Mnemonics and checklists

That's the dark frame, not how long it takes to write to the card

With the K20D that was a problem since you couldn't turn it off but you can with the K10D though.
How is that with the K7 BTW?

Sorry for going off topic though

Yes of course you are correct as usual! Thankfully the K7 does not appear to need a dark frame to reduce noise for long exposures as it is finished in the same time as a normal exposure, a real boon when you want to take shots in quick succession like a firework display or a Viking boat Burning.
But back to the topic, I need some sort of pre-use checklist to prevent me from doing silly things like leaving the timer on!
I never had problems like this with my film camera`s!!!

Regards - Pete

Don't know how it is with the K7 but if I set the K10D on you get an info screen with what the settings are, isn't simply possible to check that?

You now have so many buttons and option, it's hard sometimes.

Hi,
I leave my Info screen off unless i am switching the SR on/off.
It`s no big problem, It`s just annoying when it does happen! Before i put my Camera away after use, I have a habit of re-setting the Camera to 350th sec at F8 and set the Camera up so that if i need to take a quick shot straight from the bag. But occasionally i forget and that is usually the time when i actually need it!!!
With a Mechanical Camera you can see at a glance what the settings are, You don`t need to switch anything on. Just put it down to old age!!!

Regards - Pete.

I mean the info screen when you put the camera on, with the K10D you see it for 3 seconds and then disappear, it's the same screen you get when changing modes.
You see the,
- The flash mode
- shooting mode (single, continues, 2 second delay etc.)
- metering mode (spot, centre weighted and the other one)
- AF mode (single, continues or manual)
- AF selection (so which af point it focus on)
- iso
- program mode
- what the green, AF and the two scroll wheels do.
- and date, time and battery life.
Strangle enough you don't see the white balance so I'm happpy that with John's help that is sorted out for me.

About your problem with the shutter-speed and f-number.
If you look through your viewfinder you do see the shutter speed and the f-number right? Maybe you're simply a bit to hasty?
Putting it away on an automatic mode might help, AV for example?
Or if you use Manual mode when you get it out of the bag, press the green button once, it will take a metering and depending on the mode you have that set it change the shutterspeed and f-number to the metered EV values.

Hi,
Like i said it`s not a problem, I have only been caught out two or three times when i have tried to take a quick shot!
I have the info screen switched off at all times except for switching the SR on or off,
I have taken over 7,500 shots with my K7 and over 50,000 with my K10D and a further 11,000+ with my Ist DL so i kind of know how best to set the Camera up for my style of shooting!
Yes in those few instances that i quoted i was being HASTY as they were GRAB Shots!!! I leave my Camera in Manual Mode at those settings so that i know for sure what exposure start point i have got, I can then quickly add or subtract a click or two by judging the light level before i even pick up the Camera so i don`t need to take a reading. I can judge the exposure needed in most conditions. I never put batteries in my Film Cameras as i could gauge the settings accurately enough for Kodachrome 25 and 64. I did use a Weston Meter with Invercone in tricky conditions.
I used to do the same with those Cameras except of course with shutter/ aperture settings appropriate for the lower ASA (ISO).
Until you switch a Digital Camera on it is just a lump of Metal And Plastic, You have nothing to indicate what the settings are, Perhaps in future LCD panels can show this info all of the time even with the Camera Switched off, That would help a bit, But it is not the same a having an Aperture Ring and Shutter Speed Dial that you can see and touch!

Anyhow i only mentioned the occasions when i had a calamity just to support the notion of a Checklist! Not to ask how to use my Camera!!! Honest!!!

No problems Pete, was only suggesting, nothing more nothing less.
We'll set up and use the camera differently.

You want to have a check-list when you want to make a quick shot, do you think you've time to do that if you didn't have the time to look at your shutterspeed and F-number?
I thought not, so was suggesting to press the green button before you start shooting since that is working for me.

I really admire you ability to judge the light so good, it really take feeling and experience to get it perfectly right. I'm mostly off with the first shot but get it right with the second or third one.
When when making a quick shot were I don't have time to search for the right exposure I aim the camera at the grey street and take a metering from there with one press of the green button and most of the time it's close enough to get a good photo.

Well that was my experience and only wanted to share the knowledge with you so please don't feel attacked Pete, I'm not judging you in anyway

[

Trouble is all this would go out of the window when you are rushing to get a grab shot and your Camera is in its bag!

Best Regards - Pete[/quote]Just to re-affirm my original comment!
No of course i don`t feel attacked, But it was i feel a well intended attempt at correcting a problem that did`nt really exist in the first place! I was just recounting my own experience of dropping a clanger in support of the idea of a pre-use checklist. In fact i did make a mistake in my Film days too, I had travelled to London for the Charles/Diana Wedding and spent all night sitting on one of the Lions in Trafalgar Sqare only to be moved on at 4 am by Police, So i found another spot but my view was restricted so that i had little warning of what was coming.
Anyhow i was using 3 Pentax`s each with a different lens but mostly one of my MX`s with an Autowinder. After a few carriages went by with various royals aboard there was a gap so to save battery power i switched the Winder off. As the Charlie/Di Carriaige approached i was standing on my Camera Bag and framed Dianna with my 100mm, Pressed the Winder Button- Nothing so i pressed the Camera Shutter Button - and-The Shutter lock was on!!! I got a couple of shots with a different Camera with a wider lens but i can still see that missed shot in my minds eye!
Regards - Pete.

I'm normally pretty good at remembering to set the camera up the way I want it when going out to take photos, but sometimes when I have had the camera hanging around my neck I have inadvertently knocked the SR button to off and didn't notice it until much later. One reason I think a simple mental check list is a really great idea before taking a shot.

Cheers,

/Ian

I think that all of us have missed a memorable shot at sometime, Whether through forgetfulness or inadvertently changing the control settings.
Perhaps when OLED becomes more common on Cameras there could be a display of settings shown even if the Camera was switched off. Say in place of the LCD on top of the Camera so that it is clearer to see.

Regards - Pete.

Forget OLED, they can very easily use e-paper for the top screen.
It only takes energy to change change the screen but after that it stays readable without a charge.