Taking long exposures (20 seconds) with Pentax KX without a remote

CTrindall · 08-24-2020, 05:47 PM

Hi Can anyone help me?

I have a pentax kx and a friend said I dont need a remote switch to take pics of the milky way just use the timer but I am stuck on exactly how to do this?

Is it possible to do a 20-30 second shot with no remote switch?

Thanks

Charlie, Sydney, Australia

**FozzFoster** · 08-24-2020, 05:50 PM

Just to be sure, are you using a KX or a K-X?

Aaron28 · 08-24-2020, 06:09 PM

yes...you set the 2sec or 10sec delay........one of the 4 buttons around the OK button should drop down the menu to change the drive mode

**jatrax** · 08-24-2020, 06:16 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by CTrindall

Is it possible to do a 20-30 second shot with no remote switch?

What FozzFoster is referring to is that Pentax has two cameras one KX and one k-x. The KX is a film camera which does turn up here occasionally but I'll assume you have the k-x

Link to k-x manual: Operation Manuals Download : Support & Service | RICOH IMAGING

30 seconds should be no problem. Set to manual and adjust to 30 seconds. Set your ISO as low as you can and your aperture as low as your lens allows. Take a shot and see what it looks like. I don't remember for sure if the k-x does dark field subtraction or not. If it does your 30 second exposure will take 60 seconds, 30 for the exposure and another 30 for the dark frame.

Note that a 30 second exposure will likely not be long enough unless you have a relatively fast lens. Unfortunately going higher on ISO with k-x creates lots of noise. Newer cameras are better at this.

CTrindall · 08-31-2020, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by FozzFoster

Just to be sure, are you using a KX or a K-X?

Yes sorry it is a K-X

CTrindall · 08-31-2020, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by jatrax

What FozzFoster is referring to is that Pentax has two cameras one KX and one k-x. The KX is a film camera which does turn up here occasionally but I'll assume you have the k-x

Link to k-x manual: Operation Manuals Download : Support & Service | RICOH IMAGING

30 seconds should be no problem. Set to manual and adjust to 30 seconds. Set your ISO as low as you can and your aperture as low as your lens allows. Take a shot and see what it looks like. I don't remember for sure if the k-x does dark field subtraction or not. If it does your 30 second exposure will take 60 seconds, 30 for the exposure and another 30 for the dark frame.

Note that a 30 second exposure will likely not be long enough unless you have a relatively fast lens. Unfortunately going higher on ISO with k-x creates lots of noise. Newer cameras are better at this.

Thanks so much this is great and I will give it a try and see how I go

CTrindall · 08-31-2020, 01:20 AM

Originally posted by Aaron28

yes...you set the 2sec or 10sec delay........one of the 4 buttons around the OK button should drop down the menu to change the drive mode

Yes I did this and it worked well! Thanks

Aaron28 · 08-31-2020, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by CTrindall

Yes I did this and it worked well! Thanks

good deal !! happy shooting!

08-24-2020, 05:47 PM	#1
CTrindall New Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 4	Taking long exposures (20 seconds) with Pentax KX without a remote Hi Can anyone help me? I have a pentax kx and a friend said I dont need a remote switch to take pics of the milky way just use the timer but I am stuck on exactly how to do this? Is it possible to do a 20-30 second shot with no remote switch? Thanks Charlie, Sydney, Australia

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08-24-2020, 05:50 PM	#2
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 5,200	Just to be sure, are you using a KX or a K-X?

08-24-2020, 06:09 PM	#3
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 5,635	yes...you set the 2sec or 10sec delay........one of the 4 buttons around the OK button should drop down the menu to change the drive mode

08-24-2020, 06:16 PM - 1 Like	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,516	Originally posted by CTrindall Is it possible to do a 20-30 second shot with no remote switch? What FozzFoster is referring to is that Pentax has two cameras one KX and one k-x. The KX is a film camera which does turn up here occasionally but I'll assume you have the k-x Link to k-x manual: Operation Manuals Download : Support & Service \| RICOH IMAGING 30 seconds should be no problem. Set to manual and adjust to 30 seconds. Set your ISO as low as you can and your aperture as low as your lens allows. Take a shot and see what it looks like. I don't remember for sure if the k-x does dark field subtraction or not. If it does your 30 second exposure will take 60 seconds, 30 for the exposure and another 30 for the dark frame. Note that a 30 second exposure will likely not be long enough unless you have a relatively fast lens. Unfortunately going higher on ISO with k-x creates lots of noise. Newer cameras are better at this.

08-31-2020, 01:16 AM	#5
CTrindall New Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by FozzFoster Just to be sure, are you using a KX or a K-X? Yes sorry it is a K-X

08-31-2020, 01:19 AM	#6
CTrindall New Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by jatrax What FozzFoster is referring to is that Pentax has two cameras one KX and one k-x. The KX is a film camera which does turn up here occasionally but I'll assume you have the k-x Link to k-x manual: Operation Manuals Download : Support & Service \| RICOH IMAGING 30 seconds should be no problem. Set to manual and adjust to 30 seconds. Set your ISO as low as you can and your aperture as low as your lens allows. Take a shot and see what it looks like. I don't remember for sure if the k-x does dark field subtraction or not. If it does your 30 second exposure will take 60 seconds, 30 for the exposure and another 30 for the dark frame. Note that a 30 second exposure will likely not be long enough unless you have a relatively fast lens. Unfortunately going higher on ISO with k-x creates lots of noise. Newer cameras are better at this. Thanks so much this is great and I will give it a try and see how I go

08-31-2020, 01:20 AM	#7
CTrindall New Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Aaron28 yes...you set the 2sec or 10sec delay........one of the 4 buttons around the OK button should drop down the menu to change the drive mode Yes I did this and it worked well! Thanks

08-31-2020, 02:52 PM	#8
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 5,635	Originally posted by CTrindall Yes I did this and it worked well! Thanks good deal !! happy shooting!

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