K-5 Metering

Has anyone else noticed?

The K-5 metering system is only 16 zone, the same as the K10D and K20D.
The K-7 metering is 77 zone.

Not that I mind, as 90% of the time it is great, but 10% it has been fooled especially with extreme instances.

I wonder why Pentax have gone back to 16 zone? even if it is the new PRIME II?

There are 77 seals in the K-7 body, so I wonder if there's a misprint or whether it actually is 77 segment metering?

What is fantastic about PhotoMe is that it shows a graphic of the camera's metering zones and also the EV in each of them. From memory I would go with 16 for the K-5, the graphic certainly didn't look like 77 ( which seems over the top to me

Pentax K-5

77 segment metering system
Highly accurate 77 segment metering system for perfectly exposed images even in difficult lighting.

K-7

New 77-segment metering system
A new 77-segment metering system quickly and accurately determines exposure, even in the most complex and dynamic lighting situations.

Thank you Mike.

Show me a metering system that doesn't get fooled

Your human brain & eye is about the only one that doesn't (though you only think it isn't fooled! There's plenty of illusions that can trick your exposure senses!)


It's 'cooking' the EXIF data
It showed the K-7 as 16 segment as well

If you check with the command-line EXIFTOOL you'll see a full set of 77 metering segment values for AE, Flash & Slave Flash metering on both the K-7 and K-5


Perhaps you've been reading AP's review of the K-5??? Isn't it wonderful when reviewers just cut-and-paste or simply assume, rather than double-checking their details!

Matt

Don't think Photome has been updated for quite a while now.

I guess that's the problem. Although I, obviously wrongly, assumed that an EXIF reader would simply report what was embedded in the image.

I've never bothered about the number of metering segments with my cams, but yup checking the manual it's 77.

I will check the manual. But it is interesting the Pentax web site spec says 16 and AP test also said 16.

Really? Where?

Just checked and the Pentax UK site says:
Matt

The Dutch spec sheet on Pentax.nl does say 16 segment metering.

The metering has completely changed from the K20D to K-5 and I still don't know if its for the best. The K20D will always if left to its own devices underexpose wheras the K-5 will almost like a petulant child blow a highlight somewhere just to make sure you're paying attention
The K-5 has 77 segments, the 16 segment thing came up in the AP sensor test I think.

No it doesn't :

Pentax.nl

If you use the Histogram every pixel becomes a meter

Why not try good old fashioned centre weighted? IMO I have never yet come across ANY matrix/segment metering that improves to any great extent on centre weighted.