*ist Ds pop-up flash

G'day All.
I am having some issues with the pop-up flash on the *istDs.

When used, the pop-up flash is underexposing by 1.5 to 2.0 stops at distances from 1.5 metres to 4 metres.
The lenses used are Pentax DA18-55 and Tamron 28-105.

It has only been doing this for the last week. Be for that it worked fine.
I'm running firmware 2.0
Flash compensation is set to 0.0 in the menu.
New batteries make no difference.
Left for a hour without batteries makes no difference.

If flash compensation is set to +1.0, image is still underexposed.

I have fitted both a AF330FTZ and a AF400FTZ external flash.
Both of these give perfect exposures of the same image that the pop-up flash gives underexposed image.

The Ds is not quite 12 months old.

Has anyone had the same happen?

Or am I looking at a visit to C.R. Kennedy for a Service?

Thanks.
Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor
Grafton
Australia

Hi,
I've had my DS for a short time, but I am not too happy either with the pop-up flash. I have not yet carried out extensive tests, but it seems to give better results in manual mode than automatic. I've not used yet an external flash.