Bulb Mode Auto Dark Frame

GoremanX · 02-23-2010, 01:16 AM

I was playing with taking star trail pictures tonight, and I came across a really annoying "feature" on my K-7: the automatic dark frame for hot pixel removal. Whenever I take a picture in Bulb mode, the camera takes a second shot with the shutter closed to determine which pixels are hot, and then fixes those pixels in the final picture. This is a neat feature, except that the second shot lasts as long as the real exposure!!! If I take a 5 minute long shot, then the camera takes a 5 minute long dark frame right after!!! Meanwhile, my camera is unusable.

I just took a 15 minute long exposure, and now the camera is sitting beside me and I'm STILL waiting for it to finish the stupid dark frame.

This "feature" is really pissing me off. Is there any way to disable it? I can fix my own damn hot pixels.

Gimbal · 02-23-2010, 03:32 AM

No, as far as I know the K10d is the only one that can shut the dark frame removal off.

alohadave · 02-23-2010, 05:58 AM

Originally posted by Gimbal

No, as far as I know the K10d is the only one that can shut the dark frame removal off.

K100D Super can as well.

Groucho · 02-23-2010, 10:37 AM

I believe all the CCD-sensor Pentaxes can turn it off entirely, and none of the CMOS ones. You certainly can turn it off completely on the *ist DL and K100D, I know from first-hand experience.

The K-7 is an improvement - it can be to 30 seconds before DFR versus something like 5-10 in the K20D - but still allowing. I used to run it into all the time on the K20D but haven't yet in the K-7. Of course, I'm not doing astrophotography...

GoremanX · 02-23-2010, 12:53 PM

Great, so I'm stuck with this "feature". This is the first time I'm unhappy with something regarding my K-7. I think I'll just give up on astrophotography for now. Having to wait twice as long for a shot to be taken is a giant waste of my time.

Gimbal · 02-24-2010, 05:09 AM

I think most people use shorter exposures, say 30sec, and then add them all together with special software when doing star trails nowadays.

Nass · 02-24-2010, 06:09 AM

I'm with you on this, it is my #1 annoyance about the K-7

netrex · 02-24-2010, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by Gimbal

No, as far as I know the K10d is the only one that can shut the dark frame removal off.

Was it a way to turn it on? I never turned it on, and the camera never took a dark frame exposure. And I used it a lot.

wildlifephotog · 02-24-2010, 07:38 AM

Pentax CCD based cameras can all turn off the DFS. First thing I did was turn it all off on my K200d.

Nass · 02-24-2010, 10:28 AM

I'm fed up with this. Please spread the word & sign:

Pentax "please make DFS optional" Petition

Thanks

wildlifephotog · 02-24-2010, 10:36 AM

I doubt seriously if it would ever happen. Plus I don't think you would be too happy with the result, if it did.

GoremanX · 02-24-2010, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by wildlifephotog

I doubt seriously if it would ever happen. Plus I don't think you would be too happy with the result, if it did.

why not? It's dead easy to remove hot pixels in PP. I can do it automatically in UFraw by taking my own dark frame and using it for every long-exposure picture. Hot pixels don't change from shot to shot, they're always in the same place and the same colour.

Nass · 02-24-2010, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by wildlifephotog

I doubt seriously if it would ever happen. Plus I don't think you would be too happy with the result, if it did.

If you don't try, you'll never get anywhere.

It seems to be perfectly possible on other cameras.

And, I and others would like the choice.

Even if it's terrible, it's better than not having the choice.

Thankyou.

wildlifephotog · 02-24-2010, 11:46 AM

It's not just hot pixels. The noise level would be unacceptable to 99% of users.
Astro is a very unique and small percentage of their sales.

GoremanX · 02-24-2010, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by wildlifephotog

It's not just hot pixels. The noise level would be unacceptable to 99% of users.
Astro is a very unique and small percentage of their sales.

What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with noise, the dark frame is used to remove hot pixels, not noise. Slow Shutter Speed Noise Reduction is an option in the Custom Menus, and I can already turn that off.

