Kx - MLU w/ bracketing?

bnorikane · 12-22-2009, 10:14 AM

Is there a way to use mirror lockup (MLU) and auto-bracketing at the same time on a Kx?

As far as I can tell, MLU is available through the 2 second timer or 3 second remote.
Bracketing, timer and remote are drive options and are mutually exclusive.

I often shoot outside on a tripod and use a wireless remote. I'd like to use remote with MLU and auto-bracketing.

Kx is my first DSLR. I've shot a lot on tripod w/ Olympus C8080 which had no mirror. I almost always used the remote and bracketed a lot. My only experience with MLU, was with film cameras. I took far fewer shots then, and didn't experiment as much.

Any tips appreciated. Maybe I don't need MLU with bracketing. My critical shots are outdoors, on tripod, at moderate focal lengths (30mm - 55mm). I try to keep my shutter speeds up over 1/200 s.

It's also possible that I don't need bracketing. Although I get a lot of underexposed shots with the Kx, it has enough DR that I can fix the shot in PP.

attack11 · 12-23-2009, 06:55 AM

Theres no reason to bracket once you can compose the shot at set the camera properly. Sounds like you need to practice metering.

bnorikane · 12-23-2009, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by attack11

Theres no reason to bracket once you can compose the shot at set the camera properly. Sounds like you need to practice metering.

No doubt I could get better at metering, especially correcting exposure comp by eye. I use a grey card when I can, and I check histograms after test shots, but I shoot outside and light can change quickly as clouds go by. Sometimes the clouds are quite thin, but will change exposure.

In the past, I found bracketing useful, and my other cameras allowed bracketing with the remote shutter release. Exposure bracketing and MLU are two of the features that led me to the Kx over Nikon D40, D3000, D5000.

stand.sure · 12-23-2009, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by attack11

Theres no reason to bracket once you can compose the shot at set the camera properly. Sounds like you need to practice metering.

Wrong. Just plain wrong. There are a large number of reasons why bracketing is useful, and that is why the function is found on Pro Cameras as well.

As for what the reasons ARE, I know what MY reasons are, the OP knows HIS reasons. If you don't have any reasons then perhaps my advice would be, there's no reason to leave messages about bracketing advice if you don't use it.

bnorikane, I am interested in the answer to this, since I do just what you want to do on my K10D and K20D. I am pretty sure I saw this issue raised elsewhere and that the K7 actually has the same issue. I wish I could contribute to this, but I will follow the answers with interest.

EDIT: I did find something on dpreview with respect to the K7 that indicates that there is a work-around for the MLU issue for regular exposure bracketing - use live view, with the AF set to contrast-detect AF in the appropriate menu -- this will cause the mirror to remain locked up for the entire sequence. Since your Kx has Live View, perhaps this will work?

sure

Last edited by stand.sure; 12-23-2009 at 09:08 AM.

bnorikane · 12-23-2009, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by stand.sure

...
bnorikane, I am interested in the answer to this, since I do just what you want to do on my K10D and K20D. I am pretty sure I saw this issue raised elsewhere and that the K7 actually has the same issue. I wish I could contribute to this, but I will follow the answers with interest.

sure

Thanks for the heads up on the K7. K20D sounds interesting.

I don't see why bracketing is excluded from the timer and remote modes.

attack11 · 12-24-2009, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by stand.sure

Wrong. Just plain wrong. There are a large number of reasons why bracketing is useful, and that is why the function is found on Pro Cameras as well.

As for what the reasons ARE, I know what MY reasons are, the OP knows HIS reasons. If you don't have any reasons then perhaps my advice would be, there's no reason to leave messages about bracketing advice if you don't use it.

bnorikane, I am interested in the answer to this, since I do just what you want to do on my K10D and K20D. I am pretty sure I saw this issue raised elsewhere and that the K7 actually has the same issue. I wish I could contribute to this, but I will follow the answers with interest.

