All Forum Comments
Comment by D0n posted on New 'KP' imminent? at 13/01/2017 - 21:23
JohnX wrote:
You don't say where the photos 'came out' - rear lcd? In pp software?
Could be a card problem.
lcd and card , I've reformatted the cards and shot a few more pics and it hasn't happened again, but will do more shooting to see if it does.You don't say where the photos 'came out' - rear lcd? In pp software?
Could be a card problem.
one OTHER variable I just introduced into my workflow is a new macbook pro and this is the FIRST time I've used the USB 3 cable to transfer files and I can't recall if I erased the cards in camera or on my laptop before re-using.. I generally format in camera as a matter of habit EITHER WAY but may have forgotten last time, who knows?
I just know I'm not paying big bucks for that stoopidly expensive card reader they had at the apple store when a $10.00 adapter was able to plug the camera directly, and I'm going to wait till after Christmas to buy several card readers and a usb3 hub so I can dump multiple cards at once for about the same cost as the one usb-c card reader apple is pushing for sandisk.
Comment by D0n posted on Anyone having issues with new k3 firmware update? at 12/12/2016 - 16:01
I'm just troubleshooting here.
I installed the new firmware on my k3 and during a studio shoot yesterday, I wound up getting a couple shots that came out basically a fuchsia, purplish colour, and I had to shut off and turn on the camera to get it working properly again.. first time ever a flaw with this camera's performance.
so anybody having issues with the new firmware or is this a freak occurrence? I'll keep shooting with the camera this week but I'm curious...
I installed the new firmware on my k3 and during a studio shoot yesterday, I wound up getting a couple shots that came out basically a fuchsia, purplish colour, and I had to shut off and turn on the camera to get it working properly again.. first time ever a flaw with this camera's performance.
so anybody having issues with the new firmware or is this a freak occurrence? I'll keep shooting with the camera this week but I'm curious...
Comment by D0n posted on Anyone having issues with new k3 firmware update? at 11/12/2016 - 18:45
not sure what type of function you are shooting, but I occasionally do need to overpower the ambient light and get some DOF in the shots, on those occasions I will use my studio strobes with radio transmitters for the room, and attach one radio slaved "fill light" on a flash bracket... no ttl, manual settings.. perfect solution? nope, but it does get the job done... most often these days I just up the ISO, to get the ambient exposure about a 1/4 to 1 stop under exposed (depends on the look I want, high or low key) and gel the flash to colour correct where needed and fire away.
btw.. p-ttl annoys me anyways too many people blink on the preflash...
btw.. p-ttl annoys me anyways too many people blink on the preflash...
Comment by D0n posted on TR3 battery pack for Pentax flash at 03/08/2016 - 15:02
sometimes it's ok... yes?
Comment by D0n posted on on camera flash.. at 26/07/2016 - 07:05
spends enough to buy a car or small house on cameras and gear... then says "it's not the camera, it's the person"...
Comment by D0n posted on Article: The 11 stupidest things photograpers say about gear ( link below) at 25/07/2016 - 14:45
smudge wrote:
Just to clarify my earlier comment. Yes PTTL does work as normal with a Pentax flash on the K1. For direct flash it usually gives accurate exposure. But for bounced flash I find that PTTL sometimes over exposes but auto mode is generally accurate. This applies to both K5ii and K1. It is one reason I will not be trading up to the new 540 as I believe it no longer has 'auto' mode.
far too many "blinkers" with the p-ttl preflash... up to 50% of otherwise good moments get lost when people blink on the preflash.... . nobody gives a @@$$ if the exposure is out a bit when shooting RAW, but the number of ruined shots due to blinkers makes event and wedding shooting with p-ttl on camera unusable IMHO better to go auto or manual mode more often than not... getting the flashes off camera helps and having the on camera flash adding a touch of fill is the way to go. . Just to clarify my earlier comment. Yes PTTL does work as normal with a Pentax flash on the K1. For direct flash it usually gives accurate exposure. But for bounced flash I find that PTTL sometimes over exposes but auto mode is generally accurate. This applies to both K5ii and K1. It is one reason I will not be trading up to the new 540 as I believe it no longer has 'auto' mode.
