What camera functions have you discovered long after buying the camera?

photoptimist · 05-29-2020, 08:32 AM - **3 Likes**

Using AE-L to save optional RAW or digital preview image.

If you you are shooting JPEG-only mode (to save time or space on shots that don't need RAW) but then take a shot where a RAW copy would be useful, hit the AE-L button immediately after the shot. The camera will ask if you want to save a RAW copy and do so it you hit OK.

Likewise if you are using the digital preview function (to check DoF or exposure) and love the result, hitting the AE-L button immediately after the shot can save the preview.

**Mikesul** · 05-29-2020, 09:34 AM

This thread is a great idea! Thanks to the OP.

bdery · 05-29-2020, 11:08 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Kevin B123

I have never used it, I'll look it up now

I was unable to get this level of sharpness until I remembered to activate it, two nights ago:

zapp · 06-03-2020, 10:15 AM

Green button - to its full extent.

**Kevin B123** · 06-14-2021, 08:22 AM

On the K-1ii, if you use the info button to get to the big rear screen level indicator, then press LV, the level indicator stays present over the live view of the scene. Neat eh?.

Waffles · 06-14-2021, 08:37 AM

I had my K70 for quite a long time before I realised you can use exposure compensation in Manual mode. That plus the magic green button was a big Wow moment for me

diomedian · 06-15-2021, 06:23 AM

I too only recently began using Hyper-program mode, after many years of owning a K-5 thus equipped, though I can’t remember what situation prompted this experimentation.

Jonathan Mac · 07-03-2021, 10:40 AM

I realised quite recently that the little symbol of a circle with a line through it denotes where the film/sensor plane lies.

artrasa · 07-03-2021, 12:55 PM

I enjoy using the Hyper Program mode for most of my shooting. I really like how it offers a solid starting point for taking a picture, allowing quick jump into aperture/shutter priority modes with rear/front dials if necessary.

I recently found the camera (K10D) has a custom menu selection that allows to customize the Program mode. It has depth-of-field, speed and MTF priority program lines. In the depth-of-field mode, the camera tries to maximize the depth of field by using larger f-numbers than the standard Program mode. This suits my purpose very well as I often shoot landscape photos. MTF priority is unfamiliar to me, I don't know what its purpose is.

steephill · 07-03-2021, 02:38 PM

MTF stands for modulation transfer function and is a useful measure of image quality. MTF Program mode prioritises the highest quality aperture available for the EV reading.

artrasa · 07-04-2021, 01:48 AM

Originally posted by steephill

MTF stands for modulation transfer function and is a useful measure of image quality. MTF Program mode prioritises the highest quality aperture available for the EV reading.

So it's a mode specifically for pixel peepers?

vonBaloney · 07-04-2021, 03:29 PM

I was today years old when I discovered the Q cameras have a mode called "blur control" -- there is a BC on the mode dial and everything. It merges multiple images (jpg only) to give you a guaranteed blurred background. I have three Q bodies -- two Q7s and an original Q. Learn something every day.

kypfer · 12-10-2021, 11:39 AM - **1 Like**

I was "playing" with my K-01 this afternoon and discovered that, if I set the Custom Image to Monochrome (BW), I end up with a b&w image on the LiveView screen … wow! a monochrome viewfinder!
I rarely use LiveView with my other cameras, except for the occasional awkward angle shot, so this was a concept that had never occurred to me

I'm rather anticipating some compositional advantages with this new-found feature

**JoelA** · 12-12-2021, 02:45 PM

Kypfer,

It's kind of been mentioned earlier, but just tying some strings together...

Black and white is my "happy place".

If you go into the Monochrome (BW) setting, 'info' allows 'parameter adj.' here you can customize the black & white image to your liking (filters / toning / high-low key / contrast / sharpness). And if you forget where you start just hit the green button.

I'm shooting 100% manual so there may be some differences with automatic lenses that I'm not aware of.

Enjoy!

kypfer · 12-12-2021, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by JoelA

Kypfer,
It's kind of been mentioned earlier, but just tying some strings together...
Black and white is my "happy place".
If you go into the Monochrome (BW) setting, 'info' allows 'parameter adj.' here you can customize the black & white image to your liking (filters / toning / high-low key / contrast / sharpness). And if you forget where you start just hit the green button.
I'm shooting 100% manual so there may be some differences with automatic lenses that I'm not aware of.
Enjoy!

Thanks for the detail

Really appreciate the feedback!
I too was very happy in a b&w world for a long time, darkroom and all, before being "dragged into" colour in the '80's.
Over the years I slowly lost the ability to visualise a scene in monochrome, it's only now I've got the time and inclination to try and regain some of that magic

I was (reasonably) aware of the 'parameter adjust' feature, my "discovery" was that I could do it in "real time", via the LiveView screen, on my newer cameras, rather than having to make an exposure using the optical viewfinder then assessing the result in Playback mode.
Real old-time dyed-in-the-wool operator here, having trouble moving on from my *istDS, which is my current 'semi-permanent' M42 body, so well aware of the "100% manual" concept

Looks like I'll be re-purposing some of my cameras!

