flashing with firmware several times, resetting to factory, flashing back to the old firmware, etc. and none of them solved the problem for me.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

I found in my K-50 that I couldn't use Interval Shooting while in a User mode - but I could in the other modes (such as dial on M, not U1 with M mode selected). There's no explicable reason for this, but that's the way it is.

For my use, I also used a remote switched on and continuous shooting - which apparently is better as then an exposure isn't missed if there isn't much delay between intervals and the camera is still processing not able to take another shot.

nipscm · 04-25-2020, 03:20 AM - **1 Like**

I got mine figured out, but it is likely not the reason others are having the problem. My K-50 is old enough that the internal battery has failed. I haven't replaced it and just by-pass the date screen that comes up each time I turn on the camera. I started accepting the default date when turning it on, and the interval shooting became available. It is greyed-out if I don't have a date entered.

**MossyRocks** · 04-25-2020, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by nipscm

I started accepting the default date when turning it on, and the interval shooting became available. It is greyed-out if I don't have a date entered.

Now I wonder if this is my problem with mine as well as mine also has the failed internal battery.

bertwert · 04-25-2020, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by MossyRocks

Now I wonder if this is my problem with mine as well as mine also has the failed internal battery.

Yes - that sounds like it would be it. It shouldn't need to affect 'Start now', but to start at a specific time, it would. It's also possible it uses the clock rather than a different timer for timing the next shots. I'd be interested to hear if setting a time in the clock solves the problem...

**MossyRocks** · 05-04-2020, 06:32 PM

Since I was asked if I ever resolved this issues and I didn't have a yes but a work around for what I do and also since someone else stated that they have a similar problem because the internal clock battery failed and that they can get it to work when manually settign the time instead of skipping it I figured I would follow up. Yes I am able to do interval shooting if I set the time at startup. So I guess we have all learned that on the K-500 at least if the internal battery has failed to enable interval shooting you need to set the time and date manually at startup.

12-23-2019, 03:43 PM	#1
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982	Can't figure out interval shooting on K500 A while back I picked up a K500 with the aperture block failure to use as a second astro body, mostly for doing wide astro shots with old all manual lenses. However for the life of me I cannot figure out how to get it into interval shooting mode. I have the dial set to M but in the menu Mult-exposure remains enabled and I can't see how to disable unless I set the camera to shoot jpeg and then set HDR capture but that doens't result in interval mode being set. I have tried setting the various drive modes to see if that affects it and none did. I figure this is something that should be fairly easy to get set correctly and there is some setting that I am missing but for the life of me I can't find it. So here is the currently settings for the camera: Custom Image - neutral digital filter - grayed out but set to off HDR capture - grayed out but set to off Image Capture settings: File Format - RAW JPEG Recorded Pixels 16m JPEG Quality - *** Color Space - sRGB AE Metering - Spot AF Settings: AF .A - Grayed out Expanded Area AF - unchecked AF Active Area - Spot AF Assist Light - Unchecked Lens Correction - Off Off Multi-Exposure - Is not grayed out Interval Shooting - Is grayed out D-Range Settings - Off Off Mode: Manual AF switch: Manual Firmware: 1.02

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12-23-2019, 07:19 PM	#2
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	According to the manual, when on the multi exposure screen, press the menu button twice and multi exposure ends. If that doesn't work, I would try resetting the camera to factory defaults. Since you're on the latest firmware, you might re-flash it in case it's somehow corrupted. I have heard of people flashing the K500 with the K50 firmware to activate the KAF4 mount. It may give you some added functionality. I don't know how that's done or if it will even work.

12-23-2019, 07:31 PM	#3
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	I believe the menu system is the same as the K-50 (though correct me if I'm wrong...) so to get interval shooting, which should be doable from any mode (except movie...): Into Menu, then submenu 2 under the camera icon. Select "Interval Shooting", adjust the interval and # of shots to your liking, click 'Start shooting'. Take a picture (with the shutter button) then leave the camera to do it's thing. Unless I've misunderstood your problem here, this should help

12-23-2019, 07:42 PM	#4
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Originally posted by DWS1 I would try resetting the camera to factory defaults. I've done that already to see if it would solve my problem and got nothing. Originally posted by DWS1 According to the manual, when on the multi exposure screen, press the menu button twice and multi exposure ends. I read that as well. I gave it a try before and that is basically a way to interrupt an ongoing multi-exposure session but that doesn't solve the problem. I will give it a fresh flash and full reset.

