Wouldn't be the first time!

Yes, I see your point. I have done so. See the post in the Digital forum

Oops, no it isn't. The DOF changes. Sorry about that!

What firmware was in the tet camera? I only found this with version 1.12

OK, kids here are the hard results of a controlled test. Firmware version 1.12.

Meter operating time set to 30 seconds, in custom functions.

Format set to RAW

Focus selector set to Manual (it's an M lens, after all)

Mode set to Apeture Priority ("Av").

50mm f/1.4 Pentax-M lens set to F/4 on apeture ring. That's three stops down from the fill open apeture

Initial reading taken in one light level, camera moved without re-testing while shutter speed varied in viewfinder display.

Subsequent photos taken during the 30 second meter operating period in different lighting levels.

Results:

All frames werre correctly exposed. Shutter speed ranged from 1/2000 to 1/6 second, lens was left at f/4.

This seems to indicate that once the camera knows what the lens is set to, the shutter speed is set accordingly, and the lens closes to the selected apeture.

So you can basically use old non-automatic lenses in apeture priority mode, Pentax has pulled off a slick save and redeemed themselves (partially) in the eyes of professional and enthusiast users.

If you're monitoring these forums, Pentax, put the full KAF mount into the next series of DSLR's.

And put in pixel mapping, it's a big selling point on the Olympus cameras and the strategy works. You could even license the dust removal from Olympus and have the most usable DSLR in the industry!

In case of any doubt, there is an adapter for K mount lenses (and many others) to fit them on the Olympus DSLR's. Olympus was smart when they chose the back focus of the four-thirds system.

George:

The Guide actually exists, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/

Also see http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game.shtml

It actually works just fine if you are counting in Base 13 instead of Base 10. But perhaps Adams had three extra fingers?

MattMAtic: You are right, I'll see if I can change it. All that wandering around sometimes gets me confused!!

So that's why I used my trusty MX cameras all these years. Some planets don't have the same kind of batteries that we do.

OK, I tried the scary green button. It basically means you can operate the M lens in apeture priority when set to Manual. Very convienient!

Thanks for bringing it up!

I am very leery of the green button; it seems to set the camera into some sort of odd automatic mode where you're not too sure what's going on.

I guess I'll try it again and get used to it, but I tend to avoid mysterious automatic gizmos.

I think by "stop down switch" he means the fact that you pull the power switch ring towards you to meter with the M lenses, where on the MX and other cameras with the mechanical actuator that Penax stupidly left off the digital cameras, the camera already knows where the lens is stopped down to.

It's not really a problem, but it could have been completely un-necessary if they hadn't crippled the KAF mount on the cameras.


If they make another line of digitals, hopefully with a better name, I hope they put in the actuator so it's a full KAF mount.

The M lenses work on the *st D exactly as they do on the MX. So if the MX is "fiddly", then I suppose all manual lenses are "fiddly".

You can set the camera to release the shutter when the autofocus detects something in focus. This is called "trap focus" shooting. Set the AF point on a spot where your subject (racer, animal, whatever) will be, hold the shutter release down, and when your subject hits the right spot the shutter fires. It's great for stuff like bycycle races and so on.

I have had that lens since I bought it new years ago for my MX (which is still in use). It now makes a superb portrait lens on my *st D.

You are lucky to get your hands on one of these, they're great lenses!