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Jonathan Mac · 07-04-2019, 02:03 AM

I noticed this the other day when using my K2DMD and thought I've never seen mention of it anywhere: when exposure compensation is engaged a little red/orange colour filter drops down over the viewfinder window where the aperture can be seen on the lens, so you can see in the viewfinder what is essentially a warning that exposure comp is on. Different colours for positive and negative comp would have been nice but I suppose that would be too much to ask.

I've put several rolls through the camera and didn't notice until now, but then I don't often use exposure comp. I've added a note to my review of the camera, but at least here on PF it isn't mentioned as a feature.

Have other K2DMD users noticed the feature (perhaps I'm just slow)?

I don't have either of my (non-functional) K2s to hand to check if they too have it.

**microlight** · 07-04-2019, 04:21 AM

Hi Jonathan. Nice find! The non-DMD K2 doesn't have an aperture window, though.

g026r · 07-04-2019, 06:33 AM

Yeah, the K2 has no indicator of exposure compensation in the viewfinder. It was one of the improvements that the K2DMD added.

**gofour3** · 07-04-2019, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

Have other K2DMD users noticed the feature (perhaps I'm just slow)?

Yep the K2DMD has a little leaflet that you get along with the K2 manual and this leaflet explains the new features added to the K2DMD.

The K2DMD did not have a full manual of its own.

Phil.

stevebrot · 07-04-2019, 09:20 AM

Nice touches such as this are one of the things that makes owning and shooting with vintage film gear rewarding. When reading the original post, I was reminded of the rarely-noticed feature on all metered Spotmatic models that flags* when the chosen shutter speed/film speed combination is outside the meter's range. I also thought of the film-wind reminder on my mid-1950s Mamiya-Six folder. The Mamiya's shutter release and cocking mechanism are not interlocked with the film wind, hence a nice flag in the viewfinder. So clever and so thoughtful.

Steve

* The shutter speed index arrow changes from black to red when outside the meter's "coupling" range. There is also a similar "shutter armed" flag on most (all?) mechanical shutter Pentax SLRs.

murrelet · 07-05-2019, 08:25 AM - **1 Like**

I noticed this on my K2DMD. Thought it was just gunk in the window!

**monochrome** · 07-05-2019, 08:39 AM

I have the small leaflet/card the seller included with one of my DMD’s. I’ve never bonded with the K2, but my pupils enlarge when I pick up a DMD.

That shutter sound.

**ChrisPlatt** · 07-05-2019, 02:35 PM

Since the K2DMD has exposure memory lock I have never even tried exposure compensation on mine.

Chris

Cuthbert · 07-06-2019, 05:31 AM

That is one of the "small" improvements that makes the DMD a joy to use in comparison to the standard K2, the others are the aperture readout, the split microprisms screen, the "infinitive " exposure function with eyepiece blind.

My favourite Pentax combo is the K2DMD with the K50mmm f1.2 if I want a big camera, and the LX with M50mm f1.4 or M85mm f2 if I want something light to carry.

Praktica B series have a similar orange filter on the aperture but it serves a different goal: it warns the user the shutter is not cocked.

07-04-2019, 02:03 AM	#1
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911	I found an un-mentioned feature of the K2DMD I noticed this the other day when using my K2DMD and thought I've never seen mention of it anywhere: when exposure compensation is engaged a little red/orange colour filter drops down over the viewfinder window where the aperture can be seen on the lens, so you can see in the viewfinder what is essentially a warning that exposure comp is on. Different colours for positive and negative comp would have been nice but I suppose that would be too much to ask. I've put several rolls through the camera and didn't notice until now, but then I don't often use exposure comp. I've added a note to my review of the camera, but at least here on PF it isn't mentioned as a feature. Have other K2DMD users noticed the feature (perhaps I'm just slow)? I don't have either of my (non-functional) K2s to hand to check if they too have it.

07-04-2019, 09:20 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Nice touches such as this are one of the things that makes owning and shooting with vintage film gear rewarding. When reading the original post, I was reminded of the rarely-noticed feature on all metered Spotmatic models that flags* when the chosen shutter speed/film speed combination is outside the meter's range. I also thought of the film-wind reminder on my mid-1950s Mamiya-Six folder. The Mamiya's shutter release and cocking mechanism are not interlocked with the film wind, hence a nice flag in the viewfinder. So clever and so thoughtful. Steve * The shutter speed index arrow changes from black to red when outside the meter's "coupling" range. There is also a similar "shutter armed" flag on most (all?) mechanical shutter Pentax SLRs. Last edited by stevebrot; 07-04-2019 at 11:38 AM. Reason: Completeness

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07-04-2019, 04:21 AM	#2
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129	Hi Jonathan. Nice find! The non-DMD K2 doesn't have an aperture window, though.

07-04-2019, 06:33 AM	#3
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	Yeah, the K2 has no indicator of exposure compensation in the viewfinder. It was one of the improvements that the K2DMD added.

07-04-2019, 08:14 AM	#4
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,093	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac Have other K2DMD users noticed the feature (perhaps I'm just slow)? Yep the K2DMD has a little leaflet that you get along with the K2 manual and this leaflet explains the new features added to the K2DMD. The K2DMD did not have a full manual of its own. Phil.

07-05-2019, 08:25 AM - 1 Like	#6
murrelet Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portland, OR, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 506	I noticed this on my K2DMD. Thought it was just gunk in the window!

07-05-2019, 08:39 AM	#7
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	I have the small leaflet/card the seller included with one of my DMD’s. I’ve never bonded with the K2, but my pupils enlarge when I pick up a DMD. That shutter sound.

07-05-2019, 02:35 PM	#8
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,697	Since the K2DMD has exposure memory lock I have never even tried exposure compensation on mine. Chris

07-06-2019, 05:31 AM	#9
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	That is one of the "small" improvements that makes the DMD a joy to use in comparison to the standard K2, the others are the aperture readout, the split microprisms screen, the "infinitive " exposure function with eyepiece blind. My favourite Pentax combo is the K2DMD with the K50mmm f1.2 if I want a big camera, and the LX with M50mm f1.4 or M85mm f2 if I want something light to carry. Praktica B series have a similar orange filter on the aperture but it serves a different goal: it warns the user the shutter is not cocked.

I found an un-mentioned feature of the K2DMD

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