This was one bug I found a looong time ago that I notified Pentax about, but never got any response

(Thought I'd documented it already)

If the exposure is bright already and you enable flash, the camera will dial back to 1/180s but NOT show any over exposure warning!

For example:
* K5
* AF360FGZ on hotshoe but off
* Set Av mode, f/4, ISO8000
* Check that shutter speed > 180 (e.g. 1/4000s)
* Power on the flash
* Shutter speed is reduced to 1/180s - but no overexposure warning

Same thing applies to pop-up flash

It's something that has caught me out a few times - especially when working quickly and moving from indoors to outdoors!

As far as I can tell it affects all Pentax cameras, and all firmware versions.

...just hope Pentax/Hoya/Ricoh read this sometime soonish

Matt

Just thought I'd add an update to the exposure compensation...

(When using "Slow" flash mode, fiddling with a K5 + AF360)

* The regular +/- adjust affects the ambient light.

* The camera's flash +/- affects all flashes controlled by the camera.

* The flash's compensation (using "S" button) affects that flash

It gives quite a nice range of flexibility.
For example:

- Dial in +/- = -2 to reduce ambient by two stops

- Dial in flash menu +1 and flash's +1 to bring the flash exposure back to 'proper'

(But don't forget that you mustn't go closer than the minimum flash distance! Otherwise you'll get blown images!)


If you are using the pop-up flash as a controller then the camera's exposure system goes back to 'normal' There doesn't appear to be a way to use "Slow" in wireless (unless you use two flashes - one on the camera as a controller and a second slave).


It may also be that at least some of the Metz flash guns can throttle down to lower values (certainly my 50MZ5 can go down to less that 1/256 power!) and may offer a finer degree of control. (Need to check that). Of course you can always slug the flash with a diffuser/tissue/cloth to get closer anyway.

Matt

JPSS are Pentax's service provider so you should have no problem with the warranty
For a dropped lens, that repair price sounds reasonable! Don't forget that Pentax User Members get a discount from JPSS - you need to mention your PU#

Matt

Indeed it was
...and I'm not selling it
Matt

It's worth mentioning that the OP isn't in the UK... and the postal costs are incredibly high from the UK

Matt

PMSL @ Don

"...the grass is always greener..." comes to mind
My working philosophy is to only fix problems that you fully understand - get the knowledge first and then solve the problem. So if I'm not getting the shots I need I work out why first of all.

Why do I stay with Pentax? Because I like the gear and it does what I need

Matt

I have one of the cables pictured (that came with the grip I hacked for use with the AF540 )

If you're interested, PM me with an offer
Matt

DNG and PEF files are compressed, as is the embedded JPG that's inside the RAW file.

Consequently the camera makes a 'guestimate' about the number of shots, but depending on the image content you can usually get substantially more shots on the card

Matt

I wonder if the welding-glass suppliers are a bit puzzled... "What a coincidence so many have broken their welding visors!"

My £2 grade 10 arrived very swiftly indeed. Will try it out over the next few weeks
Matt

There are 4 wireless channels (so four people can use wireless at the same time). Perhaps your camera and flash are running on different channels?

You are mistaken on point (1). You set the flash mode to wireless ("W"), and there is a custom menu that decides whether the popup contributes to the exposure or not - Custom #21 - set to "2" to be a controller only.

However, you'll still need to get the camera & flash on the same channel. Temporarily put the flash on the body and let them communicate the channel number - or alternatively try each of the four channels on the flash

HTH!
Matt