KM/K2000

Hi, I was using a Pentax *ist DS, which I was very happy with. But I wanted more megapixels and wanted RAW and JPEG at the same time. So not wanting to spend a lot the KM/K2000 looked good for me.

Thought I was a good photographer! Well last night took pictures at my nieces pre-ball function. All of the photos were not focussed, when using the external flash - blown out, and with a terrible colour cast with most. I need some help. I was inclined to think the camera is just a toy. But knowing better, I thought the fault lies with me.

1. The external flash which works well with the *ist DS is a Pentax AF 330FTZ. Is this compatible with the KM. Most of the photos with the external flash are well over exposed.

2. As regards the sharpness, I noticed the DS has a default ISO setting of 200, and most of the shutters were as 1/60 on autopixt mode. But the KM has auto ISO which can be maxed at 3200, but mine was set at max 800.

Most of the photos taken in Autopixt mode were at 800 ISO and the speed came down to 1/5. I presume that this is why none were sharp. I would have expected a bit better photos in autopixt mode. If I use the P Mode most pictures come out using 1/60. Or if I go to shutter priority mode I can set it at 1/90, and the photos come out sharp. Its a shame I cant duplicate the exact conditions at the preball, and try again.

3. The other problem was colourcast. The photos I was taking were under what I believed to be normal lightbulbs against a mid green curtaining. The photos came out with a yellow colourcast. I have not been able to work out why.

I need some help, as I am relegated back to novice/young child photographer (with respect to novices and young children who are probably shooting better pics than me at the moment)

Are these problems inherent with camera, are the settings correct or do they need adjustments or should I send the camera back to get my refund.

Thanks.

I can answer No 3 straight away. Lightbulbs have a very low colour temperature and they are way outside the operational limit of Auto White Balance. You need to set the Tungsten setting for such lighting.

This assumes of course that these were available light shots, because if you were using the flash to illuminate the subject then the ambient lighting colour would not normally be relevant. However, with your very slow shutter speeds you may well be getting some ambient exposure (which will be coloured) along with the camera shake that goes with it. The flash would then perhaps be over-exposing faces that wwere close to the camera.

So I can see what might be going wrong, but to be sure a sample photo posted here would be very helpful so we can see for ourselves and advise better.

I can answer #1:

The AF330FTZ is a TTL flash and the *istDS is a TTL/P-TTL enabled camera. The K-M is P-TTL only and the flash will fully discharge unless you can set it's output manually. You'll need a P-TTL flash for your K-M, either the AF360FGZ, AF540FGZ, and there's one other who's model number I can't remember. There are third party flashes from Metz and Sigma that are also P-TTL.

I doubt that there is anything wrong with the camera, you just need to understand it better. Have you read the manual? It would have answered the flash issue for you. There is a list of compatible flash guns in there somewhere.

Thanks for your quick answers. I had some suspicions, but its great that you can confirm these. I spoke to the Vendor of the camera. He thinks the colour cast may be helped by changing the setting in the camera from Bright to Nature.

I suspected the Flash may not be compatible, But its great to know why. I will read up about the difference between P-TTL and TTL.

In the old days I presumed all flash settings would go to 1/60. Why would the shutter time go to less than that when using the internal flash, in Autopixt mode. While in P. Mode it seldom goes below 1/60.

Thanks again.

The max flash synch speed on other Pentax DSLR's is 1/180th unless you use high speed synch. As far as I know, there is no minimum shutter speed when using any flash.

Hi surfseen,

If you are on a tight budget, the Metz 36AF-4 is a nice little gun, which will be fully compatible with the KM.
The price fluctuates, but approx £70ish.( Mifsuds)
I use mine off camera with the Nissin flash cord.

Regards

Chris

K200D.

Hi,
I had some hints from another Pentax User site. He seems to think that the internal flash may not have fired or is firing incorrectly. I do recall that when using the external TTL Flash (Which I know now to be not compatible) that the "auto flash" setting became not available. When the image was blown out, I removed the external flash and used the internal flash. I noted that while the "auto flash setting" was available again, the setting remained on the fill flash mode.

I have always had trouble focusing automatically using fill flash mode and autopixt mode. Even on my DS. Why would that be I wonder.