White balance on istDs

Has anyone experienced a strange phenomenon with setting the white balance on the istDs. A colleague reports that when in certain exposure modes, she is unable to change the white balance settting. I suggested that she changes it in a mode that does work and then change to the mode she wants to use.. But apparently that doesn't work either and the camera defaults back to AWB. This certainly doesn't happen on my camera and logic suggests that one should be able to change the WB in every mode...
Any feedback or ideas would be most welcome
Thanx

I haven't experienced this on my istDS. Have you loaded the latest firmware version 2.x onto the camera ?

auto pict and all of the scene modes don't allow for either a changed or manual whitebalance.
Quite strange indeed, but I didn't notice it either because I mostly work in P or Av modes.

Strange you should say that.. I've just run through every programme mode on my istDs.. and I can change the WB in every one of them...

My DS behaves the same as golfdiesel's. No WB adjustment is possible in Auto Pict or any of the (lazy) picture modes. WB can be selected/adjusted only in P,Tv,Av,M, & B modes.

Check your firmware. With camera power off, press and hold the menu button and turn camera power on. Your current firmware version will be displayed on the rear screen. It should be 2.00 if you have the latest for the DS.

If you have version 2.00 firmware then I'd suggest your camera has a fault.

Regards,

I've been having a play with my DS and I've just discovered something strange.

If you remove the lens from the body you can then select WB in the Auto Pict and picture modes. It seems then that the ability to change WB in these modes, and maybe the others, is dependant on the lens that is fitted.

When you refit the lens however, AWB is resumed in the picture modes. I've only tried this with a 12-24mm DA and a SMCP-A 50mm.

Weird huh.

Cheers,

I've not yet upgraded my firmware.. still version 1.0.. But with all three of my lenses.. DA 18-55, F 35-70 and F 70-210.. the WB is adjustable in all programmes. What's more it remains at the selected setting when changing programme modes. So is it the upgrade of the firmware that has brought on this problem and/or is it dependant upon which lens is fitted ? The plot thickens..

Bob,

How can it be the upgrade that has caused the problem . . . when you haven't done it yet ? ? ?

You might check the EXIF data of some images to make sure WB is set as you expect. Its possible that even though you have set a manual WB on the camera, it may be ignoring the setting and using AWB anyway. To prove it, simply set the WB to flash and then take a photo in a daylight or tungsten lighting environment (without flash). Then check the image to see what WB was actually used.

You really ought to apply the latest firmware. You've missed out on updates 1.01, 1.02, as well as the latest version 2.00 which gives a few extra features 'stolen' from the DS2/DL/DL2. It doesn't make the display any bigger though

You can download the update and the instructions from Pentax Japan.

Make sure that you use a freshly recharged set of batteries for the update of your camera. It doesn't take very long but you will not want the power to die part way through the process.

We get some funny posts on here at times, but this one is a classic.

Presumably this upgrade works by telepathy or something to sabotage the cameras of those who haven't upgraded. You have to hand it to those Pentax boffins! Copier cams just can't compete.

G

Sorry Peter.. perhaps you've misunderstood me.. I don't have the problem it is a colleague who does..and I'm not sure yet whether or not she has upgraded her firmware. I'll find that out later.. I was merely suggesting . that since I haven't upgraded my firmware.. and at least one other person has the same problem.. could it be the upgrade that has brought this about.

George.. Read my post.. I DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM.... But thanx for the sarcasm anyway... . I'm sure it will be most helpful to a colleague who does

Bob,

I did misunderstand, apologies for that. Having re-read your original post, I think if your colleague, who is unable to set WB in certain modes, has upgraded their cameras firmware, it may indeed be an update that has 'brought this about'.

What is probably more accurate to say is that their camera is operating correctly and an update has corrected an issue that is still present on your camera, because you haven't updated it.

I suspect that whilst you are able to select a WB other than AWB in the various picture modes on your camera, it is probably being ignored and your camera is using AWB anyway. The test I suggested in my previous post should confirm that. Further, I think your colleagues camera is working as it should and that the whole idea of 'auto' picture modes is that they don't need any technical photographic knowledge (like how to set white balance) to use them, which is why it is selected automatically when any of those modes are used.

I think I can safely say that photographers who know their trade/hobby generally dislike these auto modes and set their cameras to fully manual or Tv/Av at the most and prefer to exercise their own control over what the camera is doing. The original *istD doesn't even have any of these auto picture modes.

Keep us informed anyway, and update your firmware at your earliest convenience.

FWIW: If your colleague shoots in RAW format, the WB setting, however it is chosen, is somewhat academic as it can be changed/set during post processing.

Cheers,

Bob,

You've just apologised to Peter for the lack of clarity in your post, and now you are having a pop at me for being sarcastic.

But no doubt you're a military man, and feel that the best form of defence is attack.

Anway, now that you have explained, I can conclude that you are not illogical, just prone to unintelligibility.

Incidentally, I am quite sure there is a simple explanation for the phenomenon under discussion, and that it does not include a fault in your friend's camera. Either it's a software problem that affects all such cameras, or your friend is doing something wrong. But as I do not have the camera in question, I can't help. Sorry.

Update: after reading Peter's post. I'm sure he's right.

G

Peter.. Thanx for all your help. Much appreciated. The points you made seem like a logical conclusion.

George.. Simple reply.. If you can't help, why bother posting. For a self-confessed 'gear freak' you seemed surprisingly short of ideas. Why was I not surprised ?

Bob,

I am indebted to you for your helpful post, and all the ideas it contained.

Good night.

G