What do you set in the "User mode"

I'm interested to hear what everyone has set in the User Mode, so far I've never really used it on my K10D/K20D but I think I'm missing out!!

Simon

So far I've set a user mode for

1] normal
2[ Drive by shooting
3] Wireless flash

I ought to set one up fro normal flash as well, as whipping the flash up in TAv mode will try and expose for non flash and ISO51200 @ 2s ain't good with flash!

I've set one up for stitched panoramas - 2 sec delay (also turns anti-shake off since I'll be using a pano head), manual mode, 80 ASA, fixed (daylight) white balance, etc etc. Really useful.

Paul

I wish you could export and import user modes. It would a] solve the problem of only having 5 slots and b] allow the transference to other cams. When I got my original K-5 replaced I had to start from scratch programming the user modes.

I have a tripod mode set up but it's more an aid to memory than anything else. Somehow "switch to tripod mode" is just easier to remember to do than "turn of shake reduction".

This is a great idea - I don't currently use my user mode at all.

Ditto, I did prefer the SR switch on the K20 to the menu option - will definitely use it.

As regards SR, when on a tripod I use the 2 second timer, so the SR is switched off and the mirror locked up anyway. It also prevents any camera shake form operating the shutter release.

Me too, or I use the remote, which also switches SR off.

I haven't used any of the user modes on mine .

I tried out user mode earlier today. Unfortunately it seems to have some unforeseen side-effects...

First I set User1 to my normal settings of DNG, AWB, AV mode and so on.
Then I set User2 up for panos, so it had a file format of JPEG, set to 2Meg, fixed 5K white balance and manual mode. I named this setting 'PANO'.

So far so good.

However, if you switch the camera from USER mode to AV mode (or indeed any other mode) it automatically uses the settings from the User mode number that was last set, not the one last used.

Even if the camera was in User2 (DNG files etc) it will still switch to 2M JPEG files if you switch away from USER mode. The last settings saved become the system defaults.



I guess the workaround is to set User1 last, and make that the 'general' settings.

I've now got a set of pictures from a day's outing all as 2 Meg JPEGs...

Got everything ticked under the saved option in the menu of user mode?

Yes. That's not the problem, the problem is that in setting user mode in the first place you need to change the settings on the camera, and then save for that user mode. The last ones I did were the 2 meg JPEG ones, and then saved them as User 2.

If you aren't in USER on the dial those are the last setting ever set, so that's what you get. Leaving User mode doesn't save any state at all. Obvious in hindsight...

I normally shoot in RAW and I've change the JPG settings to reflect the RAW image better so if I want to shoot JPG i would need to change those settings to get a better photo so i've saved those settings under the USER mode.

I assume it is a wireless remote? I use a (cheap, third party) wired remote, which as far as I know does not automatically turn of SR. The manual refers to it by the slightly old-fashioned term 'cable release' but has almost nothing to actually say about it so it's hard to be certain. In any case, it does the job.

Some of the tripod shots I like to do are 'light trails' at night in the city. A bit cliched I know but I personally find them enjoyable. For these type of shots the moment of starting the exposure can be time-critical depending on the effect I want, for example I might want to start an exposure just before a certain moving vehicle enters the frame, or exactly when it reaches a certain part of the frame. The timer isn't ideal for that hence my preference for the wired remote which starts the exposure instantly... and once I get into the habit of using a certain method I tend to stick with it so I find myself using the wired remote even when timing isn't important.

But then like is said the camera is on a tripod and if you use the 2second timer it will also shut down the SR automaticly.