Only 14 continuous JPEGs on my K20D

Peter Zack · 12-19-2008, 02:23 PM

And also make sure the battery is full.

Lazaruscomeout · 12-19-2008, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by nostatic

have you tried burst mode?

I just did, and I only get about 5 seconds of burst mode.

Lazaruscomeout · 12-19-2008, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

And also make sure the battery is full.

I am re-charging both batteries (original Pentax) as we speak. The camera has shown full on the batteries, but I'll let you know if of makes a difference.

I am sorry if my first post to this GREAT forum is a pain, but I am greatful for the help so far.

Lazaruscomeout · 12-19-2008, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by netuser

Unload all the pictures from the card. Format it and then try again.

I have done that. Still no joy.

Last edited by Lazaruscomeout; 12-19-2008 at 02:39 PM. Reason: iPod touch

flyer · 12-19-2008, 03:02 PM

It won't do 38 JPEG pictures if your shooting with the quality set at 4 stars. It will if set on 3 stars. That might be your problem.

Peter Zack · 12-19-2008, 03:33 PM

Flyer you may have solved t. I just had a look at mine and realized it was set at 3 stars. It will do 38 frames that way without issue. At 4 stars. It slows down a lot and will only do 19-20 frames. At 2 stars I stopped at 50 and it was still shooting.

Since I shoot Raw + and only use the Jpegs a quick previews I had never checked the rating which is the default setting I think.

Lazaruscomeout · 12-19-2008, 03:44 PM

Flyer and Peter Zack,

I thought this might be the solution too. But at two stars, I am still getting only 18 frames before it goes to 1 frame per second.

heliphoto · 12-19-2008, 06:03 PM

What quality setting do you have set? The manual specifies up to 38 frames can be shot in one sequence at quality level ***. I've heard people say that **** jpegs are almost as big as RAW files, so if you're on that highest quality (least compression) **** setting, that could be the cause.

EDIT: oh! there's a page two. Now I look dumb!

Lazaruscomeout · 12-19-2008, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by heliphoto

What quality setting do you have set? The manual specifies up to 38 frames can be shot in one sequence at quality level ***. I've heard people say that **** jpegs are almost as big as RAW files, so if you're on that highest quality (least compression) **** setting, that could be the cause.

EDIT: oh! there's a page two. Now I look dumb!

No... not dumb. More like great minds think alike. However, it seems like I need a GENIUS mind to solve my problem!

Any takers?

flyer · 12-19-2008, 07:34 PM

What kind of SD card are you using? If your card is very slow (like a model dating from the dinosaur era), it might not clear the buffer fast enough to allow the camera to keep on going. It might also be a defective card. You might want to try another card. Just a wild guess.

m8o · 12-19-2008, 10:28 PM

Exactly... what card is it? My 2 Gig card allows for much faster writing than my 8 Gig card. Also realize, the K20D has about 47% (is it) more pixels to push than the K10D...

I don't remember the site but there was a huge SD card speed comparo. Some budget cards are ridiculously slow. The camera buffer will fill-up if the card speed is too slow to keep-up with the write speed.

Lazaruscomeout · 12-20-2008, 06:09 AM

I have tried three different cards:

Transcend 8GB Class 6
PNY 4GB Class 6
Sandisk 8GB Class 2

I'll head out today and buy a Sandisk Extreme lll 4GB. I had assumed that the buffer in the camera was able to hold 38 JPEGs before it needed to record them to the card.

I'll let you all know how I make out.

Peter Zack, what card did you use on your test?

Lazaruscomeout · 12-20-2008, 07:07 AM

Problem Solved!!!

I reset the camera to initial settings in the setup menu and I now get 40 frames on my class 6 cards and 37 frames on my class 2 card @ 14.6MP JPEG ***. I also get 16 frames in RAW, even after re-applying all of my preferred settings.

I have no idea what changed. Is it possible that a reset is like rebooting a computer?

Thank you all for your input.

Peter Zack · 12-20-2008, 08:02 AM

That's good to hear. I have no idea what the issue was but glad to hear it's cleared. Yes the camera does reboot like a computer and fix a number of issues. I just never thought that would fix this. I was begining to think it was a bad buffer memory.

The card was a basic run of the mill Sandisk SD 4 Gb (the blue ones that are nothing special). Cheap slow but a solid card. I tried a slower card to see if that was the issue.

flyer · 12-20-2008, 11:29 AM

I'm glad your problem is solved. I thought about a reset too, but I rejected it , thinking it was a buffer problem, so next time I have a problem (I've been lucky so far), I'll give this a try.

