(Hyper Program) Mode - P

Can anyone explain in simple terms how to use this mode?.

When does it come into its own compared with other modes?.

I struggled through the K10D instructions on pages 147/148 and the K5 on pages 104/105

Is there a difference betwixt the K10D and the K5 as regards this mode as the tables on pages 144 and 100 respectively differ?

regards
Bernard

Hyper-program mode was introduced on the Pentax Z1 film camera, dropped on the MZ-S, and re introduced on the *ist D.

It involves two wheels, one before and one behind the shutter release. If the camera is in Program mode (Auto aperture AND auro shutter), turning the front wheel changes the shutter speed to whatever you specify, thus automatically changing the mode to Shutter-priority.

Turning the rear wheel alters the aperture, and changes the mode to Aperture-priority. And so on.

It's the quickest and easiest method I know of to change modes.

Nowadays, you can program the wheels to do pretty much whatever you want.

G

Program Mode on my KR remembers any changes you make to settings when you turn off then on again such as ISO or AF and metering settings. Otherwise it is automatic.

Full auto AUTOPICT on my KR forgets any changes on restart you make so perhaps makes a good panic setting.

I personally have my camera in AV at F8 with 200 - 800 ISO to be ready for most situations to start. This as with TV (I have set to 1/500th for action shots) recalls any changes you make to the camera such as initial aperture or speed respectively and ISO etc.

I was taught in film days to always preset your camera to improve your chances in a hurry. This of course also meant setting focus to about 20 feet back then

Hope this helps. Models do vary a bit as do the toggles to recall settings.

It's also on Pentax's that don't have the two wheels George.

Pentax describe it as a mode that automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture value to obtain a proper exposure according to a 'Program Line' when taking pictures.

The Program Line is a means of presetting an automatic mode in the camera menu system. In (Menu 3 on a K-5) one of six options can be selected: Auto, Normal, Hi-Speed priority, Deep Depth of Field priority, Shallow Depth of Field priority or MTF priority that uses the optimum aperture setting for a given Pentax lens. It can be overridden with the setting wheel(s) and instantly reset with the green button.

On the K10D it looks to be more limited in its function. More like an AUTO mode that just allows exposure compensation to be made.

John

I still do

I've worked out what changes when I twiddle the manual controls, but still don't see the advantage over other modes.
Or is it essentially the "green" mode by another name, with the ability to include RAW (K5)

Bernard

Attribute the thickness to age (it happens to all of us eventually, I'm just doing it early)

Further comments :-

So far today, trying "P" out I'm getting the impression that its the same as Av sometimes and Tv at others, depending on which wheel I twiddle with.

I'm still getting confused


Bernard

Presuming you mean on the K-5?

It doesn't really matter which wheel you twiddle, they'll both alter the settings the same based on the Program Line. Remember its still just a souped up Auto setting. There's various Program Lines (see earlier post) so Hi-speed would be based on Tv and Depth of Field based on Av. They just give a different default starting point depending on which 'Line' has been selected.

So set 'Hi-speed' and it will give you a fast shutter speed with a wider aperture by default. Select 'Deep Depth of Field priority' and you'll end up with a small aperture and longer exposure by default.

John

On the Samsung GX-20, and I assume it's much the same on the K5, Program mode is a more sophisticated version of Av and Tv. Turn on the camera with it set to "P" and set your aperture with the rear dial. From this point on, you're effectively in Av move and the shutter speed will adjust to the lighting conditions. The aperture will stay at the setting you made until you turn the camera off.

If you adjust the front dial, though, it will alter the shutter speed and the aperture will change to give the recommended exposure. This shutter speed will remain set until you adjust it with the front dial or switch to "Av" by adjusting the rear dial.

P mode had an advantage over Av and Tv in that you can instantly change aperture or shutter speed if required. It's undoubtedly the most versatile of the settings and I recommend it heartily. I've never understood the obsession with Av among serious photographers. P mode will do the same thing but give you instant access to a higher shutter speed if Lord Lucan races across the frame (another reason to think twice before deleting images seemingly spoiled by a passer-by).

Al

As I see it, but I don't know all intricacies as I never use it:

In P the camera decides on the initial exposure setting depending on the program line in the menu. So it will give a priority to e.g. deep DOF and set a narrow-ish aperture for that and next it calculates the shutter speed. In Av/Tv, the user decides 'in advance' which aperture or shutter speed to use (the last one that was used).

Turning the aperture dial will switch the camera to Av mode so if the light changes, the shutter speed will be adjusted (and aperture stays constant); turning the shutter speed dial will switch the camera to Tv mode, so if the light changes, the aperture will be adjusted (and shutter speed stays constant).

My feeling is that it's especially useful with the program line set to MTF if you always want to get the best (resolution) out of your lens

And as stated, it allows immediate toggling between Av and Tv without taking the camera away from the eye or changing the way you hold the camera to change the mode dial (specially on the K5 (and K7?) with its (their?) (silly) lock).

The AutoPict mode is auto everything with limited overrides, whereas the P mode alows everything to be changed...

On my K100 I prefered to leave my camera on Av, for rapid use. Since it didn't have a lock it often got knocked taking it out of the camera bag & could end up on any setting, I've lost quite a few shots from that.

With the K7 it's securely left in P. Always ready for a grab shot yet just one twist of a dial from Av or Tv.

There are only two other modes that get any real use on my K7. Fully manual and video (fairly rarely for video, but I hope to find Registacks makes it useful when I get round to trying it out).

My K5 lives in TAV mode, occasionally changing to manual where there is difficult lighting

Ditto .. or as everyone seems to say these days ... +1

+1

OK, thanks guys,

I think more experimentation is called for.

I tend to leave mine on Av when I've gone out with the camera over my shoulder as it were, but on the green mode when it's packed in the top of my rucksack. That way it's generally ready for something if I have get it out quickly and the second shot can be done with a bit more thought.

I had never used the P mode with the K10D because I couldn't make head nor tail of the instructions and felt I should at least try a bit more.

Bernard

If your using the K10D Bernard I would forget the previous three replies, TAv relies on either very good light or good ISO performance, I've only used this mode since getting the K5.

Stick to trying Hyper Program, it was my preferred mode until they made the buttons programmable, it's a fast easy method of switching between modes.

One thing to mention is pressing the green button at anytime will revert the camera back to P