Copy start settings (for those whose eyes tire easily)

[Tom Caldwell]

[CORRECT METHOD SHORTFORM]

Select start settings on your selected host/transfer camera back to "read from module" (use a module where loss of existing settings does not matter - a new module is no problem). Switch off - remove "scratch module". This will set your "scratch module" to whatever settings that the host camera back contained (volatile memory settings are saved to body AND module). If your GXR back(s) already wet to "read from module" this step is unnecessary.

Insert existing module with your desired settings (modes, functions, etc), switch on (thereby reading module settings into volatile memory).

Without switching off or removing this module - select start settings read from body [IMPORTANT], switch off (this records your newly read volatile memory start settings to body AND module).

Insert new module, switch on (read body settings into volatile memory), switch off (thereby saving volatile memory start settings to the body AND module).

Repeat with all modules you wish to upgrade. (Include the first "sacrificial" module from step one as this would have been reset to defaults if used with a new GXR back set to defaults).

At the last module synchronised select start settings read from module before you switch off (to preserve the future module settings from being over-written and also to make sure that multiple camera backs always act the same with this module mounted).

Enjoy

Tom

 

[Tom Caldwell]

[WHY YOU MIGHT EITHER USE "Read from body" or "Read from module"]

Others may agree, disagree or add to this summary - it is only my off the top of my head thoughts

[READ FROM BODY]

This is "camera-centric"and seems more useful where:

1) You tend to use PASM settings and do not dig to deeply into special settings, your settings tend to evolve rather than work from presets. You tend to set your camera up instinctively for each occasion.

2) You tend to use Ricoh lens modules exclusively which are set up much the same.

3) You only have one camera back and you follow the one camera, many lenses ideal.

The advantage of this of course is that important functions such as use of the zoom rocker for zoom default per module in context and therefore cause no worry. The camera back settings evolve with you and if you use "modes" you set them up on the fly. Less chance of different modes causing confusion as the camera stays more or less in the same functional form no matter what lens is used.

[READ FROM MODULE]

This is "module-centric" and seems more useful:

1) where you have modules of quite different set up behaviour such as the A12 mount combined with one or more lens modules. As the A12 mount requires fewer special function settings unused functions can be usefully employed elsewhere - for example Fn1 = enlarge all on the A12 mount and = toggle switch to manual focus (ersatz focus lock) on the P10. Using such differing modules when set to "read from body" can have your camera sometimes not acting the way you thought after exchanging modules. If you use the camera and modules in a very basic way then it probably does not matter.

2) when you have more than one camera back. Whether this is the completely separate cameras ideal or merely a useful backup. By setting "read from module" the module/camera back combination will behave exactly the same no matter how you mix and match.

3) where you wish to make your settings relatively fixed across your modules. The PASM settings will migrate to module as you change them but you can easily reset an camera back to a mode setting at will to arrive at your preferred defaults.

In this form the camera settings become the module driving the camera rather than the other way around.

[READ FROM BODY - READ FROM MODULE]

Used in conjunction as described in the first post in this thread they can be used to synchronised all your modules and all your camera backs to work in unison and as you would expect. Even if you prefer the "evolving" method of adjusting your camera there is some merit in bringing a new camera back acquisition up to speed with what your original body was doing. However afterwards the backs will evolve in different directions unless you switch to read start settings from module.

Tom