On the K7 (and K5 I guess as well) you can choose to use either Phase or Contrast Detect AF during Live View operation. If using Phase then the mirror flips down quickly and up again, briefly interrupting the Live View. It is faster and more accurate (as Smeggy just said above Contrast is the slower)

I think any colour issues are probably the result of me using a number of different processes, as I enjoy experimenting with processing, and maybe the odd colourspace discrepency. I've got hundreds of images from the K7 without any problems, so it tends to be on those that I've carried out more detailed work on. So I guess I need to 'KISS'.

I like the improvement to the pathway in your version there Philip, although its introduced a slight magenta cast in areas above, but it could be controlled selectively of course. But colour interpretation is a funny thing it seems - I mean David Storm for example has often pointed out 'unnatural' colours to me but in this particular Canazzaro Park image he liked the colours. But I can see a bit too much yellow, yes certainly.

Thanks for your input again.

Oh dear, I think I went wrong with that invitation! Can I retract it? It seems you opened the floodgates there Smeggy

You need have no fear there David ... I know what to expect by now I've probably given more than I take, and my own criticisms of others work is often forensic to say the least I guess you all realise I'm fairly thick-skinned about all this.

I am really flattered that my shots should generate such detailed commentary and thoughtful suggestions, and its clearly of use to many others as well - that's what its all about, so bring it on ! I admit, I don't regard these particular images as anything special creatively, and I accept every point made and will look at applying the ideas if possible.

Unfortunately, my own reality for now is that any dedicated photographic excursion is not possible - these images, and most of my shots, are taken as my arm is being pulled or I'm shouted at that its time to move on, and sadly there are other special demands constantly there to worry about apart from the photography. But I live in hope that one day the weather and an opportunity will coincide.

Actually, I did have another visit to Polesden Lacy over the summer, and
I think some of those shots may have some more interesting viewpoints and angles, so I'm going to crack on with those and thrill you all with those very soon ! In any case, I thought the K7 did a fine job with these shots and was a very reliable tool.

I must say though, I'm delighted that no one has seen any patches of colour noise or moire on my shots, so thats a real achievement ....

Not the most enticing title for the thread I appreciate, but there's plenty to appreciate at these 3 very special locations in different corners of the county. I've pulled together shots from a few different visits.

Firstly views of the lake at Claremont, near Esher.
All taken with the K7 and DA 18-55 WR, f8.0, iso 100
















Here's a slight crop in on that one :







The next two are at Canazarro Park, nr Wimbledon Common :
K7 & Samyang 14mm f2.8, f8.0, iso 100















This last one is at Polesden Lacy, nr Leatherhead : K7 & DA 18-55 WR







Thanks for checking them out, all comments and ideas gratefully received!

Yes, we're not trying to offer a dissertation on the whole principles of metering The skills in assessing exposure mentally (for film - no histogram available!) and applying compensation are well ingrained no doubt and very reliable for those who are used to it. And we are lucky that modern cameras can pretend to be much less sophisticated in order to simulate the older types.

But that of itself does not make centre-weighted the best option now or indeed even the most reliable. the advantage of multi-segment is that it will even out the errors caused by metering non-mid tones, whilst applying the most common adjustments based on the distribution of brightness around the whole scene.

Regarding the use of the histogram, yes it needs understanding, just like metering techniques in general. But it is a far more accurate way of ensuring you record the full range of tones needed than just picking an amount of EC that might have worked on something before.

In isolation when considering metering, I can't accept this as good advice. The histogram is the most valuable tool for judging correct exposure in the field, and I believe its understanding and use should be promoted widely. Our Pentax DSLRs provide very quick and efficient controls for accessing this essential tool, both in RGB and individual channel modes. If people are concerned about capturing DR, then there's no better way of achieving it.

Obviously I'm not saying we should be looking down after every shot, but when setting up our exposure and carrying out metering, then its a most important aid, and should be encouraged.

You can help your camera a bit though. The K7 / & K5 offer a menu item to link the active focus point to the metering. This offers an automatic bias to the area in sharpest focus, might not be the centre of the frame at all.

I'm not sure why people seem to be connecting so firmly the centre circle of the frame with the right tones to meter off. They would only occasionally be so I would think. The more you limit the area being metered, the greater the risk of meter error, or at least the need to compensate and make tonal judgements.

I'm assuming you are referring here to centre-weighted metering being 'simpler than you think'. I didn't say it needed to be complicated, my main point about it is when using 'area-restricting' modes, that limit the covereage of what's being metered, it is not being made clear enough that you need to seek out valid mid tone values for it to be accurate.

Yes, the experience comes into it if there's no mid-tones and you have to apply appropriate compensation, but then in that case the centre-weighted mode is not really ideal for that scene, and you would be better zooming in with spot for example.

The multi-pattern is more like taking a range of readings across a much larger area and balancing them, but with the advantage of scene-assessing algorithms to apply the most common corrections (like for backlighting, bright sky etc).

Of course, with experience an individual can get reliable results using any consistent method, but I believe that with the modern aid of the histogram and quick 1/3rd or 1/half stop ec adjustments, anyone will get more accurate and quicker results in Multi-Pattern mode, for the majority of situtions.

But the point has not been made that Centre-weighted is only going to be effective as a means of 'getting it right in the middle', if it is actually mid-tones that are in the centre.

Any metering mode that restricts and limits the area being metered risks introducing increasingly inaccurate readings (spot being the extreme of this), unless you are certain that the metered zone represents a true mid tone under the specific lighting.

Multi-pattern is able to take a range of readings, along with analysis of the scene, and come up with a better and more accurately balanced exposure - this is what will help more to get the full DR recorded, and the histogram will show it.

For most images, for most users, multi-pattern will give better and more consistent results.

If you're shooting JPEGs, you're often never aware of the full DR that was recorded, as the image DR is compressed, and you do not see the extent of the whites and blacks recorded, as they have been processed and squeezed in so to speak, and the histogram will not show the full DR.This can mislead you to think that the actual DR in the scene was less than it actually was.

I know I'm repeating this from somewhere else, but to me the best definition now relates not necessarily to IQ & performance features, as there is a certain merging of these among cameras of very different price points. So I don't find these more traditional definitions hold up so well, as the high IQ of the K30 demonstrates.

So for me, it comes down to the level of 'hand-holding' and 'one-shot'setting type features, aimed towards the beginning user. The classic example of this is 'scene modes' on the main dial , alongside Av Tv M - these include items like 'Landscape, Macro, Night shot, Sports'. These change the bias in the program algorithm to favour apertures and speeds that would likely suit each particular 'scene'. The idea is that the beginning user would not have to think about this stuff, but still be able to get the results they were looking for.

Other examples might be menu items that describe or detail shooting techniques and guide you through the settings. I don't think Pentax have this sort of thing but I have heard it is on some cameras by other makers.

Anyway, all this sort of thing shows what the target user is for the camera. So by my definition neither the K7 / K5 / K30 / K3 would be entry level, but some of the others probably would be.