I found the solution in a previous post on this forum and it works perfect exposures just about every time.
Alistair

4,509 postsJoined: 02/07/2002
Location:
Link Posted 10/07/2007 - 13:25
In response to several people who have had "issues", I'm reposting this note as a sticky. The original was on this thread. Just copied out verbatim.
Hopefully, those of you who are experiencing "odd" flash issues can check out this guide to see if there's something you've missed

- For controlled situations you can use an "non intuitive" setting I have done the following in a number of situations: Turn off the flash; Set the camera to "M"; Meter the scene using spot metering to try and expose near the highlights; Ensure the shutter speed is under 1/180s; Turn on the flash in P-TTL mode; Take the shot. Every time this is a winner - the flash fills in the shadows without changing the exposure. (I have used this for taking shots in dark rooms that have light streaming in and got shots that have everything properly exposed ).
- For wireless, the "Slave 1" is the "intelligent" mode (for the *ist-D and K10D only). "Slave 2" is the "dumb" mode which will sync to all pop up cameras - however, if the camera has a preflash, make sure the flash only uses up to half power otherwise the main flash will be exhausted (and used up on the preflash). See page 49 of the AF360 manual. Custom options in the K10D and *ist-D can be set to use the pop-up as a trigger only

Matt
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http://www.mattmatic.co.uk
(For gallery, tips and links)

Just checked on the Metz website and the version installed is the current one.
Alistair
sent this to Metz which is a bit more accurate that what I have prvously posted.
Fitted to a Pentax k10d and with the flash in P-ttl mode and the camera set to Av mode.
I find the following:-
At any shutter aperture the flash does not produce enough flash it needs +2 ev compensation to work correctly.
This applies to on or off the camera.
The zoom setting is completely wrong. If I fit a Pentax 18-55 lens and set it at 55 mm the flash says it is at 35mm. If I set it at 50 mm it says 35 and at 35 it says 24.
The displayed range on the flash is very short if the ISO is set at 100 and if used as a guide with out the +2v compensation the image is underexposed.
If the ISO is set at any speed lower than 400 ISO the range is very short and in fact at 100 iso that the displayed distance is only 5.5 metres not 35 as distances predicted on table one with the flash showing a zoom length of 50mm [bearing in mind to get that display in fact the lens is actually set on 35mm as described above. .
The resetting the auto zoom as described on page 77 does not work. You can only reset the zoom from manual by switching off the unit. The flash does not do as described if, you go past 105mm it goes to the minimum zoom setting.
Your help will be appreciated as clearly having to set the unit to +2 ev to get a decent flash and having to set the camera to over 400 iso to get range that I bought he flash for cannot be right.
Thank you
Alistair Barclay
07888131892
Metz 48 AF-1 on the box mb48 af-1p bar code 4003915048026 I don’t see a serial number

no but I only bought it this week at the imaging show at the NEC should be up to date I would have thought but I can try it.
Alistair

Stefan, thanks yes it all works as you describe it.
Gareth, some thing is not right at all,
whether it is on the camera or not the following applies.
If the camera set under 400 ISO it produces a weak flash and low range on the screen.at 400 or higher the range on the display starts to match the actual effective flash range.
the flash adjustable ev need to be + 2 to get a decent flash result at the 400 ISO or higher setting.
the displayed zoom is not correct with a 18-55-55 kit lens at 55 it says there is 85 mm lens on and so on.
I have used the reset on the flash back to factory settings but it still does the above.
Alistair

Hi, I have a k10d and a new Metz 48 AF-1
it all seems to work well but for some reason if I have the Metz off the camera the flash works but at any distance it seems to not give enough light and results in dark images which look like the result that you get if you used the built in flash to far away from the subject.
I doubt this is a known fault so I must have something set wrong, has any one a step by step set up for the k10 and the 48 if used remotely?
Alistair

duh me stupid, I had set AE-L with AF locked set so as soon the camera focus of goes the exposure setting.
It is interesting however that in manual mode if set like the above that happens and the exposure is fine but not what the green button [set in program line] wants to suggest.
Alistair

John ,thats what I thought but, first I don't remove my eye from the view finder [so no extra light there] second the changed exposure setting as quote above is what is on the exif data ie f13 and 1/1250 not f11 and 1/1000 as set manually
Alistair

suppose this has always happened but I have never noticed it and can you stop it?
On a K10 set to manual mode when I set for example f11 and 1/1000 now I can see the exposure bar is about 1.75 stops underexposed but I want this, but when I press the shutter the camera changes the setting to F13 and 1/1250.
Now that takes a image which is in fact not too badly exposed ;although not what I would get if I pressed the green button which in this case gives me f10 and 1/250
In fact if I release the shutter button the speed I set is still in the view finder but the aperture has stayed at 1/1250
So how do I get the manual mode to do what I want and not what the camera wants
Alistair

oh boy this now is going to be whole new thread which cis system? I have found 4 brands so far!
qustion has to be print best quality vs cost?
I have a cis on a 1290 which looks like it came from marrut but was supplied with sublimation inks for heat sublimation printing which we do on mugs etc.
best trick with that is a daily timer on the power supply so the priter powers up every day which keeps the nozzles from blocking, uses hardly any ink.
Alistair

Thanks every one for the input. Epson it is, probably the 3800 which while it does not have a cis option [that I can find] seems to get better reviews than the 9100 with the expensive and thirsty gloss cartridges,
Alistair