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05-29-2020, 08:32 AM - 3 Likes	#46
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,121	Using AE-L to save optional RAW or digital preview image. If you you are shooting JPEG-only mode (to save time or space on shots that don't need RAW) but then take a shot where a RAW copy would be useful, hit the AE-L button immediately after the shot. The camera will ask if you want to save a RAW copy and do so it you hit OK. Likewise if you are using the digital preview function (to check DoF or exposure) and love the result, hitting the AE-L button immediately after the shot can save the preview.

05-29-2020, 09:34 AM	#47
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,591	This thread is a great idea! Thanks to the OP.

05-29-2020, 11:08 AM - 2 Likes	#48
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,356	Originally posted by Kevin B123 I have never used it, I'll look it up now I was unable to get this level of sharpness until I remembered to activate it, two nights ago:

06-03-2020, 10:15 AM	#49
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	Green button - to its full extent.

06-14-2021, 08:22 AM	#50
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,175	On the K-1ii, if you use the info button to get to the big rear screen level indicator, then press LV, the level indicator stays present over the live view of the scene. Neat eh?.

06-14-2021, 08:37 AM	#51
Waffles Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: The Carolinas Posts: 461	I had my K70 for quite a long time before I realised you can use exposure compensation in Manual mode. That plus the magic green button was a big Wow moment for me

06-15-2021, 06:23 AM	#52
diomedian New Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 5	I too only recently began using Hyper-program mode, after many years of owning a K-5 thus equipped, though I can’t remember what situation prompted this experimentation.

07-03-2021, 10:40 AM	#53
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,879 Original Poster	I realised quite recently that the little symbol of a circle with a line through it denotes where the film/sensor plane lies.

07-03-2021, 12:55 PM	#54
artrasa Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 185	I enjoy using the Hyper Program mode for most of my shooting. I really like how it offers a solid starting point for taking a picture, allowing quick jump into aperture/shutter priority modes with rear/front dials if necessary. I recently found the camera (K10D) has a custom menu selection that allows to customize the Program mode. It has depth-of-field, speed and MTF priority program lines. In the depth-of-field mode, the camera tries to maximize the depth of field by using larger f-numbers than the standard Program mode. This suits my purpose very well as I often shoot landscape photos. MTF priority is unfamiliar to me, I don't know what its purpose is.

07-03-2021, 02:38 PM	#55
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 583	MTF stands for modulation transfer function and is a useful measure of image quality. MTF Program mode prioritises the highest quality aperture available for the EV reading.

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07-04-2021, 01:48 AM	#56
artrasa Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 185	Originally posted by steephill MTF stands for modulation transfer function and is a useful measure of image quality. MTF Program mode prioritises the highest quality aperture available for the EV reading. So it's a mode specifically for pixel peepers?

07-04-2021, 03:29 PM	#57
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	I was today years old when I discovered the Q cameras have a mode called "blur control" -- there is a BC on the mode dial and everything. It merges multiple images (jpg only) to give you a guaranteed blurred background. I have three Q bodies -- two Q7s and an original Q. Learn something every day.

12-10-2021, 11:39 AM - 1 Like	#58
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,588	I was "playing" with my K-01 this afternoon and discovered that, if I set the Custom Image to Monochrome (BW), I end up with a b&w image on the LiveView screen … wow! a monochrome viewfinder! I rarely use LiveView with my other cameras, except for the occasional awkward angle shot, so this was a concept that had never occurred to me I'm rather anticipating some compositional advantages with this new-found feature

12-12-2021, 02:45 PM	#59
JoelA Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 187	Kypfer, It's kind of been mentioned earlier, but just tying some strings together... Black and white is my "happy place". If you go into the Monochrome (BW) setting, 'info' allows 'parameter adj.' here you can customize the black & white image to your liking (filters / toning / high-low key / contrast / sharpness). And if you forget where you start just hit the green button. I'm shooting 100% manual so there may be some differences with automatic lenses that I'm not aware of. Enjoy!

12-12-2021, 03:54 PM	#60
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,588	Originally posted by JoelA Kypfer, It's kind of been mentioned earlier, but just tying some strings together... Black and white is my "happy place". If you go into the Monochrome (BW) setting, 'info' allows 'parameter adj.' here you can customize the black & white image to your liking (filters / toning / high-low key / contrast / sharpness). And if you forget where you start just hit the green button. I'm shooting 100% manual so there may be some differences with automatic lenses that I'm not aware of. Enjoy! Thanks for the detail Really appreciate the feedback! I too was very happy in a b&w world for a long time, darkroom and all, before being "dragged into" colour in the '80's. Over the years I slowly lost the ability to visualise a scene in monochrome, it's only now I've got the time and inclination to try and regain some of that magic I was (reasonably) aware of the 'parameter adjust' feature, my "discovery" was that I could do it in "real time", via the LiveView screen, on my newer cameras, rather than having to make an exposure using the optical viewfinder then assessing the result in Playback mode. Real old-time dyed-in-the-wool operator here, having trouble moving on from my *istDS, which is my current 'semi-permanent' M42 body, so well aware of the "100% manual" concept Looks like I'll be re-purposing some of my cameras!