K20D intravalometer

nixcamic · 11-17-2008, 05:57 PM

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I was thinking of asking for a intravalometer for christmas, but I'm also planning on upgrading to a K20D some time early next year, and noticed that it has one built in. Looking at the specs for it though it only allows you to do 99 shots before it stops. Is this 99 shot limit true? if it is I'll still be asking for an intravalometer.

SpecialK · 11-17-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

I was thinking of asking for a intravalometer for christmas, but I'm also planning on upgrading to a K20D some time early next year, and noticed that it has one built in. Looking at the specs for it though it only allows you to do 99 shots before it stops. Is this 99 shot limit true? if it is I'll still be asking for an intravalometer.

Haven't used the K20D intervalometer yet. I'm guessing the 99-shot limit is accurate.

Oh, for google purposes, it's intervalometer, like in interval.

Isaac314 · 11-18-2008, 12:28 PM

yep, the limit is 99, you cant select a higher number.
But you can take a laptop out with you and use the pentax remote assistant to take as many photos as you like.
Also remember battery life could be an issue.

Personally, i think 99 shots is fine. Just wait 99, come back and start it off again

vizjerei · 11-18-2008, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by IsaacEastgate

Personally, i think 99 shots is fine. Just wait 99, come back and start it off again

Only if the battery still last if it is in cold winter

pjmarchand · 11-18-2008, 11:46 PM

If your serious about getting into time lapse photography, this isn't the camera for you. 99 frames is no where near enough, and to have to come back and reset the interval is a pain and risks shifting your shot, which could ruin your hole sequence. Don't let anybody tell you different.
What we need is Pentax to create the firmware for the K20, which already exists on the W30. No idea why Pentax puts 99 frame limit on their flagship camera and doesn't have one on a point & shoot.

nixcamic · 11-19-2008, 05:44 AM

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll just ask for an external intervalometer, I can use it with my GX-10, and it'll still be useful on the k20d when/if I upgrade. I can also lend it out, have lots of friends that would be interested in borrowing one.

Donald · 06-04-2009, 01:31 AM

what time intervals are allowed: i.e. can I program 1 second, .5 second?

Interval limited by buffer / card writing speed? If so what happens to programmed shot sequence if buffer can't empty fast enough.

For years I have wanted a programmable shot counter. I have ranted here before (dear Pentax...) on the uselessness of the shot down-counter as a wildly inaccurate best guess in the days of digital 1 / 0. I want to program 50 shots, rapid continuous fire, hand held, and actually be accurate with the 50!

insulinguy · 10-16-2009, 10:36 AM

the limit IS NOT 99!!!! yes - the camera says that but for 30 bucks you can get a timer cable and the K20 will then have unlimited shots -
Timer Remote Cord for Pentax K20D K10D K200D K100D *ist - eBay (item 330346787168 end time Oct-20-09 22:20:30 PDT)

best addition to the K20 ive purchased yet!

dosdan · 10-16-2009, 02:54 PM

Originally posted by insulinguy

the limit IS NOT 99!!!! yes - the camera says that but for 30 bucks you can get a timer cable and the K20 will then have unlimited shots -
Timer Remote Cord for Pentax K20D K10D K200D K100D *ist - eBay (item 330346787168 end time Oct-20-09 22:20:30 PDT)

best addition to the K20 ive purchased yet!

Seems great. Found it is a bit difficult to understand the description. Does the count displayed go to 399, but you can continue on past that?

Do you have a link to any WMV/MPEG-2/MPEG-4 video files you've produced from a sequence of shots?

I've not processed a intervalometer sequence yet, but I've done a K20D 21fps burst and replicated each shot 4 times in Sony Vegas Pro 8 to get a 0.336x slo-mo sequence @ 25fps playback rate. 2 jumps into a swimming pool - 13s - 3.6MB - 720x576 - 25 fps - WMV 9 Pro VBR (Peak) 2 Mbps avg, 7Mbps pk, 20s peak buffer, 1 keyframe/s.

http://users.on.net/~dosdan/Slo-mo%20pool%20sequence%20from%20K20D%2021fps%20burst.wmv

I think a intervalometer sequence would also require shot replication when produced as a video clip i.e not 1 shot=1 frame. Possibly 4x-10x.

Dan.

WheresWaldo · 10-16-2009, 05:27 PM

Dan,

With that intervalometer can specify a number of shutter actuations from 1 - 399, if you specify 0 it will keep going until you shut it off. That is where the 399 number comes from.

dosdan · 10-16-2009, 05:43 PM

Thanks for the clarification.

