Hello, Pentax people! :) AF> Consequently, there's no wonder we have no display of selected meter AF> mode neither in the viewfinder nor on the back LCD. Digging through AF> the menus is in order to find out what the meter mode is.
There is! LCD Panel on top shows the metering mode (page 22 in manual). AF> It's still not obvious if the spot meter can be AF> used in manual mode or it is restricted to the AE lock operation. I guess it can be used. You can choose spot metering from the AE menu (page 130). AF> With regard to aperture-set-from-the-lens implementation: in manual AF> mode one can only check out the difference from metered exposure by AF> pressing the DOF lever; there is no provision for automatic setting AF> of the speed value like the *ist d does. Page 142 says: "If exposure mode is M (Manual), aperture and shutter speed are adjusted to set the appropriate exposure when the AE-L button is pressed." So I guess that it works like the previous reports said. Then, page 139: "The aperture and shutter speed are automatically adjusted to the appropriate exposure at that moment if the [AE-L] button is pressed in a M (Manual) mode. Shutter speed is adjusted to appropriate exposure according to lens aperture when lens aperture is not set to s position. Further, page 179, "Notes on using aperture ring" differentiates between two modes: Av (Aperture Priority) : "Pictures can be taken with the specified aperture value but an exposure error may occur. In the viewfinder, [F--] appears for the aperture indicator." M (Manual) : "Pictures can be taken with the set aperture value and shutter speed. In the viewfinder, [F--] appears for the aperture indicator. When depth of field is checked (Preview), AE Metering is switched on. Exposure check is possible." So I guess the support for old lenses is similar to *istD's. Other things I found worth mentioning: * 2 sec timer with MLU, * blown highlights in instant-review or playback, * flash compensation, * automatic sensitivity (ISO) adjustment (can be set to off, 1600 or 3200 max). What I think I would miss: * continuos AF accessible only in "sport" mode, * battery pack accessory to make it easier to hold. Otherwise, I think it must be a great camera and I am looking forward to buy one. Best regards, Girts a lurker from Riga, Latvia