EDIT: I did find something on dpreview with respect to the K7 that indicates that there is a work-around for the MLU issue for regular exposure bracketing - use live view, with the AF set to contrast-detect AF in the appropriate menu -- this will cause the mirror to remain locked up for the entire sequence. Since your Kx has Live View, perhaps this will work?

sure

lol, i really don't know anyone that brackets once they've composed and they know how to meter. bracketing is a function of a tool, and it's an easy solution when you can't get the proper exposure (yet); like the thread op.

**jbinpg** · 12-24-2009, 10:22 AM

Bracketing is par for the course for HDR photos. I have my USER option on my K20D set for M mode, 2 under to 2 over in 1 stop brackets. All I have to do is just twist the mode dial to USER and I am ready to go. Just because you don't use bracketing doesn't mean it isn't useful.

bnorikane · 12-24-2009, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by stand.sure

EDIT: I did find something on dpreview with respect to the K7 that indicates that there is a work-around for the MLU issue for regular exposure bracketing - use live view, with the AF set to contrast-detect AF in the appropriate menu -- this will cause the mirror to remain locked up for the entire sequence. Since your Kx has Live View, perhaps this will work?

sure

Unlike other Pentax DSLRs, Live View on Kx does not MLU, even with Contrast Detect AF. If shuttles the mirror on every shot. Apparently it's part of the shutter mechanism and can't be changed.

bnorikane · 12-24-2009, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by attack11

lol, i really don't know anyone that brackets once they've composed and they know how to meter. bracketing is a function of a tool, and it's an easy solution when you can't get the proper exposure (yet); like the thread op.

LOL - and what's wrong with an easy solution that works?

... or is your way the only way for real photographers?

;-)

Some people use continuous shooting, some don't.
Many like zooms, others love primes.
Some people don't use auto-focus, some go all manual with exposure.
These are all functions of tools that some find useful.

12-22-2009, 10:14 AM	#1
bnorikane Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 91	Kx - MLU w/ bracketing? Is there a way to use mirror lockup (MLU) and auto-bracketing at the same time on a Kx? As far as I can tell, MLU is available through the 2 second timer or 3 second remote. Bracketing, timer and remote are drive options and are mutually exclusive. I often shoot outside on a tripod and use a wireless remote. I'd like to use remote with MLU and auto-bracketing. Kx is my first DSLR. I've shot a lot on tripod w/ Olympus C8080 which had no mirror. I almost always used the remote and bracketed a lot. My only experience with MLU, was with film cameras. I took far fewer shots then, and didn't experiment as much. Any tips appreciated. Maybe I don't need MLU with bracketing. My critical shots are outdoors, on tripod, at moderate focal lengths (30mm - 55mm). I try to keep my shutter speeds up over 1/200 s. It's also possible that I don't need bracketing. Although I get a lot of underexposed shots with the Kx, it has enough DR that I can fix the shot in PP.

12-23-2009, 08:54 AM	#3
bnorikane Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by attack11 Theres no reason to bracket once you can compose the shot at set the camera properly. Sounds like you need to practice metering. No doubt I could get better at metering, especially correcting exposure comp by eye. I use a grey card when I can, and I check histograms after test shots, but I shoot outside and light can change quickly as clouds go by. Sometimes the clouds are quite thin, but will change exposure. In the past, I found bracketing useful, and my other cameras allowed bracketing with the remote shutter release. Exposure bracketing and MLU are two of the features that led me to the Kx over Nikon D40, D3000, D5000. Last edited by bnorikane; 12-23-2009 at 08:59 AM.

12-24-2009, 12:29 PM	#9
bnorikane Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by attack11 lol, i really don't know anyone that brackets once they've composed and they know how to meter. bracketing is a function of a tool, and it's an easy solution when you can't get the proper exposure (yet); like the thread op. LOL - and what's wrong with an easy solution that works? ... or is your way the only way for real photographers? ;-) Some people use continuous shooting, some don't. Many like zooms, others love primes. Some people don't use auto-focus, some go all manual with exposure. These are all functions of tools that some find useful. Last edited by bnorikane; 12-24-2009 at 12:39 PM.