11-17-2008, 05:57 PM	#1
nixcamic Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Guatemala Posts: 354	K20D intravalometer Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I was thinking of asking for a intravalometer for christmas, but I'm also planning on upgrading to a K20D some time early next year, and noticed that it has one built in. Looking at the specs for it though it only allows you to do 99 shots before it stops. Is this 99 shot limit true? if it is I'll still be asking for an intravalometer.

10-16-2009, 02:54 PM	#9
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	Originally posted by insulinguy the limit IS NOT 99!!!! yes - the camera says that but for 30 bucks you can get a timer cable and the K20 will then have unlimited shots - Timer Remote Cord for Pentax K20D K10D K200D K100D ist - eBay (item 330346787168 end time Oct-20-09 22:20:30 PDT) best addition to the K20 ive purchased yet! Seems great. Found it is a bit difficult to understand the description. Does the count displayed go to 399, but you can continue on past that? Do you have a link to any WMV/MPEG-2/MPEG-4 video files you've produced from a sequence of shots? I've not processed a intervalometer sequence yet, but I've done a K20D 21fps burst and replicated each shot 4 times in Sony Vegas Pro 8 to get a 0.336x slo-mo sequence @ 25fps playback rate. 2 jumps into a swimming pool - 13s - 3.6MB - 720x576 - 25 fps - WMV 9 Pro VBR (Peak) 2 Mbps avg, 7Mbps pk, 20s peak buffer, 1 keyframe/s. http://users.on.net/~dosdan/Slo-mo%20pool%20sequence%20from%20K20D%2021fps%20burst.wmv I think a intervalometer sequence would also require shot replication when produced as a video clip i.e not 1 shot=1 frame. Possibly 4x-10x. Dan. Last edited by dosdan; 10-16-2009 at 04:43 PM.*

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11-17-2008, 06:59 PM	#2
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Quote: I was thinking of asking for a intravalometer for christmas, but I'm also planning on upgrading to a K20D some time early next year, and noticed that it has one built in. Looking at the specs for it though it only allows you to do 99 shots before it stops. Is this 99 shot limit true? if it is I'll still be asking for an intravalometer. Haven't used the K20D intervalometer yet. I'm guessing the 99-shot limit is accurate. Oh, for google purposes, it's intervalometer, like in interval.

11-18-2008, 12:28 PM	#3
Isaac314 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	yep, the limit is 99, you cant select a higher number. But you can take a laptop out with you and use the pentax remote assistant to take as many photos as you like. Also remember battery life could be an issue. Personally, i think 99 shots is fine. Just wait 99, come back and start it off again

11-18-2008, 06:01 PM	#4
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Originally posted by IsaacEastgate Personally, i think 99 shots is fine. Just wait 99, come back and start it off again Only if the battery still last if it is in cold winter

11-18-2008, 11:46 PM	#5
pjmarchand Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: revelstoke Posts: 6	If your serious about getting into time lapse photography, this isn't the camera for you. 99 frames is no where near enough, and to have to come back and reset the interval is a pain and risks shifting your shot, which could ruin your hole sequence. Don't let anybody tell you different. What we need is Pentax to create the firmware for the K20, which already exists on the W30. No idea why Pentax puts 99 frame limit on their flagship camera and doesn't have one on a point & shoot.

11-19-2008, 05:44 AM	#6
nixcamic Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Guatemala Posts: 354 Original Poster	Thanks for the replies, I think I'll just ask for an external intervalometer, I can use it with my GX-10, and it'll still be useful on the k20d when/if I upgrade. I can also lend it out, have lots of friends that would be interested in borrowing one.

06-04-2009, 01:31 AM	#7
Donald Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 329	what time intervals are allowed: i.e. can I program 1 second, .5 second? Interval limited by buffer / card writing speed? If so what happens to programmed shot sequence if buffer can't empty fast enough. For years I have wanted a programmable shot counter. I have ranted here before (dear Pentax...) on the uselessness of the shot down-counter as a wildly inaccurate best guess in the days of digital 1 / 0. I want to program 50 shots, rapid continuous fire, hand held, and actually be accurate with the 50!

10-16-2009, 10:36 AM	#8
insulinguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 134	the limit IS NOT 99!!!! yes - the camera says that but for 30 bucks you can get a timer cable and the K20 will then have unlimited shots - Timer Remote Cord for Pentax K20D K10D K200D K100D *ist - eBay (item 330346787168 end time Oct-20-09 22:20:30 PDT) best addition to the K20 ive purchased yet!

10-16-2009, 05:27 PM	#10
WheresWaldo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 498	Dan, With that intervalometer can specify a number of shutter actuations from 1 - 399, if you specify 0 it will keep going until you shut it off. That is where the 399 number comes from.

10-16-2009, 05:43 PM	#11
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	Thanks for the clarification.