12-24-2019, 11:31 AM	#5
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Originally posted by bertwert I believe the menu system is the same as the K-50 (though correct me if I'm wrong...) so to get interval shooting, which should be doable from any mode (except movie...): Into Menu, then submenu 2 under the camera icon. Select "Interval Shooting", adjust the interval and # of shots to your liking, click 'Start shooting'. Take a picture (with the shutter button) then leave the camera to do it's thing. Unless I've misunderstood your problem here, this should help That is what I thought as well but the option to enter interval shooting is always grayed out and disabled. After doing a full reset of everything even multi-exposure is grayed out. When I go into the custom function menu and set use aperture ring then multi-exposure becomes enabled. However after a full reset both multi-exposure and interval shooting are grayed out. Because of this I am thinking that there is some setting somewhere that just needs to be flipped but I am not sure what it is. The fact that enabling aperture ring in custom menu enables and disables multi-exposure seems to be an odd dependency. I've tried toggling other settings to no avail. I did read the manual first so that I wouldn't waste others't time.

12-24-2019, 11:59 AM	#6
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Originally posted by MossyRocks That is what I thought as well but the option to enter interval shooting is always grayed out and disabled. After doing a full reset of everything even multi-exposure is grayed out. When I go into the custom function menu and set use aperture ring then multi-exposure becomes enabled. However after a full reset both multi-exposure and interval shooting are grayed out. Because of this I am thinking that there is some setting somewhere that just needs to be flipped but I am not sure what it is. The fact that enabling aperture ring in custom menu enables and disables multi-exposure seems to be an odd dependency. I've tried toggling other settings to no avail. I did read the manual first so that I wouldn't waste others't time. Hmmm... I'm sorry I can't help, I went and did some trials... I have my K-50 set to using aperture ring. Interval and multi exposure work as expected with an M42 lens. They both work fine with an 'A' lens. Both work fine with an 'M' lens, either just shooting wide open or using green button metering in M mode. Not sure what to do, maybe firmware update...?

12-24-2019, 02:43 PM	#7
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Originally posted by bertwert Not sure what to do, maybe firmware update...? It is currently fully updated but maybe reverting to a previous one might work, now to see if I can find one. I plan on using only as an astro body and apart from taking pictures in manual mode the only thing I want is interval shooting so I can set it up and let it run with a wide/ultrawide lens on it while I run the K-3 with a long lens chasing deep sky objects.

04-23-2020, 11:54 AM	#8
nipscm New Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 7	Did you ever get this figured out? I'm having the exact same problem.

04-24-2020, 08:25 AM	#9
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Originally posted by nipscm Did you ever get this figured out? I'm having the exact same problem. No unfortunately not. For what I do with it I figured out that I would be fine with just putting the camera in continuous shooting mode and using a release cable that I could just flip is toggle switch on and let it run until I turn it off. With that realization I stopped trying to figure out a solution. I tried flashing with firmware several times, resetting to factory, flashing back to the old firmware, etc. and none of them solved the problem for me. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

04-24-2020, 08:29 AM	#10
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Originally posted by nipscm Did you ever get this figured out? I'm having the exact same problem. Originally posted by MossyRocks No unfortunately not. For what I do with it I figured out that I would be fine with just putting the camera in continuous shooting mode and using a release cable that I could just flip is toggle switch on and let it run until I turn it off. With that realization I stopped trying to figure out a solution. I tried flashing with firmware several times, resetting to factory, flashing back to the old firmware, etc. and none of them solved the problem for me. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I found in my K-50 that I couldn't use Interval Shooting while in a User mode - but I could in the other modes (such as dial on M, not U1 with M mode selected). There's no explicable reason for this, but that's the way it is. For my use, I also used a remote switched on and continuous shooting - which apparently is better as then an exposure isn't missed if there isn't much delay between intervals and the camera is still processing not able to take another shot.

04-25-2020, 03:20 AM - 1 Like	#11
nipscm New Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 7	I got mine figured out, but it is likely not the reason others are having the problem. My K-50 is old enough that the internal battery has failed. I haven't replaced it and just by-pass the date screen that comes up each time I turn on the camera. I started accepting the default date when turning it on, and the interval shooting became available. It is greyed-out if I don't have a date entered.

04-25-2020, 06:59 AM	#12
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Originally posted by nipscm I started accepting the default date when turning it on, and the interval shooting became available. It is greyed-out if I don't have a date entered. Now I wonder if this is my problem with mine as well as mine also has the failed internal battery.

04-25-2020, 07:08 AM	#13
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Originally posted by MossyRocks Now I wonder if this is my problem with mine as well as mine also has the failed internal battery. Yes - that sounds like it would be it. It shouldn't need to affect 'Start now', but to start at a specific time, it would. It's also possible it uses the clock rather than a different timer for timing the next shots. I'd be interested to hear if setting a time in the clock solves the problem...

05-04-2020, 06:32 PM	#14
MossyRocks Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,982 Original Poster	Since I was asked if I ever resolved this issues and I didn't have a yes but a work around for what I do and also since someone else stated that they have a similar problem because the internal clock battery failed and that they can get it to work when manually settign the time instead of skipping it I figured I would follow up. Yes I am able to do interval shooting if I set the time at startup. So I guess we have all learned that on the K-500 at least if the internal battery has failed to enable interval shooting you need to set the time and date manually at startup.