Can someone let me know whether or not I am actually crazy?

It seems as though you cannot use a flash such as the AF540 in manual mode while attached to a body such as my K7. If you try, it just reverts itself back to TTL.

It was very dark in the restaraunt I was shooting in last night. I was forced to use F2.8 and 1/30th with the DA* 50-135. I was in TaV Mode, and the camera told me it needed ISO 3200 and above. The flash wanted to be in TTL, so I let it. I point the flash head at the 15 foot white coloured ceiling above me - for a nice bounce fill flash. I take a shot, the flash fires. It adds almost no useful light to the photograph. It's at iso 6400 and grainy as hell. I bump up the power on the flash to +1.0 and take another shot. Better, but still awful. The flash is using something like 1/10th the power I actually need for this scene, even after forcing to +1.0.

I put the flash into manual, and it puts itself back to PTTL a moment later. USELESS!

I take the flash off of the camera and connect the two using a PC sync cord, so that the flash has no communication with the body. I put the flash into manual and 1/1 power. While awkwardly holding the flash in one hand and the camera body in the other, I take the shot.

Boom. Perfect. Just what I needed. The flash is gelled to match the ambient lights, and it's bounced from the ceiling, creating a nice soft light. I'm able to tkae the shot at ISO 400.

Why the hell can't the flash just work properly in PTTL mode? Why must I go through all that effort to disable PTTL to get the shot I need?

I can't be the only one thinking this. The new Kx is about 1.5 stops cleaner than the K7 in all noise tests that I've seen. (Even after adjusting for the megapixel difference)

This is not a matter of simply wanting. I need this ability for the kind of work that I do, as I'm sure others do also.

I feel a little cheated, after having bought the K7, to see that this "entry level" camera outperforms it. Pentax needs install this new awesome sensor and release a "K7 Super". I'd snatch it up in the blink of an eye.

Who's with me?

I've had this flash for almost two years now, and it still takes some muscle to slide it on and off of my camera. If I am to extrapolate from this 1.7 years, it looks like this flash will only start to loosely slide off after 20 or so years have passed. That's fine with me! Pin be dammed!

Yes. This is why I opted to tape it permanently. Once the lever breaks free, the pin is able to pop down when it pleases.

Well, after I was forced to do some research into it, it turns out it's a common problem. So your two flashes are at risk of failing at any time.

It's like getting your pets spayed or neutered. Why not just do it so you can breathe easy?

Fixed.

Yeah, that was pretty simple to do. I just taped the internal lever thing permanently to the side. Now That pin will never slide down again. You guys are right, the flash absolutely does not need that pin to stay firmly attached to the body. Silly outsourced design.

Thanks everyone!

Before this thread is locked, I just want to say. Nathan, you made a good point there in response to what I said about pushing the envelope. Sorry if I misunderstood you.

Ok! Thread detonation in 3....2....1...

Oh boy, this thread has sure exploded! I love this forum for that; lots of activity.

I didn't expect this thread to really initiate any real focused discussion. And it hasn't. That's ok. Just keep the flames under control! I don't want to be the author of a locked thread! Haha.


Try shooting a wedding where there is no flash allowed. Try it in a dark church. Try handholding 135mm tracking moving subjects. Try it. The reason you can't see why it's needed is because your style of photography doesn't push the boundaries. Wedding photgraphy is very demanding.

Again, I don't mean to insult, but your point of view reveals that you don't push your camera very hard. When other wedding phtographers out there are able to buy better and more capable cameras, while I am not, then I am at a disadvantage. I'm not baselessly complaining about features I want but don't need. I NEED these features and abilities to stay competitive.

Mannesty: I'm alright with professional level pricing. Give me something to save up for. I want that. I want an expensive, awesome camera body. I was able to buy my K7 after doing a single wedding. I want higher-end.

imagesteve: Full frame is nice. I love a good shallow DOF and increased dynamic range is always welcome. But FF is not necessary. If we could just get good usable ISO 3200 and the ability for the AF to reliably track movement, then I wouldn't have to worry so much during weddings.

And what's going on with the Kx's awesome high ISO noise performance? Can we please get a K7 Super with the Kx sensor installed? That would negate the K7's biggest downside.