You can BUT, I would strongly suggest that you manually meter for about 1-stop below the ambient lighting and then use the flash in P-TTL.
This may well mean that you should use a higher ISO - even up to 1600 if needed in a darkened environment.

If you try using a low ISO then the flash will (a) look like it punched it's way through the dark and the shot will be very harsh, or (b) if there are any reflective surfaces at all then the shot will likely be underexposed.


As you say the K10D is new, I would suggest checking that you have version 1.3 of the firmware (hold MENU key while you power on), and upgrade if needed.
Once done, I find it helpful to use the custom settings to map the front finger wheel to adjust ISO while in Av mode. While in M, you can adjust ISO by holding down the OK button and using the finger wheel on the front


In all cases, you are right to practise first!
Matt

John,
We went to Brittany last year and I took: 12-24, 16-45, 50-200, 50/1.4.
Hmmm. Wasn't happy.

This time I'm going with: 12-24, 24-90, 80-320

The 50/1.4 was useful, but not a great deal.
I'd go with George's suggestion Definitely
Matt

The *ist-D was around £1200 when new
I still have mine... can't bear to sell it. In fact, one of my son's makes very good use of it from time to time
It is capable of absolutely fantastic results (I used RAW with Capture One LE and Silkypix and produced 18x12" high quality prints no trouble at all... with the right lenses).
Have fun
Matt

John,
MXV have an M*300 for £375
http://www.mxv.co.uk/pentax_mf.asp
Matt

My little regime is this:
* Shoot onto card A
* When done, remove card A and insert card B
* Use the in camera Format to erase card B
* Load the images from card A onto the PC.
(repeat for card B...)

That way I have the images on a card until I need to reuse that card... just in case there's a problem with the PC and the backups. (Actually I have 4 cards and cycle them around.)

Never had an issue when using the in-camera format

Matt

PLUS VAT
Matt

Highly respected and friendly dealer No hesitation in recommending them
I bought a refurb *ist-DS for my wife a while back from them - another very nice camera. Small, real pentaprism viewfinder (not the darker pentamirror).
My K10D came from them too, as well as some other gear

Here's a few comments about bodies I've used:
*ist-D - excellent 6Mp camera. Small and solid. Supports TTL & P-TTL flash.
*ist-DS - another great 6Mp camera. Again, pentaprism and TTL flash (as well as P-TTL).
K10D - slightly bigger and heavier than the *ist-D/DS. But it's weatherproofed and is incredibly quick when using RAW files.

The 10Mp is really better than the 6Mp - although I've got some great 18"x20" and 36"x24" canvas prints from the *ist-D The 6Mp high ISO is probably better than the 10Mp - so if you want to do shots in very, very low light conditions the 6Mp may suit you better.

As has been said, the price of the K10D body is a steal! If you can get hold of a refurb'd *ist-DS from SRS then that will not disappoint either

Tough decision
Matt

Rob,
Are you sure that's a Pentax hotshoe?
The D650 had interchangeable hotshoes for different camera bodies.
I do remember a tiny switch on the Pentax hotshoe... I think it controlled how the D650 talked back to the camera so it could behave like a really old dedicated flash, or like a TTL dedicated flash.

Of course, you'll only be able to use it on "A" and "M" modes on the Pentax DSLR bodies.
Matt

I did have one a long time ago...
At one point I had to contact their helpdesk (in Essex IIRC) and they were extremely helpful
http://www.cobraphotographic.com/

Might be worth dropping them an email and they might have a PDF version around.
Matt

I always read the T&Cs for any competition and am always stunned at the number that sign away your rights to an image

It's good to have a "name and shame" list though
Matt