When using my DS2 and a diffuser, the image is often a little dark when the subject and/or background is a light colour. Obviously the camera is trying to make it a mid-tone.

What is the correct way to correct this?

Is it better to alter the flash compensation (I have a Sigma 500 DG Super) by, say, 1 stop and/or the camera's exposure compensation by a similar amount?

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

John

Interesting. Am I to assume that the SMC Pentax-A series are only manual focus?

As I mentioned previously, I think I'd like a fast prime lens but I'd also want it to autofocus.

Can someone tell me what small primes have autofocus?

Thanks

I'm new to Pentax and have a DS2 with 18-55 and 50-200 kit lenses.

I'd like to consider buying a fast prime to use in low light - probably 35 or 50mm (50 and 75 after considering crop factor).

I'm confused, though, as to what type/series/fit of lens to look for that will retain all the functionality that I get from the kit lenses.

Can someone explain what I should be looking for? And has anyone got any specific suggestions for a cheapish solution, maybe to purchase on Ebay?

Any help would be much appreciated.

John

I've just bought a Sigma DG Super flash for my DS2. First impressions are good.

I've also ordered a flash diffuser from Joe Demb - http://www.dembflashdiffusers.com/ - which I have high hopes for.

I'd also like to experiment with some small slave units as well. These will obviously have to be digital slaves to ignore the pre-flash of the Sigma.

I'm interested in this route, rather than buying another expensive Sigma (or similar), to save money and, hopefully, using maybe one or two slaves, be able to produce more interesting results.

I therefore have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer:

1 - Any suggestions as to the make/model of digital flashes I could investigate? I'm only looking for small output units that are cheap!

2 - Will it be a question of reducing the power of the off-camera slaves to get a good 'look' to the picture? Would I have to do this with, say, tissue paper?

3 - As the DS2 only works on P-TTL, I'm assuming that the DS2/Sigma setup will, between them, determine the correct exposure (as you'd expect), and the slaves will only have an affect when the main flash goes off. Presumably I'd then have to adjust the strength of the slaves to produce the desired effect?

Hope someone can help.

John

D'you like your Sigma? D'you think it was a better choice than the Pentax flashes?

I'm debating whether to get the Sigma as against the 360 flash - don't really want to pay big bucks for the 540 but I would like a swivel head.

I'd be interested in your views.

John

Thanks for that info. Much appreciated!

John

I'd like to remotely fire my DS2 using the infra-red remote - is it the 'F' version?

My question is: can it also have the camera focus and, if necessary, initiate the flash, before taking the shot?

Or does this have to be done 'manually' before, say, walking into shot?

Hope you can clarify

John

The good (?) thing with DSLR's today is that one can personalise settings to one's own 'taste'.

Trouble is, for a newboy there's sometimes too much choice! My DS2 has quite a lot.

What settings, particularly the Custom settings, do you like to change, and how do these changes help you?

John

I'm still confused about what I can and can't do with this set-up.

I read somewhere that Contrast Control can be had using the pop-up flash and one 360. Elsewhere I read that to use Contrast Control with a DS2, one must use two 360s.

What's correct?

I believe the DS2 can only operate in a P-TTL fashion - not straight TTL. Is this the reason for my confusion?

I'd love to have two 360s, but if I could, initially, make good use of one 360 - like using the Contrast Control, that would be great.

Hope you can help.

John

If I choose to try some 'cheap' slave flash units to supplement the pop-up flash of my DS2, or a 360 flash that I might buy soon, I believe they'll need to be what some people have called 'digital flashguns'.

This, they say, is to avoid them firing when the first 'evalution' flash of the camera's flash fires.

If this is the case - and I can see the logic, what do I look for, say, on Ebay or elsewhere?

Do you know of any makes/models that I could look at?

Hope you can help.

John