[rjm]

Funny that despite the huge feature list built into the K-5II there are little things which I take for granted coming from Nikon which seem to be missing.

Case in point:

Nikon, you set your flash mode to TTL, Commander, or Manual. Setting manual, you have further option to select flash output as 1 to 1/64. So if you are using a lens which does not give the aperture information back to the camera to support TTL, or simply want to have a fixed flash output for some reason, you have the full range of light output to play with.

With the Pentax K-5, it seems the pop up flash is fixed to max. when engaged with M42 lenses. Basically useless. A small annoyance perhaps, but it is something I use from time to time, and frankly I'd find it more welcome than some of the more esoteric features in the Pentax menus, like the automatic dust detection for example...

[Adam]

Funny that despite the huge feature list built into the K-5II there are little things which I take for granted coming from Nikon which seem to be missing.

Case in point:

Nikon, you set your flash mode to TTL, Commander, or Manual. Setting manual, you have further option to select flash output as 1 to 1/64. So if you are using a lens which does not give the aperture information back to the camera to support TTL, or simply want to have a fixed flash output for some reason, you have the full range of light output to play with.

With the Pentax K-5, it seems the pop up flash is fixed to max. when engaged with M42 lenses. Basically useless. A small annoyance perhaps, but it is something I use from time to time, and frankly I'd find it more welcome than some of the more esoteric features in the Pentax menus, like the automatic dust detection for example...

A manual flash control setting was added to the K-3 and is also available in the K-S2 and K-S1. So I guess Pentax listened There's also flash exposure compensation on all bodies, including the K-5.

[richandfleur]

I can dial back the onboard flash on my K-30, but not sure about in the manual modes you're discussing here.

[rawr]

flash exposure compensation

That will certainly do the job of reducing on-board flash output on a K-5 II - from -2EV to +1 EV, which may give you 10 steps of EV adjustment in 1/3 EV steps within that range.

It's not the same as the 1/128, 1/64, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1/1 manual flash output control of the in-built flash in the K-3, but may still be useful.

[sterretje]

There's also flash exposure compensation on all bodies, including the K-5.

Flash exposure compensation does not work with manual K-mount lenses (and more than likely M42 lenses as OP states) on a K-5. Just tested with FA31LTD. Aperture ring on f/4 and there is no difference in exposure between +1eV and -2eV. Same settings but aperture ring on A and there is a significant difference.