Flash with K7

This question is probably aimed directly at Matt.....!
On paper, should the K7 address the problems we have seemingly been having with flash with the K10D and the K20D which necessitated your valuable tome?

Neil

If the new metering system is really improved by a huge margin then the flash exposure accuracy should be better.

Since I bought Matt's ebook on how to use the flash my flash results have improved by a huge margin.
I must say that the flash problems are mostly seen when there is a lot of highly reflective material in the frame. You need to compensate for that manually. If the new 77 segment metering system allows for certain parts to blow out (reflective parts) the problems would be gone.

That would be handy, gives me a good excuse to buy the K-7.
Just explain to the wife if I don't buy the K-7 then I am going to have to buy Matts E-book instead.

Mike you don't have the E-book yet.. shame on you, go get

You can also set your current camera on spot metering, if there is no highlight in the spot it would meter that part nicely to a 18% grey.

I'm saying that now but I don't know to behonest, I always use spotmetering and didn't find the flash to weak... maybe only a little bit but not much.

I suppose it comes down to what you perceive as a "problem"

All flash systems have limits - and this is probably the biggest mistake a new user will make. Most of the issues arise when you're trying to get tons of light in a dark place out of a small flashgun with a low ISO and a small aperture!!
The biggest improvement in flash usage comes from fully understanding what the limits are; what you can do about changing things; and how to turn it to your advantage.

So, I suppose there will probably be an improvement in auto metering on the K7 - but you'll still have the limitations to respect, and the design and philosophy will no doubt be very similar to the previous bodies.

But, when they hit the streets, I'm more than happy to test it out fully if someone wants to loan me a K7D for a few months

Matt

Hmmm....I've started playing with a AF-500 FTZ. My first flashgun (never used one before). That guide could be very useful...

One thing I have noticed about the K-7's built in flash, it stands higher than the K10D/K20D.

This may eliminate the only flash problem I have (with my K10D) and that is shadowing at the bottom of the frame! Sometime this is due to me forgetting to take off the lens hood and other time is is because the DA*16-50 is just too big at the 16mm end! For this reason I now carry a Metz 48 most of the time (I leave the metz 58 at home, it's just a bit on the heavy side!).

Just one of the many reasons I am listing for me to get the K-7! I have started working on the other half already

The K10D's built in flash has about as much power as a spent match and I have long since given up using it in favour of the AF360FGZ.

I find it works well for fill in flash and mostly use it for that, though not with the 16-50!

The K10D flash is actually very good for macro as long as you don't have to get too close to the subject (then it gets blocked by the lens).