ISO Setting Reminder

Hi All,

One of the benefits of digital photography is being able to vary the 'film' speed between shots, so the most appropriate speed can be selected for the situation you're currently in - great.

However, after several occassions when I've changed the speed to 400 or 800, from my usual and prefered 200, and then forgotten I've done this, and taken several (or more) shots at a higher ISO than required, I've got 2 questions.

1. Can Pentax update my firmware so that something alerts me in my viewfinder when the speed is other than the one I would have chosen as my 'prefered speed' in the menu somewhere.

2. Has anyone got any helpful tips, assuming Pentax aren't going to do the above, that could help stop me doing this in future.

And I know any decent photographer should tell just by the shutter speed/aperture value that something's not right, but let's just pretend we're dealing with an ignoramous here.

Any ideas gratefully received.

Dan

And just to see if it's just me, I've added a poll, so you can hopefully back me up on this one.

Of which, I am NOT

leave the iso alone and set your EV compansation to +1 or +2 for a single shot.
or set your iso to auto and let it override your setting.

habit is where one creates or solves most minor problems.
When my spouse and I met, photography was a common interest, but learning to work together was a challenge.
My habit is to lock all tripod/lightstands legs and bolts when taking down equipment, hers was not.
My habit is to reset all camera controls to a "default position" before putting it away, hers is not.
my suggestion is to find a system that works for you and make it a habit and then you'll never forget.

Yes I have occasionally forgotten to reset the ISO, but I've tightened up on procedure as a result!

There is a very useful button on the back of the *istD and I think the *istDS labelled 'INFO'. Can you tell what it does yet? If your model has this button, try to get into the habit of pressing it before an important shot, or every new shooting situation for that matter, and review the INFO that it contains, then make any necessary adjustments. It lists all of the important camera variables and shows how they are set. Curiously, the D doesn't show the metering pattern that is set, but it does show everything that is of interest to me.

A change of procedure that develops into a habit, or even paranoia, is the best option in my opinion.

In summary, if the camera can be improved or changed, it probably will be. The same may not be true of the operator.

Isn't there an ISO warning setting somewhere in the menus? When I have a moment I'll have a look at my camera.


8:39 PM

Found it: ISO Snstvty Wrn Dspl in the C [custom] menu - at least on my DS. Basically you set it to warn you when an ISO value is exceeded, so you may set it to say, warn if ISO is set to over 400, 800 1600 or 3200

Thanks Tim - unfortunately the D doesn't have that, obviously someone had the same thought as I did, but long before me.

Glad to see from the poll results, I'm not the only one with an absent mind. Actually, I think writing about it here has helped, because I check much more often now. I must get into habits.

Oh, and regarding my original post - I should have spelt 'ignoramus' correctly.

Dan

I've done it far too many times! I also keep one of the *ist-D's custom setting with "Sensitivity Correction" set to on, and another with it set to off - that helps a bit, and I usually (now) check the ISO setting along with checking which custom setting I'm on.

More a case of getting into a habit...

But I have mentioned it to Pentax a few times all the same
Matt