Comment by D0n posted on To the 'flashers' amongst us, what issues are there with the K3II and K1? at 23/07/2016 - 17:17
JohnX wrote:
Thanks for the comments, folks.
As I understand it then, if I mount a Pentax flash on my K3II, I will get P-TTL.
The considered view, however, points to P-TTL being a bit of a waste of time, and I should go manual either on or off camera, or better yet full 'son et lumiere' with multiple off camera flash units fired via an on-camera trigger device , (with corresponding flash receivers).
sounds about right. Thanks for the comments, folks.
As I understand it then, if I mount a Pentax flash on my K3II, I will get P-TTL.
The considered view, however, points to P-TTL being a bit of a waste of time, and I should go manual either on or off camera, or better yet full 'son et lumiere' with multiple off camera flash units fired via an on-camera trigger device , (with corresponding flash receivers).
Comment by D0n posted on To the 'flashers' amongst us, what issues are there with the K3II and K1? at 23/07/2016 - 15:21
McGregNi wrote:
The built-in flashes with wireless P-TTL triggering are certainly a convenience , but we have to be realistic and accept their limitations, in particular the lack of tilt / twist which can aid pointing the signal at the slave flash, and the old chestnut of lack of HSS . The smaller pocket sized alternatives only partially provide what a full-blown flashgun like the AF-360 / 540FGZ (Mki or II) will do, and so unless you really can't / won't carry one of those then its hard to recommend those smaller options. If you do get them for convenience then you will lose the wireless triggering, but won't gain HSS .... so its really for a bit more power and some extra directional control.
For the committed flash user then , I don't think lack of built-in is a concern. If you really are dedicated to taking control of your lighting and balancing light sources in your photos, then you will surely enjoy packing and taking the specialised equipment needed.
Sure, I agree that Pentax is some way behind the other DSLR makes with its proprietary flash system .... not the flashes themselves, which are well made and full featured ..... but the wider system for controlling multiple flashes automatically (group control) and as referred to above, no way to control the ratios or manual power remotely. There are some new radio controlled flashes available from the competition..... BUT ... !!! THE COST ?!?! This type of proprietary brand flash control equipment is VERY expensive, especially once you need multiple flashes plus the 'commander' thing. Really, working a full TTL automated proprietary wireless multi-flash system is for the pros only, or the very wealthy amateur.
Reading the vast majority of new forum posts (not just here) from people looking for advice on new flash gear, I get the impression that most Pentax flash users are not the pros and very wealthy ..... really, almost everyone asking is looking for the budget, cheapest options available .... and then those usually end up being too expensive for them! So, it would be great for Pentax to develop on things and 'catch up' ..... but could they be excused if they felt there wasn't the market for it all .... ?
Ricoh bought out Eye-fi the makers of wifi enabled sd cards... if they're smart, they will release a wi-fi based p-ttl transciever that allows a smartphone app to control the flash units for older flash units and incorporate wifi into newer flash units, and allow a software SDK out in the public domain for app developers to "adapt" the system to solve various problems. establishing a connection between various cameras and flash units would be easy, also studio units and other brands... The built-in flashes with wireless P-TTL triggering are certainly a convenience , but we have to be realistic and accept their limitations, in particular the lack of tilt / twist which can aid pointing the signal at the slave flash, and the old chestnut of lack of HSS . The smaller pocket sized alternatives only partially provide what a full-blown flashgun like the AF-360 / 540FGZ (Mki or II) will do, and so unless you really can't / won't carry one of those then its hard to recommend those smaller options. If you do get them for convenience then you will lose the wireless triggering, but won't gain HSS .... so its really for a bit more power and some extra directional control.
For the committed flash user then , I don't think lack of built-in is a concern. If you really are dedicated to taking control of your lighting and balancing light sources in your photos, then you will surely enjoy packing and taking the specialised equipment needed.