12-19-2008, 06:03 PM	#23
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539	What quality setting do you have set? The manual specifies up to 38 frames can be shot in one sequence at quality level *. I've heard people say that jpegs are almost as big as RAW files, so if you're on that highest quality (least compression) ** setting, that could be the cause. EDIT: oh! there's a page two. Now I look dumb! Last edited by heliphoto; 12-19-2008 at 06:04 PM. Reason: i'm dumb.

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12-19-2008, 02:23 PM	#16
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	And also make sure the battery is full.

12-19-2008, 02:27 PM	#17
Lazaruscomeout Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 153 Original Poster	Originally posted by nostatic have you tried burst mode? I just did, and I only get about 5 seconds of burst mode.

12-19-2008, 02:34 PM	#18
Lazaruscomeout Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 153 Original Poster	Originally posted by Peter Zack And also make sure the battery is full. I am re-charging both batteries (original Pentax) as we speak. The camera has shown full on the batteries, but I'll let you know if of makes a difference. I am sorry if my first post to this GREAT forum is a pain, but I am greatful for the help so far.

12-19-2008, 02:38 PM	#19
Lazaruscomeout Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 153 Original Poster	Originally posted by netuser Unload all the pictures from the card. Format it and then try again. I have done that. Still no joy. Last edited by Lazaruscomeout; 12-19-2008 at 02:39 PM. Reason: iPod touch

12-19-2008, 03:02 PM	#20
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	It won't do 38 JPEG pictures if your shooting with the quality set at 4 stars. It will if set on 3 stars. That might be your problem.

12-19-2008, 03:33 PM	#21
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Flyer you may have solved t. I just had a look at mine and realized it was set at 3 stars. It will do 38 frames that way without issue. At 4 stars. It slows down a lot and will only do 19-20 frames. At 2 stars I stopped at 50 and it was still shooting. Since I shoot Raw + and only use the Jpegs a quick previews I had never checked the rating which is the default setting I think.

12-19-2008, 03:44 PM	#22
Lazaruscomeout Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 153 Original Poster	Flyer and Peter Zack, I thought this might be the solution too. But at two stars, I am still getting only 18 frames before it goes to 1 frame per second.

12-19-2008, 06:55 PM	#24
Lazaruscomeout Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 153 Original Poster	Originally posted by heliphoto What quality setting do you have set? The manual specifies up to 38 frames can be shot in one sequence at quality level *. I've heard people say that jpegs are almost as big as RAW files, so if you're on that highest quality (least compression) ** setting, that could be the cause. EDIT: oh! there's a page two. Now I look dumb! No... not dumb. More like great minds think alike. However, it seems like I need a GENIUS mind to solve my problem! Any takers?

12-19-2008, 07:34 PM	#25
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	What kind of SD card are you using? If your card is very slow (like a model dating from the dinosaur era), it might not clear the buffer fast enough to allow the camera to keep on going. It might also be a defective card. You might want to try another card. Just a wild guess.

12-19-2008, 10:28 PM	#26
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Exactly... what card is it? My 2 Gig card allows for much faster writing than my 8 Gig card. Also realize, the K20D has about 47% (is it) more pixels to push than the K10D... I don't remember the site but there was a huge SD card speed comparo. Some budget cards are ridiculously slow. The camera buffer will fill-up if the card speed is too slow to keep-up with the write speed.

12-20-2008, 06:09 AM	#27
Lazaruscomeout Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 153 Original Poster	I have tried three different cards: Transcend 8GB Class 6 PNY 4GB Class 6 Sandisk 8GB Class 2 I'll head out today and buy a Sandisk Extreme lll 4GB. I had assumed that the buffer in the camera was able to hold 38 JPEGs before it needed to record them to the card. I'll let you all know how I make out. Peter Zack, what card did you use on your test?

12-20-2008, 07:07 AM	#28
Lazaruscomeout Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 153 Original Poster	Problem Solved!!! I reset the camera to initial settings in the setup menu and I now get 40 frames on my class 6 cards and 37 frames on my class 2 card @ 14.6MP JPEG ***. I also get 16 frames in RAW, even after re-applying all of my preferred settings. I have no idea what changed. Is it possible that a reset is like rebooting a computer? Thank you all for your input.

12-20-2008, 08:02 AM	#29
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	That's good to hear. I have no idea what the issue was but glad to hear it's cleared. Yes the camera does reboot like a computer and fix a number of issues. I just never thought that would fix this. I was begining to think it was a bad buffer memory. The card was a basic run of the mill Sandisk SD 4 Gb (the blue ones that are nothing special). Cheap slow but a solid card. I tried a slower card to see if that was the issue.

12-20-2008, 11:29 AM	#30
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	I'm glad your problem is solved. I thought about a reset too, but I rejected it , thinking it was a buffer problem, so next time I have a problem (I've been lucky so far), I'll give this a try.