can we see some pics please

the comments make sense and I can see how this might be about the camera running out of adjustment options, but we don't really have enough information to be more definitive

all this shoot in M with manual flash is well and good . . .

BUT, how come the OP is having this problem? And how come the camera cant deal with this?

Even my lovely old AF280T gets it right pretty much every time on Auto - and that's on a K10D with no TTL, the flash is figuring this out all by itself using 30 year old technology . . .

to clarify - you can get these for a lot less than £33! I paid just over a tenner delivered - the seller is "open to offers" so you might get it slightly cheaper

These umbrellas look to be standard issue with Bowens lighting kits - and they also seem to crop up on ebay all the time for a price close to Ebay cheapies

In my view, unless you need/want bigger, these are an outstanding quality (and best value) first umbrella

If you are looking for a decent quality 90cm umbrella that does shoot through and silver reflective I can commend these - usual price from Bowens Direct is £33 each

Already having a Bowens 90cm that is really nicely made I got another brand new from this seller for an excellent price (less than an equivalent Kood!):
link

no affiliation with seller, other than having bought one from them and being happy it is a proper Bowens - and it came perfectly packed in a box

Ken - thanks to your enthusiasm (and my weak will) I now have one on its way from this seller too (and I don't even need it! though sooner or later having 2 umbrellas will be useful I am sure . . .)

Made a slightly lower offer and it was accepted instantly, outstanding value

thanks for the info folks - in the end I picked up an unused 90cm Bowens convertible shoot through with silver/black attaching cover for about the same price as the Kood

if you look on Ebay you can see new ones listed for just over a tenner (I didnt use this seller)
link

- really nicely made and flexible too

Ok I have dipped my toe into the strobist world and it is fun

My first proper shoot has led me to wanting a decent and robust reflector (useful though the Poundland silver windscreen reflectors have been . . .)

Doing some research I can't seem to find any definite views on a good first choice. I think a translucent one with a silver / black cover would be the most adaptable and 80cm the easiest to handle

The branded kit prices also seem quite hefty for what look like simple pieces of kit - is it really worth investing here or is it back to ebay where a 110cm 5 in 1 is about a tenner ?

For now it is head & shoulder and 3/4 portraits. For macro I will stick with my current set-up

thanks Matt - sounds like a wonderful piece of kit

unless you were open to a silly offer I doubt I could afford it (alas). One of the reasons for looking to Hammerheads is they seem very unpopular used, often do manual to 1/128 and sometimes the prices are just crazy cheap

now this might be a crazy idea but ever since I was a kid I have loved the big hammerhead flashes

I have been tinkering with strobist stuff on my K10D recently and would like a more powerful/flexible manual flash - which these certainly seem to be

But there are so many models and seemingly conflicting views about trigger voltages - so which ones are worth getting? Or should I be sensible and get a "normal" flashgun?

thoughts?

thanks John, the image was needed for some business promotion and works fine in a smaller scale - too harsh at 1600 pixel square to my eyes

Used a K10D at 1/125 and ISO100 with 58mm Voigtlander on f4. Mix of ambient light from big south facing window and an old AF280T set on Auto Green to bounce off the far ceiling above the window. Subject was towards one corner of the room (on their right shoulder) so I hung some silvered windscreen reflectors on the wall to lift the shadow side as I didn't want a flat, front lit high key effect