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K5 help

old lens
Posted 04/03/2012 - 18:21 Link
Hi,

just got a K5 to replace my K10 and very nice it is.The problem I have concerns using the camera in low light interior shots.The aperature,shutter speed and iso displays all blink together, even when using a high iso. You can fire the shutter and a picture is taken which is ok.What am I doing wrong?
I have looked in the operating manual but can find no reference to the dislay blinking in this way.

Regards
Rick
johnriley
Posted 04/03/2012 - 19:08 Link
These are probably "out of range" warnings, so I would look at what settings you have the camera on. When this happens what are the shutter speed, aperture value and ISO settings?
Best regards, John
old lens
Posted 04/03/2012 - 21:48 Link
John

thanks for the reply.
the settings were 0.4sec f8 iso1600 , but the same thing occurs when you change the iso to any other value.

regards
Rick
johnriley
Posted 04/03/2012 - 22:16 Link
I think that, regardless of the ISO setting, that's a light level that will be outside the range of the meter. Open up the lens to let in more light or use a wider aperture lens.

I've checked on my K20D and it behaves in exactly the same way if it's reall, really dark.
Best regards, John
greynolds999
Posted 05/03/2012 - 10:08 Link
I think a lot of people underestimate the difference in light levels.

An ISO of 1600 is only 4 stops faster than ISO 100. A brightly lit interior is probably about 200-300 times darker than a sunny day (and a dimly lit interior may be over 1000 times darker) so you would need anything up to 10 stop improvement.

The reason we don't notice this is because our eyes are amazingly good at adjusting to exposure.
old lens
Posted 05/03/2012 - 10:53 Link
Thanks for the help.

I was concerned that my camera had a fault, even using an f2 lens had the same result.Its almost as if the camera is saying use flash, but i cannot find any reference to this in the manual.


Regards
Rick
JAK
Posted 05/03/2012 - 11:11 Link
old lens wrote:
Thanks for the help.

I was concerned that my camera had a fault, even using an f2 lens had the same result.Its almost as if the camera is saying use flash, but i cannot find any reference to this in the manual.


Regards
Rick

It's here:

K-5 Camera Manual - Page 108 wrote:
Exposure Warning
If the subject is too bright or too dark,
the aperture value will blink on the
status screen and LCD panel and in
the viewfinder. If the subject is too bright, choose a faster shutter
speed. If it is too dark, choose a slower shutter speed. When the
aperture value indication stops blinking, you can take a picture with
proper exposure.
Use a commercially available ND (Neutral Density) Filter if the subject
is too bright. Use a flash if it is too dark.

John
John K
old lens
Posted 05/03/2012 - 11:17 Link
Ah, that i did read in the manual, but its not what is happening in this case.The aperture, shutter speed and iso speed are all blinking together.


regards
rick
JAK
Posted 05/03/2012 - 11:40 Link
If just the one of the three is flashing, the camera is pointing out the exposure setting is out of range to give an accurate exposure and something needs to be changed, as in the Tv example above.
When all three are flashing the camera doesn't have enough light to take a reading at all (like when you've left your lens cap on or you're down in the coal cellar!!)

It's normal, don't worry.

John
John K
Patty
Posted 05/03/2012 - 18:44 Link
Just tried shooting with my K_X and get the same happening when I put my hand over the lens to stop all light going in. So it does sound like to low light level for the metering system.

Patty
old lens
Posted 06/03/2012 - 11:05 Link
Thanks to all for help.Ive just put lenscap on camera and sure enough the rear screen blinks away.
Ive not had a camera with live view before,so this did not occur to me.
The status screen on the back of the K5 comes on when you turn the camera on and then blinks in very low light.


thanks
Rick

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