Originally posted by Adam Metering works the same way across all Pentax DSLRs.
well, and sorry, as I am new to Pentax and DSLR not sure what I could have missed, so to be clear and simple, what I was looking for is the digital equivalent of the analogue needle exposure information in a Spotmatic (or a Zenit TTL or whatever SLR with light/spotmeter). In the Spotmatic viewfinder, a needle shows under/over exposure at the same time that the speed dial or aperture are modified. It does real-time measurement. You look only in the viewfinder, while adjusting shutter speed dial and/or aperture on the lens, until the needle is set in the middle (correct exposure):
unless I missed something in the manual, this can not be done on the K-30 in M mode (focus lever on "MF", "Electronic Level" on, "Using Aperture Ring" enabled, iso set to a fixed value, mode dial on "M") in the viewfinder. Green button or DOF preview (raw/fx button set to) do only a spot measurement. Changing the shutter speed with the front dial doesn't show on the electronic level of the viewfinder. Or I really have missed something somewhere.
In LiveView, yes, the LCD displays the exposure modification at the same time that you modify the speed dial.
Quote: A key advantage of the K-30 is a fairly modern live view system, complete with focus peaking. Live view will probably allow you to get more accurate exposures and also better focus, so I'd recommend experimenting with that.
completely agree. In fact I like it, it can provide all that fine granulation, and the histogram. But then one moves from viewfinder to LCD and back, or have to just work on the LCD, which I don't like. I was expecting something simple and good enough for many shots, like the viewfinder in manual SLR.
Quote: Definitely don't get the K20D, as that would be a step back in terms of image quality, and it lacks proper live view. .../... If you're looking for durability you could go with the K-5 (or K-3 for even better image quality).
ok, great, so I will see if I can try one of these. Otherwise I like very much the K30, for the small size, the possibility to run on AA batteries, and good the times I put on an recent electronic glass.
I guess I have to spend more time learning patience and playing with the peculiarities of using manual lenses on it ...
---------- Post added 03-02-18 at 01:28 PM ----------
Originally posted by stevebrot Of your choices, the K-5 should meter about the same as the K-30. The K10D, quite frankly, sucks for stop-down metering with M42 or non-A K-mount lenses. With my K-3, I get best results for M42 using M mode in Live View and the green button.
Steve
(...yes, one can use the green button with M42 lenses, with superior results over Av in either live view or the optical viewfinder...at least on the K-3...)
I am thinking I will just give more time to the K30. I have been taking shots recently mostly with a couple Takumar and Mir lenses, and me too, I had much better luck with green button and liveview.. Works very nicely.