G5X Mark II Unable To Get Program Shift To Work

[michaelbl]

I have a G5X Mark II (purchased in 2022) and while in P mode am unable to get Program Shift to work.

Camera is running latest firmware 1.1.0.

I have read the User Manual, pp. 271-273, and have the camera set as described in the manual.  Specifically, both the control ring and the rear dial are set to STD.

I have googled for various combinations of "g5x mark II", "program shift", and other phrases but unable to dig up anything relevant.

Using Tools Menu (Wrench), tab 5, "Reset Camera", I have reset both "Basic Settings" and all entries in "Other Settings"

Immediately after reset, and before make any other changes, I place the camera in P mode, press the shutter button halfway, turned both the control ring and rear dial, but shutter/aperture do not change.

Has anybody else seen this issue, and if so were you able to resolve it?

[Hazel_T]

Hi michaelbl,

One thing to check is to only have either the control ring or the rear dial set to STD. A foot note in the manual mentions that the rear dial can only do program shift if the control ring is not set to STD. 

[michaelbl · Accepted solution]

First, thanks so much for the reply.  I have good news to share.

With both the control ring and rear dial set to STD, Program Shift works if the shutter button is not pressed halfway.  Repeat, not.  Here is what I have found to work consistently time after time:

• First, place the camera in P mode.
• Next, press the shutter button halfway, and then release.  This causes the camera to start measuring exposure, which can be seen in the lower left corner of the screen, where aperture and shutter speed are displayed.  This also starts the metering timer, and when the timer expires the camera will stop measuring exposure, and aperture and shutter speed will no longer appear in the lower left corner,
• While the camera is measuring exposure, Program Shift works as expected.  It will work as long as the camera is measuring exposure, but will stop when the timer expires and the camera stops measuring exposure.
• If, while measuring exposure, the shutter button is again pressed halfway, this will lock aperture and shutter speed, and when locked Program Shift no longer works.  Having 20-20 hindsight, it makes perfect sense that Program Shift would not work after aperture and shutter speed are locked.
• If the metering timer expires, it is necessary to once again press the shutter button halfway and then release.  This will cause the camera to start measuring exposure, and while measuring exposure Program Shift works as expected.
• See page 132 of the User Manual for changing "Metering Timer"

My expectation was that Program Shift should work while the shutter button was pressed and then held in the halfway position. The reality is it works when the shutter button is pressed and released.

Problem solved.