Is Pentax's high shutter speed real?

**NeatKnight** · 03-04-2012, 10:11 AM

Ron, I don't quite understand why TV?
I will try it though.

**NeatKnight** · 03-04-2012, 10:51 AM

OK Ron, I took a few test shots on TV. They look pretty much like the last two (non-moving) batches of test shots that I shot on full manual, although I am still not really clear on what I should be looking for.

**NeatKnight** · 03-04-2012, 10:57 AM

@Philoslophical, K105mm prime on the car pictures, DA16-45 in the rest of them

QuixoticTonic · 03-04-2012, 11:06 AM

With greater than 3 stops difference between 1/1250 and 1/6000 I would definitely expect more difference. That seems obvious. Curious indeed.

RonHendriks1966 · 03-04-2012, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by NeatKnight

OK Ron, I took a few test shots on TV. They look pretty much like the last two (non-moving) batches of test shots that I shot on full manual, although I am still not really clear on what I should be looking for.

Investigate if 1/2500th is a shorter shutterspeed then 1/25 or 1/250th. If you want to know if your camera is working proparly on shutterspeed, then that is the thing to keep control over.

**NeatKnight** · 03-04-2012, 03:47 PM

I tried Rons idea of spinning a coin on a table (actually I used a casino chip) and what I found, unfortunately is that no shutter speed on the k-x consistently stops the motion. Although my P & S stops it dead at 1/1600. Fortunately, 1/1250 is enough 99% of the time and the k-x is still a great camera even without the higher speeds.

Philoslothical · 03-04-2012, 03:58 PM

Well, if it is the shutter not working properly, you should get it serviced. If it's a hardware problem, it's liable to get worse over time.

RonHendriks1966 · 03-05-2012, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by NeatKnight

I tried Rons idea of spinning a coin on a table (actually I used a casino chip) and what I found, unfortunately is that no shutter speed on the k-x consistently stops the motion. Although my P & S stops it dead at 1/1600. Fortunately, 1/1250 is enough 99% of the time and the k-x is still a great camera even without the higher speeds.

wow that is a pitty. Can you see a difference between 1/100th -> 1/250th -> 1/1000th? So any idea where your camera starts to fail? If the camera is out of warrenty I don't think it is worth the cost of repair.

**NeatKnight** · 03-05-2012, 02:01 PM

Yes, I can definitely see the difference between 1/100 and 1/250. It isn't starting to fail until at least 1/1000 (which is enough most of the time). But at least now that I know that there's a problem I won't miss shots by attempting higher speeds when I could have just as easily changed the ISO. I will probably eventually get a k-5 anyway so I just hope the problem doesn't get worse before I can get it.

DreTAX · 03-05-2012, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by NeatKnight

I tried Rons idea of spinning a coin on a table (actually I used a casino chip) and what I found, unfortunately is that no shutter speed on the k-x consistently stops the motion. Although my P & S stops it dead at 1/1600. Fortunately, 1/1250 is enough 99% of the time and the k-x is still a great camera even without the higher speeds.

What were the exif figures for your p&s with 1/1600? Because the exif figures from that picture don't make sense. I tried those numbers and pointed the camera directly at a bulb (2 inches from lens) and still got 3+ stops under. Have you tried cleaning your contacts - lens and camera mount?

ablundon · 03-05-2012, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by DreTAX

What were the exif figures for your p&s with 1/1600? Because the exif figures from that picture don't make sense. I tried those numbers and pointed the camera directly at a bulb (2 inches from lens) and still got 3+ stops under. Have you tried cleaning your contacts - lens and camera mount?

I agree....something doesn't seem right. If you look here: Photographic Exposure Calculator for Available Light and set the setting to Bright Interior and ISO 1600, the correct exposure time for f/13 is around 1/20 of a second....???

**NeatKnight** · 03-05-2012, 07:16 PM

The P&S was on f/2, ISO 3200,1/1600. (Which looks just a bit overexposed).

rawr · 03-05-2012, 08:00 PM

Rather than spin a coin, which is hard to do consistently, spin a wheel, put something on a turntable, or even switch on a fan. Then put a nice strong light on it, get it spinning at a constant speed, and photograph it at a variety of shutter speeds using Tv, including at 1/6000.

That should give you a clearer idea of whether your high shutter speeds are working.

Verglace · 03-07-2012, 12:56 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Rather than spin a coin, which is hard to do consistently, spin a wheel, put something on a turntable, or even switch on a fan. Then put a nice strong light on it, get it spinning at a constant speed, and photograph it at a variety of shutter speeds using Tv, including at 1/6000.

That should give you a clearer idea of whether your high shutter speeds are working.

I did a similar trick with a fan. I taped a red piece of paper on one of the blades and took photos of it, fans would most likely spin at a more consistent speed so its a better test subject.