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12-23-2009, 06:55 AM	#2
attack11 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ottawa, ON - Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 658	Theres no reason to bracket once you can compose the shot at set the camera properly. Sounds like you need to practice metering.

12-23-2009, 08:57 AM	#4
stand.sure New Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Coast, United States Posts: 10	Originally posted by attack11 Theres no reason to bracket once you can compose the shot at set the camera properly. Sounds like you need to practice metering. Wrong. Just plain wrong. There are a large number of reasons why bracketing is useful, and that is why the function is found on Pro Cameras as well. As for what the reasons ARE, I know what MY reasons are, the OP knows HIS reasons. If you don't have any reasons then perhaps my advice would be, there's no reason to leave messages about bracketing advice if you don't use it. bnorikane, I am interested in the answer to this, since I do just what you want to do on my K10D and K20D. I am pretty sure I saw this issue raised elsewhere and that the K7 actually has the same issue. I wish I could contribute to this, but I will follow the answers with interest. EDIT: I did find something on dpreview with respect to the K7 that indicates that there is a work-around for the MLU issue for regular exposure bracketing - use live view, with the AF set to contrast-detect AF in the appropriate menu -- this will cause the mirror to remain locked up for the entire sequence. Since your Kx has Live View, perhaps this will work? sure Last edited by stand.sure; 12-23-2009 at 09:08 AM.

12-23-2009, 09:07 AM	#5
bnorikane Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by stand.sure ... bnorikane, I am interested in the answer to this, since I do just what you want to do on my K10D and K20D. I am pretty sure I saw this issue raised elsewhere and that the K7 actually has the same issue. I wish I could contribute to this, but I will follow the answers with interest. sure Thanks for the heads up on the K7. K20D sounds interesting. I don't see why bracketing is excluded from the timer and remote modes.

12-24-2009, 05:12 AM	#6
attack11 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ottawa, ON - Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 658	Originally posted by stand.sure Wrong. Just plain wrong. There are a large number of reasons why bracketing is useful, and that is why the function is found on Pro Cameras as well. As for what the reasons ARE, I know what MY reasons are, the OP knows HIS reasons. If you don't have any reasons then perhaps my advice would be, there's no reason to leave messages about bracketing advice if you don't use it. bnorikane, I am interested in the answer to this, since I do just what you want to do on my K10D and K20D. I am pretty sure I saw this issue raised elsewhere and that the K7 actually has the same issue. I wish I could contribute to this, but I will follow the answers with interest. EDIT: I did find something on dpreview with respect to the K7 that indicates that there is a work-around for the MLU issue for regular exposure bracketing - use live view, with the AF set to contrast-detect AF in the appropriate menu -- this will cause the mirror to remain locked up for the entire sequence. Since your Kx has Live View, perhaps this will work? sure lol, i really don't know anyone that brackets once they've composed and they know how to meter. bracketing is a function of a tool, and it's an easy solution when you can't get the proper exposure (yet); like the thread op.

12-24-2009, 10:22 AM	#7
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Bracketing is par for the course for HDR photos. I have my USER option on my K20D set for M mode, 2 under to 2 over in 1 stop brackets. All I have to do is just twist the mode dial to USER and I am ready to go. Just because you don't use bracketing doesn't mean it isn't useful.

12-24-2009, 12:25 PM	#8
bnorikane Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 91 Original Poster	Originally posted by stand.sure EDIT: I did find something on dpreview with respect to the K7 that indicates that there is a work-around for the MLU issue for regular exposure bracketing - use live view, with the AF set to contrast-detect AF in the appropriate menu -- this will cause the mirror to remain locked up for the entire sequence. Since your Kx has Live View, perhaps this will work? sure Unlike other Pentax DSLRs, Live View on Kx does not MLU, even with Contrast Detect AF. If shuttles the mirror on every shot. Apparently it's part of the shutter mechanism and can't be changed.