Tips for a new K20 user

OK, I was weak. There was a chance to 'upgrade' from my K200D to a K20D and I took it. So, having done the deed and having handled the camera, I now realise that there are more menu options that Starbucks, and more knobs to twiddle than a Belfast choir master.

What tips to K20D owners have for someone new to the camera as regards settings and use of all these options?

Hi i mainly use Av but you will find a mode that suits your needs.

I have mapped the rear dial to have iso in all manual modes whereas the front dial controls aperture / shutter speed etc. depending on which mode you are in.I don't really know now how i lived before this and is an excellent feature.

I have also changed the EV steps in the custom functon to 1/3 instead of 1/2 giving more steps to choose from.I think you can also calibrate the lcd screen to your pc screen but i may be wrong.

I hope you enjoy your new purchase

I mainly use AV mode too, but with it I extensively use the exposure compensation function, and have it on auto ISO (but I frequently change the ISO range).

I will also use exposure bracketing quite often as well.

All the above is what I do about 95% of the time.

most of all enjoy it and make the most of it,

AV 99.9% of the time on all lenses ISO maximum 800 normally 200-400 hope that helps,

Just go on what you're used to do and expend that.
When you get the hang of it also try manual mode, you might quite like it.

I'm an Av user. However, lately I've been using TAv, i.e. set the speed/aperture and the camera will adjust ISO (I've set the range between 100-1600). The reason is that I take lots of pics of my kids, who are always on the move. I've found that in Av the camera will keep to the longest shutter speed possible before upping ISO. This often means 1/50th, which can give movement blur.

So, by using TAv and then picking a speed somewhere bewteen 1/125 and 1/1000 (for bright conditions) I can then vary the aperture typically between f2.8-f8, depending on lens, and the camera will adjust ISO accordingly. You do have to keep an eye open and tweak the shutter speed if necessary, but the beauty is that - bear in mind that these will only be 6x4 snaps - the quality will always be good. Oh, and set the green button to programme line with speed priority, you can hit this if everything seems to have gone wrong.

But, as Scott says, enjoy and try everything at least once!

Tony