Pentax DSLR tips

bertwert · 10-16-2015, 08:01 AM - **1 Like**

Share your tips on using Pentax DSLRs.
I'll start with this tip:
Zoom into images when viewing them with the rear control dial.
Change images with the front control dial.
Put them together and change images when zoomed in.

:-)

cali92rs · 10-16-2015, 09:52 AM

The first thing I do is set up the camera for back button focusing

Imp · 10-16-2015, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

The first thing I do is set up the camera for back button focusing

I Second That!!
Also, turn off the auto noise reduction processing for long exposures, because that takes forever and a half to finish the picture.

mcgregni · 10-16-2015, 03:39 PM

Turn off any beeping !

audiobomber · 10-16-2015, 04:30 PM

Program those User modes. My K-3 is set for Action, Tripod or Flash, simply by rotating the mode dial. No forgetting to change shooting mode, metering, AF mode and points, ISO range, SR, file type, highlight correction and just about any other damn thing you can flub.

Back button focussing is a completely unnecessary complication when you have a K-3 and a properly configured User mode.

micromacro · 10-16-2015, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by Imp

Also, turn off the auto noise reduction processing for long exposures, because that takes forever and a half to finish the picture.

It took me a while to figure that out

mcgregni · 10-17-2015, 02:17 AM

Originally posted by Imp

I Second That!!
Also, turn off the auto noise reduction processing for long exposures, because that takes forever and a half to finish the picture.

Is this the ' dark frame subtraction ' ? If so I don't think it can be turned off, at least I don't know how to on the K7 .....

Imp · 10-17-2015, 02:36 AM

Originally posted by mcgregni

Is this the ' dark frame subtraction ' ? If so I don't think it can be turned off, at least I don't know how to on the K7 .....

I can turn it off on my k-30.

Originally posted by micromacro

It took me a while to figure that out

I fixed it thanks to pentax forums. :P

BrianR · 10-17-2015, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by mcgregni

Is this the ' dark frame subtraction ' ? If so I don't think it can be turned off, at least I don't know how to on the K7 .....

It's called "slow shutter speed nr" in most of Pentax manuals I've looked at (including the k7), and is either in the Record menu or the Custom Settings menu, depending on your model..

Which brings me to my "tip". Read the manual

. Also get the pdf version (found here: Support?RICOH IMAGING CANADA) so you have something that's easier to search.

dansamy · 10-17-2015, 06:34 AM

RTFM! Always!

**Canada_Rockies** · 10-17-2015, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by cali92rs

The first thing I do is set up the camera for back button focusing

And I turn off the shutter button AF. I have found something really interesting (to me, anyway) about the K3. If I select green mode on the mode dial, half press AF comes back. Saves menu work when handing the camera to someone else to push the button. It also switches to 27 point AF.

cali92rs · 10-17-2015, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

And I turn off the shutter button AF. I have found something really interesting (to me, anyway) about the K3. If I select green mode on the mode dial, half press AF comes back. Saves menu work when handing the camera to someone else to push the button. It also switches to 27 point AF.

Yea, the green mode on the dial is "hand the camera to your mom" mode

Pretty much everything is automated and, you are correct" AF is accomplished on the shutter half press

**csa** · 10-18-2015, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

Program those User modes. My K-3 is set for Action, Tripod or Flash, simply by rotating the mode dial. No forgetting to change shooting mode, metering, AF mode and points, ISO range, SR, file type, highlight correction and just about any other damn thing you can flub.

Dan, thanks for a great suggestion! I just got my new K3, so this will be a time-saving, no frustration tip!

cali92rs · 10-18-2015, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

Program those User modes. My K-3 is set for Action, Tripod or Flash, simply by rotating the mode dial. No forgetting to change shooting mode, metering, AF mode and points, ISO range, SR, file type, highlight correction and just about any other damn thing you can flub.

Back button focussing is a completely unnecessary complication when you have a K-3 and a properly configured User mode.

How complicated is it to use your thumb instead of pointer finger to focus?

audiobomber · 10-18-2015, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by cali92rs

How complicated is it to use your thumb instead of pointer finger to focus?

It is a mess, because I need to undo many years of programming in my brain. Half-press requires no thought, and no extra motion. My finger is on the shutter release automatically.

The main reason people give for using back-button focus is to shuttle quickly from action shooting with AF-C, to AF-S for shooting stills. I shuttle between action and stills with User mode.

I normally have the camera in Hyper-Program, AF-S, center point, SR on. When I want to shoot action, I switch my mode dial to User1, which changes many things that I need for action shooting; TAv mode, AF-C, 25-point expandable AF point, SR off, center-weighted metering, +0.5EC. I understand using BBF with older cameras, but with the K-3's electronic buttons and User modes, BBF is an unnecessary complication, and a less sophisticated operating method, IMO.

