Help on Pentax K-3 AE-L button please.

Poompat · 08-05-2015, 10:54 PM

When metering is not active (ie. No light displays in viewfinder), pressing (incl. press & hold) AE-L button does NOTHING. So, to perform AE-lock, I have to press shutter lightly first to turn metering on.

When metering is on, AE-L button works OK.

But on K-50, pressing AF/AE-L button (configured for AE lock) turns on metering + lock AE , even when metering is NOT active.

Is this normal? Thank you in advance for any response.

Adam · 08-05-2015, 10:56 PM

There's a menu setting to extend the meter operating time...perhaps you have that enabled on your K-50?

Poompat · 08-05-2015, 11:10 PM

No, the metering time (10s: default) are same in both K3 AND K50.

Issue is that metering is NOT active: viewfinder is blank, nothing displayed. Pressing K50 AE-L will turn on metering in viewfinder AND lock exposure. But K3 AE-L button does nothing!

Thanks for comments...

---------- Post added 08-06-15 at 01:13 PM ----------

...I mean WHEN metering in viewfinder is not active... ie. turn camera on and let it sit for 30sec+...

redcat · 08-06-2015, 12:38 AM

I think the K3 is in sleep mode (viewfinder is blank), sometimes I have to half press the shutter button to wake the camera up and then everything works

Fogel70 · 08-06-2015, 01:41 AM

Originally posted by Poompat

When metering is not active (ie. No light displays in viewfinder), pressing (incl. press & hold) AE-L button does NOTHING. So, to perform AE-lock, I have to press shutter lightly first to turn metering on.

When metering is on, AE-L button works OK.

But on K-50, pressing AF/AE-L button (configured for AE lock) turns on metering + lock AE , even when metering is NOT active.

Is this normal? Thank you in advance for any response.

Yes I believe this is normal, on K-3 and older advanced models you need a exposure reading to be able to lock exposure.
Manual mode with green button auto exposure is often more useful than AE-L in auto exposure modes IMO.

Pentax AE-L is a bit limited as it resets after each shot, and after AE meter times out.

I would have been nice with more options on both AE-L, and AE meter.
FI an option of AE meter never timing out, and that AE-L never unlocks unless you press AE-L button again.

Poompat · 08-06-2015, 05:55 AM

Thank you very much... Surprisingly, the K3 manual is less detailed than K50 manual...

lavascript · 08-06-2015, 06:42 AM

I don't use AE-L, but another minor annoyance of mine is the same behavior with the AF button. I've set my AF button(s) to Mode 2, effectively disabling half-press AF... but the AF buttons don't wake the camera from sleep. I'm so used to leaving my camera on while I'm out, then popping it up to my face, half-press, then full press. I can't follow the same procedure with the AF button.

08-05-2015, 10:54 PM	#1
Poompat New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 7	Help on Pentax K-3 AE-L button please. When metering is not active (ie. No light displays in viewfinder), pressing (incl. press & hold) AE-L button does NOTHING. So, to perform AE-lock, I have to press shutter lightly first to turn metering on. When metering is on, AE-L button works OK. But on K-50, pressing AF/AE-L button (configured for AE lock) turns on metering + lock AE , even when metering is NOT active. Is this normal? Thank you in advance for any response.

08-05-2015, 10:56 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	There's a menu setting to extend the meter operating time...perhaps you have that enabled on your K-50? Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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08-05-2015, 11:10 PM	#3
Poompat New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 7 Original Poster	No, the metering time (10s: default) are same in both K3 AND K50. Issue is that metering is NOT active: viewfinder is blank, nothing displayed. Pressing K50 AE-L will turn on metering in viewfinder AND lock exposure. But K3 AE-L button does nothing! Thanks for comments... ---------- Post added 08-06-15 at 01:13 PM ---------- ...I mean WHEN metering in viewfinder is not active... ie. turn camera on and let it sit for 30sec+...

08-06-2015, 12:38 AM	#4
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939	I think the K3 is in sleep mode (viewfinder is blank), sometimes I have to half press the shutter button to wake the camera up and then everything works

08-06-2015, 01:41 AM	#5
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by Poompat When metering is not active (ie. No light displays in viewfinder), pressing (incl. press & hold) AE-L button does NOTHING. So, to perform AE-lock, I have to press shutter lightly first to turn metering on. When metering is on, AE-L button works OK. But on K-50, pressing AF/AE-L button (configured for AE lock) turns on metering + lock AE , even when metering is NOT active. Is this normal? Thank you in advance for any response. Yes I believe this is normal, on K-3 and older advanced models you need a exposure reading to be able to lock exposure. Manual mode with green button auto exposure is often more useful than AE-L in auto exposure modes IMO. Pentax AE-L is a bit limited as it resets after each shot, and after AE meter times out. I would have been nice with more options on both AE-L, and AE meter. FI an option of AE meter never timing out, and that AE-L never unlocks unless you press AE-L button again.

08-06-2015, 05:55 AM	#6
Poompat New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thank you very much... Surprisingly, the K3 manual is less detailed than K50 manual...

08-06-2015, 06:42 AM	#7
lavascript Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 395	I don't use AE-L, but another minor annoyance of mine is the same behavior with the AF button. I've set my AF button(s) to Mode 2, effectively disabling half-press AF... but the AF buttons don't wake the camera from sleep. I'm so used to leaving my camera on while I'm out, then popping it up to my face, half-press, then full press. I can't follow the same procedure with the AF button.