Dust alert

**ManuH** · 08-13-2012, 07:38 AM

I tried a friend's K30 and I could not find the Dust Alert feature. Maybe it's moved somewhere else but I hope Pentax didn't remove that useful feature.

**i_trax** · 08-13-2012, 07:56 AM

yes, that's history now, I was looking for it on my K-30, but it is not there.
On the other hand, since I permanently enabled Dust Removal / Startup Action on my DSLR's I never had any problems with the dust on the sensor

altopiet · 08-13-2012, 08:09 AM

Originally posted by ManuH

useful feature

Sorry, I can't agree with that, and If they left it out, it could be an indication that Pentax also realized it doesn't work well.

JinDesu · 08-13-2012, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by ManuH

I tried a friend's K30 and I could not find the Dust Alert feature. Maybe it's moved somewhere else but I hope Pentax didn't remove that useful feature.

Since the dust alert feature requires you to point at a uniform color object anyways, stopping down the lens and bumping the ISO will do the same. Low shutter speed/motion blur isnt' going to make a difference since the dust is on the sensor.

Maybe they did remove it - I can't answer that, but as for it being useful, it's not THAT useful.

loco · 08-13-2012, 08:36 AM

I never found it useful at all. The dust alert on my K-r would tell me the sensor was clean when a photograph would tell me otherwise. Maybe I just didn't know how to use it correctly, but I don't miss it.

Anvh · 08-13-2012, 08:53 AM

+1
Never found it useful either, always giving fault readings or not showing up the dust, just take a shot with the higest f-number and overexpose a couple of spots, thats the best method.

**ManuH** · 08-13-2012, 08:55 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by altopiet

Sorry, I can't agree with that, and If they left it out, it could be an indication that Pentax also realized it doesn't work well.

It's because they don't explain how to use it correctly. I found it very useful on more than one occasion, especially when traveling. I don't have to time to go back to hotel, check on the computer, etc. While my K-5 doesn't often get dust, frequently changing lenses will always get some dust at one point. And since the K-30 doesn't have the ultrasonic dust removal but the poor (and probably useless. never worked well on my K10D and K20D) sensor shake, it's even more useful to check for dust.

**ramseybuckeye** · 08-13-2012, 07:52 PM

I found it very useful on my K20D, it worked well, but since you can pretty well do the same without it, no big deal. Since you can now do the dust removal shake on startup and shutdown, maybe that will help.

Moo · 08-14-2012, 03:26 AM

Another possibility: Left out to make more difference between K-30 and whatever the next more-expensive-model is.

**ManuH** · 08-16-2012, 08:12 AM

Originally posted by Moo

Another possibility: Left out to make more difference between K-30 and whatever the next more-expensive-model is.

Probably not, this feature was on the K-x and similar entry level bodies. Pentax could have removed many features before one that costs nothing (it's just software).

Anyway that's not the end of the world but it was an innovative feature they could have improved.

08-13-2012, 07:38 AM	#1
ManuH Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,249	Dust alert I tried a friend's K30 and I could not find the Dust Alert feature. Maybe it's moved somewhere else but I hope Pentax didn't remove that useful feature.

08-13-2012, 08:09 AM	#3
altopiet Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Gem of the Karoo, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,307	Originally posted by ManuH useful feature Sorry, I can't agree with that, and If they left it out, it could be an indication that Pentax also realized it doesn't work well. Last edited by altopiet; 08-13-2012 at 08:39 AM.

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08-13-2012, 07:56 AM	#2
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	yes, that's history now, I was looking for it on my K-30, but it is not there. On the other hand, since I permanently enabled Dust Removal / Startup Action on my DSLR's I never had any problems with the dust on the sensor

08-13-2012, 08:14 AM	#4
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by ManuH I tried a friend's K30 and I could not find the Dust Alert feature. Maybe it's moved somewhere else but I hope Pentax didn't remove that useful feature. Since the dust alert feature requires you to point at a uniform color object anyways, stopping down the lens and bumping the ISO will do the same. Low shutter speed/motion blur isnt' going to make a difference since the dust is on the sensor. Maybe they did remove it - I can't answer that, but as for it being useful, it's not THAT useful.

08-13-2012, 08:36 AM	#5
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	I never found it useful at all. The dust alert on my K-r would tell me the sensor was clean when a photograph would tell me otherwise. Maybe I just didn't know how to use it correctly, but I don't miss it.

08-13-2012, 08:53 AM	#6
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	+1 Never found it useful either, always giving fault readings or not showing up the dust, just take a shot with the higest f-number and overexpose a couple of spots, thats the best method.

08-13-2012, 08:55 AM - 1 Like	#7
ManuH Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,249 Original Poster	Originally posted by altopiet Sorry, I can't agree with that, and If they left it out, it could be an indication that Pentax also realized it doesn't work well. It's because they don't explain how to use it correctly. I found it very useful on more than one occasion, especially when traveling. I don't have to time to go back to hotel, check on the computer, etc. While my K-5 doesn't often get dust, frequently changing lenses will always get some dust at one point. And since the K-30 doesn't have the ultrasonic dust removal but the poor (and probably useless. never worked well on my K10D and K20D) sensor shake, it's even more useful to check for dust.

08-13-2012, 07:52 PM	#8
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291	I found it very useful on my K20D, it worked well, but since you can pretty well do the same without it, no big deal. Since you can now do the dust removal shake on startup and shutdown, maybe that will help.

08-14-2012, 03:26 AM	#9
Moo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 173	Another possibility: Left out to make more difference between K-30 and whatever the next more-expensive-model is.

08-16-2012, 08:12 AM	#10
ManuH Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,249 Original Poster	Originally posted by Moo Another possibility: Left out to make more difference between K-30 and whatever the next more-expensive-model is. Probably not, this feature was on the K-x and similar entry level bodies. Pentax could have removed many features before one that costs nothing (it's just software). Anyway that's not the end of the world but it was an innovative feature they could have improved.

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