03-05-2012, 08:00 PM	#58
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Rather than spin a coin, which is hard to do consistently, spin a wheel, put something on a turntable, or even switch on a fan. Then put a nice strong light on it, get it spinning at a constant speed, and photograph it at a variety of shutter speeds using Tv, including at 1/6000. That should give you a clearer idea of whether your high shutter speeds are working. Last edited by rawr; 03-05-2012 at 08:27 PM.

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03-04-2012, 10:11 AM	#46
NeatKnight Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hollywood,FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 95 Original Poster	Ron, I don't quite understand why TV? I will try it though.

03-04-2012, 10:51 AM	#47
NeatKnight Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hollywood,FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 95 Original Poster	OK Ron, I took a few test shots on TV. They look pretty much like the last two (non-moving) batches of test shots that I shot on full manual, although I am still not really clear on what I should be looking for.

03-04-2012, 10:57 AM	#48
NeatKnight Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hollywood,FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 95 Original Poster	@Philoslophical, K105mm prime on the car pictures, DA16-45 in the rest of them

03-04-2012, 11:06 AM	#49
QuixoticTonic Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 110	With greater than 3 stops difference between 1/1250 and 1/6000 I would definitely expect more difference. That seems obvious. Curious indeed.

03-04-2012, 11:33 AM	#50
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by NeatKnight OK Ron, I took a few test shots on TV. They look pretty much like the last two (non-moving) batches of test shots that I shot on full manual, although I am still not really clear on what I should be looking for. Investigate if 1/2500th is a shorter shutterspeed then 1/25 or 1/250th. If you want to know if your camera is working proparly on shutterspeed, then that is the thing to keep control over.

03-04-2012, 03:58 PM	#52
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,889	Well, if it is the shutter not working properly, you should get it serviced. If it's a hardware problem, it's liable to get worse over time.

03-05-2012, 12:16 PM	#53
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by NeatKnight I tried Rons idea of spinning a coin on a table (actually I used a casino chip) and what I found, unfortunately is that no shutter speed on the k-x consistently stops the motion. Although my P & S stops it dead at 1/1600. Fortunately, 1/1250 is enough 99% of the time and the k-x is still a great camera even without the higher speeds. wow that is a pitty. Can you see a difference between 1/100th -> 1/250th -> 1/1000th? So any idea where your camera starts to fail? If the camera is out of warrenty I don't think it is worth the cost of repair.

03-05-2012, 02:01 PM	#54
NeatKnight Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hollywood,FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 95 Original Poster	Yes, I can definitely see the difference between 1/100 and 1/250. It isn't starting to fail until at least 1/1000 (which is enough most of the time). But at least now that I know that there's a problem I won't miss shots by attempting higher speeds when I could have just as easily changed the ISO. I will probably eventually get a k-5 anyway so I just hope the problem doesn't get worse before I can get it.

03-05-2012, 02:49 PM	#55
DreTAX Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria. Photos: Gallery Posts: 118	Originally posted by NeatKnight I tried Rons idea of spinning a coin on a table (actually I used a casino chip) and what I found, unfortunately is that no shutter speed on the k-x consistently stops the motion. Although my P & S stops it dead at 1/1600. Fortunately, 1/1250 is enough 99% of the time and the k-x is still a great camera even without the higher speeds. What were the exif figures for your p&s with 1/1600? Because the exif figures from that picture don't make sense. I tried those numbers and pointed the camera directly at a bulb (2 inches from lens) and still got 3+ stops under. Have you tried cleaning your contacts - lens and camera mount?

03-05-2012, 04:52 PM	#56
ablundon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paradise, NL Photos: Albums Posts: 106	Originally posted by DreTAX What were the exif figures for your p&s with 1/1600? Because the exif figures from that picture don't make sense. I tried those numbers and pointed the camera directly at a bulb (2 inches from lens) and still got 3+ stops under. Have you tried cleaning your contacts - lens and camera mount? I agree....something doesn't seem right. If you look here: Photographic Exposure Calculator for Available Light and set the setting to Bright Interior and ISO 1600, the correct exposure time for f/13 is around 1/20 of a second....???

03-05-2012, 07:16 PM	#57
NeatKnight Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hollywood,FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 95 Original Poster	The P&S was on f/2, ISO 3200,1/1600. (Which looks just a bit overexposed).

03-07-2012, 12:56 AM	#59
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	Originally posted by rawr Rather than spin a coin, which is hard to do consistently, spin a wheel, put something on a turntable, or even switch on a fan. Then put a nice strong light on it, get it spinning at a constant speed, and photograph it at a variety of shutter speeds using Tv, including at 1/6000. That should give you a clearer idea of whether your high shutter speeds are working. I did a similar trick with a fan. I taped a red piece of paper on one of the blades and took photos of it, fans would most likely spin at a more consistent speed so its a better test subject.