10-16-2015, 08:01 AM - 1 Like	#1
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172	Pentax DSLR tips Share your tips on using Pentax DSLRs. I'll start with this tip: Zoom into images when viewing them with the rear control dial. Change images with the front control dial. Put them together and change images when zoomed in. :-)

10-17-2015, 06:03 AM	#9
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by mcgregni Is this the ' dark frame subtraction ' ? If so I don't think it can be turned off, at least I don't know how to on the K7 ..... It's called "slow shutter speed nr" in most of Pentax manuals I've looked at (including the k7), and is either in the Record menu or the Custom Settings menu, depending on your model.. Which brings me to my "tip". Read the manual. Also get the pdf version (found here: Support?RICOH IMAGING CANADA) so you have something that's easier to search.

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10-16-2015, 09:52 AM	#2
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	The first thing I do is set up the camera for back button focusing

10-16-2015, 02:28 PM	#3
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by cali92rs The first thing I do is set up the camera for back button focusing I Second That!! Also, turn off the auto noise reduction processing for long exposures, because that takes forever and a half to finish the picture.

10-16-2015, 03:39 PM	#4
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	Turn off any beeping !

10-16-2015, 04:30 PM	#5
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Program those User modes. My K-3 is set for Action, Tripod or Flash, simply by rotating the mode dial. No forgetting to change shooting mode, metering, AF mode and points, ISO range, SR, file type, highlight correction and just about any other damn thing you can flub. Back button focussing is a completely unnecessary complication when you have a K-3 and a properly configured User mode.

10-16-2015, 05:42 PM	#6
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Originally posted by Imp Also, turn off the auto noise reduction processing for long exposures, because that takes forever and a half to finish the picture. It took me a while to figure that out

10-17-2015, 02:17 AM	#7
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	Originally posted by Imp I Second That!! Also, turn off the auto noise reduction processing for long exposures, because that takes forever and a half to finish the picture. Is this the ' dark frame subtraction ' ? If so I don't think it can be turned off, at least I don't know how to on the K7 .....

10-17-2015, 02:36 AM	#8
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by mcgregni Is this the ' dark frame subtraction ' ? If so I don't think it can be turned off, at least I don't know how to on the K7 ..... I can turn it off on my k-30. Originally posted by micromacro It took me a while to figure that out I fixed it thanks to pentax forums. :P

10-17-2015, 06:34 AM	#10
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	RTFM! Always!

10-17-2015, 11:22 AM	#11
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by cali92rs The first thing I do is set up the camera for back button focusing And I turn off the shutter button AF. I have found something really interesting (to me, anyway) about the K3. If I select green mode on the mode dial, half press AF comes back. Saves menu work when handing the camera to someone else to push the button. It also switches to 27 point AF.

10-17-2015, 12:06 PM	#12
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies And I turn off the shutter button AF. I have found something really interesting (to me, anyway) about the K3. If I select green mode on the mode dial, half press AF comes back. Saves menu work when handing the camera to someone else to push the button. It also switches to 27 point AF. Yea, the green mode on the dial is "hand the camera to your mom" mode Pretty much everything is automated and, you are correct" AF is accomplished on the shutter half press

10-18-2015, 07:06 AM	#13
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Originally posted by audiobomber Program those User modes. My K-3 is set for Action, Tripod or Flash, simply by rotating the mode dial. No forgetting to change shooting mode, metering, AF mode and points, ISO range, SR, file type, highlight correction and just about any other damn thing you can flub. Dan, thanks for a great suggestion! I just got my new K3, so this will be a time-saving, no frustration tip!

10-18-2015, 09:05 AM	#14
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by audiobomber Program those User modes. My K-3 is set for Action, Tripod or Flash, simply by rotating the mode dial. No forgetting to change shooting mode, metering, AF mode and points, ISO range, SR, file type, highlight correction and just about any other damn thing you can flub. Back button focussing is a completely unnecessary complication when you have a K-3 and a properly configured User mode. How complicated is it to use your thumb instead of pointer finger to focus?

10-18-2015, 10:27 AM	#15
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by cali92rs How complicated is it to use your thumb instead of pointer finger to focus? It is a mess, because I need to undo many years of programming in my brain. Half-press requires no thought, and no extra motion. My finger is on the shutter release automatically. The main reason people give for using back-button focus is to shuttle quickly from action shooting with AF-C, to AF-S for shooting stills. I shuttle between action and stills with User mode. I normally have the camera in Hyper-Program, AF-S, center point, SR on. When I want to shoot action, I switch my mode dial to User1, which changes many things that I need for action shooting; TAv mode, AF-C, 25-point expandable AF point, SR off, center-weighted metering, +0.5EC. I understand using BBF with older cameras, but with the K-3's electronic buttons and User modes, BBF is an unnecessary complication, and a less sophisticated operating method, IMO.