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02-23-2010, 01:16 AM	#1
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657	Bulb Mode Auto Dark Frame I was playing with taking star trail pictures tonight, and I came across a really annoying "feature" on my K-7: the automatic dark frame for hot pixel removal. Whenever I take a picture in Bulb mode, the camera takes a second shot with the shutter closed to determine which pixels are hot, and then fixes those pixels in the final picture. This is a neat feature, except that the second shot lasts as long as the real exposure!!! If I take a 5 minute long shot, then the camera takes a 5 minute long dark frame right after!!! Meanwhile, my camera is unusable. I just took a 15 minute long exposure, and now the camera is sitting beside me and I'm STILL waiting for it to finish the stupid dark frame. This "feature" is really pissing me off. Is there any way to disable it? I can fix my own damn hot pixels.

02-23-2010, 03:32 AM	#2
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	No, as far as I know the K10d is the only one that can shut the dark frame removal off.

02-23-2010, 05:58 AM	#3
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	Originally posted by Gimbal No, as far as I know the K10d is the only one that can shut the dark frame removal off. K100D Super can as well.

02-23-2010, 10:37 AM	#4
Groucho Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 416	I believe all the CCD-sensor Pentaxes can turn it off entirely, and none of the CMOS ones. You certainly can turn it off completely on the *ist DL and K100D, I know from first-hand experience. The K-7 is an improvement - it can be to 30 seconds before DFR versus something like 5-10 in the K20D - but still allowing. I used to run it into all the time on the K20D but haven't yet in the K-7. Of course, I'm not doing astrophotography...

02-23-2010, 12:53 PM	#5
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657 Original Poster	Great, so I'm stuck with this "feature". This is the first time I'm unhappy with something regarding my K-7. I think I'll just give up on astrophotography for now. Having to wait twice as long for a shot to be taken is a giant waste of my time.

02-24-2010, 05:09 AM	#6
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	I think most people use shorter exposures, say 30sec, and then add them all together with special software when doing star trails nowadays.

02-24-2010, 06:09 AM	#7
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	I'm with you on this, it is my #1 annoyance about the K-7

02-24-2010, 06:31 AM	#8
netrex Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Alta Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 279	Originally posted by Gimbal No, as far as I know the K10d is the only one that can shut the dark frame removal off. Was it a way to turn it on? I never turned it on, and the camera never took a dark frame exposure. And I used it a lot.

02-24-2010, 07:38 AM	#9
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	Pentax CCD based cameras can all turn off the DFS. First thing I did was turn it all off on my K200d.

02-24-2010, 10:28 AM	#10
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	I'm fed up with this. Please spread the word & sign: Pentax "please make DFS optional" Petition Thanks

02-24-2010, 10:36 AM	#11
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	I doubt seriously if it would ever happen. Plus I don't think you would be too happy with the result, if it did.

02-24-2010, 11:23 AM	#12
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657 Original Poster	Originally posted by wildlifephotog I doubt seriously if it would ever happen. Plus I don't think you would be too happy with the result, if it did. why not? It's dead easy to remove hot pixels in PP. I can do it automatically in UFraw by taking my own dark frame and using it for every long-exposure picture. Hot pixels don't change from shot to shot, they're always in the same place and the same colour.

02-24-2010, 11:44 AM	#13
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Originally posted by wildlifephotog I doubt seriously if it would ever happen. Plus I don't think you would be too happy with the result, if it did. If you don't try, you'll never get anywhere. It seems to be perfectly possible on other cameras. And, I and others would like the choice. Even if it's terrible, it's better than not having the choice. Thankyou.

02-24-2010, 11:46 AM	#14
wildlifephotog Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 924	It's not just hot pixels. The noise level would be unacceptable to 99% of users. Astro is a very unique and small percentage of their sales.

02-24-2010, 11:54 AM	#15
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657 Original Poster	Originally posted by wildlifephotog It's not just hot pixels. The noise level would be unacceptable to 99% of users. Astro is a very unique and small percentage of their sales. What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with noise, the dark frame is used to remove hot pixels, not noise. Slow Shutter Speed Noise Reduction is an option in the Custom Menus, and I can already turn that off.