k20

hi all

after a trip out to take some photos of xmas lights with my k5 i am not impresed
so i think i need to try a k20
any one in the area off reading with one that i may try
regards stu

What's wrong with the K5, Stu?

lets just say every photo of the lights is crap and out off focus even after i had ajusted it
regards stu

Anything to do with this?

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/oh-dear-52109

dont think so alan as i took some photos with it after and they came out ok it just dont like low light

There's either something wrong with it or your technique because the K-5 stomps all over the K20D in low light.

[quote:3496ace15f="Mike-P"]There's either something wrong with it or your technique because the K-5 stomps all over the K20D in low light.[/quote

I don't know if it's me or what
Mike p

It might be a good idea to have your camera checked out, having dropped it onto concrete.

Photographing xmas lights can be tricky - it's hard to focus on small points of light among darkness, it's hard to get a correct automatic exposure for the same reason, and you may also have camera-shake blur due to low shutter speeds. It's one of those times when it can be easier to go all-manual, to get the results you want, whatever camera you are using.

It strikes me that if there was any wind the leaves could be moving, so a slow shutter speed would induce not only camera shake but there would be subject movement as well.

A tripod would be essential for very long exposures.

Agreed. Using full manual mode doesn't have to be that scary and I think is probably the way to go in tricky metering situations, as long as you have time on your side. Digital means you can take a bunch of test shots to get setup, for free, and with instant feedback to let you know if you've overcooked it, or it's under done.

Dropping your camera is not a good place to start from though , but full manual means you're not asking it to do any thinking