Thanks for the update - shame these don't work as hoped, the AK-TTL triggers sound promising though outside my budget - seems the cactus v4/5 triggers are still the best bet for wireless on a budget with Pentax

Perfect thank you!

The more I learn of HSS the less use it actually seems to be, as I understand this "strobe" will also significantly reduce the power of the flash output, still not sure why Pentax can't offer the same 1/250 x-sync as with the competition though.

Thanks for the detailed response!

Thanks all for the illuminating responses!

The Phottix Strato triggers look great for the money and haven’t heard of them before, even now can’t really find any reviews in regard to using them with Pentax, if they work well seems a great alternative to the Cactus V5s at a similar price point but with TTL functionality – wonder why more aren’t using them?

Matt nice point about the need for more than one flash for off camera HSS, as this was one of the reasons for considering the dedicated TTL flash, I guess this is due to the internal flashes inability to sync at high speed, I also assume this means that the PC port wont sync at high speed, so the only way to achieve high speed sync off camera is with two expensive flash units, looks like I will be looking for some ND filters for the short term, Pentax need to up their game in the flash sync department, ironically I used to own a Nikon D40 (entry level camera) which would sync at 1/500 and never thought anything of it!

So have just ordered a PC sync cable and going to look at getting some remote triggers in the not too distant future, as I don’t think the dedicated flash is going to be the fix all that I originally thought, Fletcher8 would be great if you could let us know how you get on with the Phottix triggers when you’ve had chance to use them, as it looks to be a toss up between them and the Cactus V5s – I assume they will work with the old Nikon Speedlights in manual too, maybe not??

Best,

Paul

Hello folks

After recently getting a K-5 I have been playing with flash for the first time; I have an old Cobra Pentax flashgun in the house back from my dad’s film days. I have been using this on camera, bounced off walls or the ceiling and have been impressed with the extra pop in my images.

Reading up a bit more and going on the strobist blog, I have been keen to get the flash off camera and so have bought a Nikon SB-28 as they seem to be highly regarded and have full manual control and a pc socket that my Cobra is lacking and also works really well in A on the K-5.
I have a few very basic questions...

I want to get a pc cable to go from the K-5 to the Speedlight – do I just need a standard male to male pc cable? (this seems to be the case although many of the longer pc cables I have seen seem to be male to female?)

Still don’t understand the A setting on the flash, it seems that to get the correct exposure the flash only needs to know the ISO and the aperture of the camera, but not the shutter speed – how can the flash expose properly without this, can someone explain this one to me?

The new flash has a multi flash mode where you can tell it to fire x number of times and the speed to repeat the flashes, which looks cool, but is there any use for this apart from the obvious multiple exposure effect from a moving subject?

I have been looking at wireless triggers as a possible future purchase (I have seen the Cactus models recommended on here) but was also thinking that just buying one of the wireless capable flashes such as a Metz may be the easier option – how does the wireless in the K-5 work, is it infrared as with the Canon system or does it work on RF like the Cactus triggers, is there any reason to get the cactus triggers over the inbuilt wireless of the K-5? (for amateur use, nothing too advanced – mainly concerned with portability and ease of use)

Finally, I have gone through a couple of sets of batteries so far and was thinking of picking up some rechargeables – can anyone recommend some good cheap ones for use in a flash?

Thanks!

Enjoyed watching this and thought I would share - also quite on-topic with the Oscars last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXgLmUSD_xU

Thanks! - just had a quick look through your site, see you have a similar post there about your route to the Pentax system, along with some great images of London - used to have a Filipino flat mate - he would cook adobo/sisig at least once a week, he gave me the recipes when I moved but could never get the taste the same/good!


erm, well used the d40 with the 35mm exclusively for about 15 months (late 2009 to beginning of 2011) used with the kit lens before that - depends on what your idea of a long time is really. Glad you agree with most of the rest!

I set the camera to natural pretty early on which like you say seems to help and switch to RAW when required so not too much of an issue, maybe I just need some more time with the camera - thanks for the reply!

vrapan - I did seriously consider the D7K also, good to hear that you're happy with Pentax.
It's a shame that Tokina dont make the 11-16 in the Pentax mount which I have seen so many great images from on Canon forums.
Have recently downloaded an image stitching program called Hugin (open source) which is amazingly fully featured and can give great results for still landscapes with sharp 'normal' lenses.
If you were just after a cheap carry round camera, have noticed the Samsung NX100 have been heavily reduced (same sensor as the K-7) you can pick up the kit for just over £200.

Frogfish - Thanks - I'm sure there's nothing there that long term Pentax users don't already know.
Have just been on your Smugmug - the Pentax seems to be serving you well - you have some really great shots on there.
Have you had any issues with the reds on the K-5 - if so have you changed any settings in-camera?

Sometimes wish I had kept the D40, I have read it was Nikon's best ever selling DSLR, not sure if that's true but wouldn't surprise me.

Can I ask why you switched from the D7000? Are you happy with the change?

I would second the recommendation for the Lowepro Passport Sling, although I would have a look at it first, as you will be on the limit of what it can accommodate - is perfect for the K-5 and a couple of small primes or with one zoom and flash, the other lens may have to be put in the main non padded compartment though.