Sure, I agree that Pentax is some way behind the other DSLR makes with its proprietary flash system .... not the flashes themselves, which are well made and full featured ..... but the wider system for controlling multiple flashes automatically (group control) and as referred to above, no way to control the ratios or manual power remotely. There are some new radio controlled flashes available from the competition..... BUT ... !!! THE COST ?!?! This type of proprietary brand flash control equipment is VERY expensive, especially once you need multiple flashes plus the 'commander' thing. Really, working a full TTL automated proprietary wireless multi-flash system is for the pros only, or the very wealthy amateur.
Reading the vast majority of new forum posts (not just here) from people looking for advice on new flash gear, I get the impression that most Pentax flash users are not the pros and very wealthy ..... really, almost everyone asking is looking for the budget, cheapest options available .... and then those usually end up being too expensive for them! So, it would be great for Pentax to develop on things and 'catch up' ..... but could they be excused if they felt there wasn't the market for it all .... ?
then a firmware upgrade to the pentax wi-fi sd cards could let ANY pentax/ricoh camera use the flash system even if the camera has no hotshoe... Theta, and the Wg sports cams and ricoh Gr systems all using the same flash system would be nice. ratios and flash functions and "user presets" for favourite set ups could all be a tap on the smart phone app away ...
Comment by D0n posted on To the 'flashers' amongst us, what issues are there with the K3II and K1? at 23/07/2016 - 10:48
stub wrote:
Even as a staunch Pentax lover.. I have to disagree here. Pardon the pun. But when it comes to off camera P-TTL. (TTL) Pentax is light years behind the competition. There simply isnt enough product around to offer versatillity. More worryingly. No signs of correcting it either. Yes, there are some very awkward and expensive work around solutions. But these are far from ideal.. The onboard flash was one of very few trigger options available. No way of remotely making changes to power on individual units. You are practically forced to go manual. Which I agree isnt necessarily a bad thing. No third party manufacturers backing the brand. Some very nice lighting coming from China at present. Non of which is available to Pentax user's. Pentax seem to view flash like they do video on their units... It's available if your desperate. But they dont really expect anyone to treat it seriously.. If your a studio user. Pentax have only one camera that can tether in lightroom or Capture one software. (why only one ) .
Sorry rant over...
I agree pentax p-ttl is about the worst available, but it is workable... what would be nice is if pentax either worked out a deal with elinchrom/sekonic/photix to improve the situation, or released a wi-fi flash system that replaced wireless-pttl with wi-fi communication/control and allowed app developers to produce smartphone apps to let people program the flash units.Even as a staunch Pentax lover.. I have to disagree here. Pardon the pun. But when it comes to off camera P-TTL. (TTL) Pentax is light years behind the competition. There simply isnt enough product around to offer versatillity. More worryingly. No signs of correcting it either. Yes, there are some very awkward and expensive work around solutions. But these are far from ideal.. The onboard flash was one of very few trigger options available. No way of remotely making changes to power on individual units. You are practically forced to go manual. Which I agree isnt necessarily a bad thing. No third party manufacturers backing the brand. Some very nice lighting coming from China at present. Non of which is available to Pentax user's. Pentax seem to view flash like they do video on their units... It's available if your desperate. But they dont really expect anyone to treat it seriously.. If your a studio user. Pentax have only one camera that can tether in lightroom or Capture one software. (why only one ) .
Sorry rant over...
link
in the mean time, going with manual flash with optical slaves or radio transmitters might be more time consuming to set up, BUT you can mix and match brands and have vivitar, pentax, nikon and canon units all working together... on manual.... so there's that...
I have a flash meter and have no issues using whatever is laying around and using wein peanut slaves, skyport radio slaves and studio lights combined.
Comment by D0n posted on To the 'flashers' amongst us, what issues are there with the K3II and K1? at 23/07/2016 - 01:48
Kr replacement
Ks-2 replacement (expects ff).