John/Peter...I tried this over the lunch-break; works beautifully thanks. Although, not available when mode dial is turned to Green: Page 100 of the manual.

Matt, Using the AE-L button as advised worked a treat. Very many thanks.
Also, thanks for reminding this newbie about how the metering systems aims for mid-grey. On my recent OU course, the experiment was to take photos of two sheets of paper: one all white and the other all black.
The results (as I remember) were mid-grey tones.

Father Ted...you haven't highjacked my thread...simply, the more the merrier!

Very many thanks to all; really enjoyed my learning this lunch-time.
Also learned how to get the focus point back from the peripheral points...darn, how did that happen?!

Alan.

Wonderful! Revelation!!
I guess I should read the manual too.

Many thanks.

Alan.

Hi, Peter.

It's interesting what you say about the histogram levels. I was introduced to the 'theory of' recently during my short OU course, and have picked up info from various other sources too.

Somewhere admidst all this info, I'd learned about the K20D's tendancy to under-expose, but how this wasn't too bad as detail could always be rescued in the digital darkroom. The opposite, i.e. burned out highlights, once gone were gone for good!

So, your recommendations on just where to pitch the histogram levels are very much appreciated, Peter. Actually, it's the customisation of the Pentax that I'm really looking forward to. Just got to figure out those buttons asap!!!

Best wishes.

Alan.

Thanks, John & Peter.

I will have a 'play' this afternoon during lunch-break at work. I'm still very unaquainted with the Pentax Menu systems & the K20D's buttons, and that's where my great frustration lies.

Having owned my little Sony A200 for 6 months, I'm able to alter the EV easily, albeit, I never had to.

I had read, and seen on YouTube, that the K20D under-exposed a little, so the dull photos last night came as no great surprise. I did wake once or twice though during the night wondering if this was a gremlin within my camera only. I feel a bit more reassured now thanks.

Hopefully, I'll track down how to increase the EV during lunch today.

Many thanks.

Alan.

Hello all.

Help!

As a newbie to the Pentax forum (bought my first Pentax just 3 days ago - a K20D with Pentax 18-250 lens), I was wondering if anyone could throw light upon my dull photos - pardon the pun!

I'm still very much finding my way around the camera, but noticed it was taking very underexposed images last night, indoors, in auto on the mode dial, when pointing and focusing on light-sources. For example, when taking a photo of a corner table-lamp of maybe 10 small 5 watt halogen bulbs this would result in a very dim image, although not so with my Sony A200. However, the K20D gives perfectly acceptable photos in the same room (same low-light conditions), when taking a photo but NOT pointing directly at any light source.

Sorry to be so dim, but I've had only about 1/2 hour per day to experiment so far. Any advice in providing a shortcut to the answer would be very much welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks.

Alan.

Hi, Dan.
Although I rarely find time, I also enjoy 'craft' work. I started making my own 8-course lute some two years ago, and intend to put a good few more hours in again over the Xmas period. Now that I've cancelled the 'professionally built by luthier' lute, in favour of the photographic equipment, it's now more urgent than ever that I crack on with my own project.

Might just see me playing my own lute one day on YouTube!

Regards.

Alan.

Thanks again to all for your generous advice and kind welcome.

Having got home from work, and then fixed the car's wiper mechanism linkage (worn ball-joint), I'm just off to play with and try to figure out this K20D beastie (it's now 23:25 hrs).

First question though...is the Raw button on the side something you press when doing nude photography?

?

Alan.

Hi, Peter.
Once again, many thanks for all that super advice about lens. As I'm at work, I'll have to keep my response brief, but the information you've given me is totally invaluable and hugely appreciated thanks.

I really can't wait to start taking photos and posting them on the forum.

Also, now that I have finally made a decision and bought the camera body, I can finally start concentrating and learning about lenses.

Daunting!

Many thanks.
Alan.

Cheers, Don.
Very funny; I love it.
But yes, I do realise I'm a lucky boy being able to go and blow nearly £800 just before Xmas. My wife didn't whince too much though as this was pennies I'd saved for nearely two years! In fact, my original intention was to buy a lute! Yes, I'm not only training to become a potty photographer now, but I'm also a mad musician too!! (See salixarbour on YouTube, or Alan Lowe-Jones - that's me). However, after waiting nearly two years for my lute to be built, I had a change of heart, and opted for the camera equipment instead!
Best wishes.
Alan.

Thanks, Vikram.
I can't wait to start exploring the K20D, but would you believe it, having just bought the K20D, my car's wiper-linkage broke on the way home from Manchester last night.

So, all of this evening, in the dark, my time wil be spent pulling the car apart! I like to save money where I can, if possible! That's the Scots blood in my veins!!



Alan.