Frame rate drop to 3 on K-5 with Flash!!!

LEON · 05-27-2011, 06:13 AM

Yesterday I joined a wedding photographer who works with NIKON D300 with SB-800 or SB-900 (I did not notice that). I worked with K-5 (of course) and METZ 58 AF1.

One significant thing I noticed is that the frame rate per second of the D300 with FLASH remains very high on my K-5 it dropped to about 3 frames per second

.

I worked with 6MP JPEG, Flash was on reduced power - 2 / 3, shutter speed was 1 / 60 to 1 / 100
I tried to reduce the power of Flash to a minimum but still did not change anything ... Still 3 Frame per second

.

With flash "OFF' K-5 fired at an incredible pace and beautifully, without that I changed anything except turning the flash "OFF" .

Has anyone managed to get 7 frames per second with flash is working on a K-5?

asp1880 · 05-27-2011, 06:33 AM

Was your flash set to p-ttl? If so, that makes the camera spend time on preflashes inbetween exposures. Try switching the flash from p-ttl to auto or manual and see if that makes a difference.

Sincerely,
--Anders.

ionutmar · 05-27-2011, 06:43 AM

what ISO and what F did you use?
i have the same combination camera - flash, i will try.

LEON · 05-27-2011, 06:43 AM

Originally posted by asp1880

Was your flash set to p-ttl? If so, that makes the camera spend time on preflashes inbetween exposures. Try switching the flash from p-ttl to auto or manual and see if that makes a difference.

Sincerely,
--Anders.

It was on Manual and HS-PTTL and "A"... still 3 Frame per second.

LEON · 05-27-2011, 06:47 AM

Originally posted by ionutmar

what ISO and what F did you use?
i have the same combination camera - flash, i will try.

ISO - 160 to 320
F-8

thanks...

darrenleow · 05-27-2011, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by LEON

ISO - 160 to 320
F-8

thanks...

That aperture-ISO combination seems to be quite demanding on the flash, perhaps the delay is from the flash recharge rather than from the camera? Try shooting at a higher ISO and/or larger aperture and see if it speeds things up?

LEON · 05-27-2011, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by darrenleow

That aperture-ISO combination seems to be quite demanding on the flash, perhaps the delay is from the flash recharge rather than from the camera? Try shooting at a higher ISO and/or larger aperture and see if it speeds things up?

I already tried that. both on manual (with most reduced power on the flash) and on auto. still 3 Frame per second !!!!

RonHendriks1966 · 05-27-2011, 09:04 AM

I noticed that too, it was already with K-7 so the case. It actually is 2.9 fps and that is excatly the same as with K10D, so there is some limitation within the electronic system. If you use something like Cactus then you can maintain 7 fps with off camera flash.

No idea how it is with Pentax flash, but with firmware 1.01 it didn't worked different.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/123952-k-5-x-synx.html

ionutmar · 05-27-2011, 12:10 PM

i tested at 1/160 F4 ISO 3200 in Manual, Metz 58AF1 on Auto = 3 fps for 23 consecutive shots

philbaum · 05-27-2011, 02:48 PM

In the Custom menu is a line item that allows the camera to release the flash before fully charged - would that help?

LEON · 05-27-2011, 10:13 PM

Originally posted by philbaum

In the Custom menu is a line item that allows the camera to release the flash before fully charged - would that help?

no, sorry, that doesn't help ether.

**Ash** · 05-27-2011, 10:45 PM

Looks like it's a limitation.

I've also confirmed it with a Sigma EF-500 Super.
Regardless of drive mode, release during charge or WB in flash settings, the max rate for shooting with flash is 3fps.

Darkside_Hero · 05-27-2011, 11:55 PM

Just tried this out for myself on the K-5 and it defaults to 3fps even if the flash is off but on the shoe. Can anyone test to see if this also happens if the PC socket is used? If so this is extremely disappointing for me. I was going to invest in a nice set of mono lights but if I am limited to 3fps shooting with flash then I will not bother.

RonHendriks1966 · 05-28-2011, 12:12 AM

Originally posted by Darkside_Hero

Just tried this out for myself on the K-5 and it defaults to 3fps even if the flash is off but on the shoe. Can anyone test to see if this also happens if the PC socket is used? If so this is extremely disappointing for me. I was going to invest in a nice set of mono lights but if I am limited to 3fps shooting with flash then I will not bother.

as I said with cactus it works. I have no cable at home to sync, but it did work before after firmware 1.02

**Ash** · 05-28-2011, 12:55 AM

Yes, it seems to also drop to 3fps when something is mounted on the hotshoe, regardless of it being powered on or not.

05-27-2011, 06:13 AM	#1
LEON Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MIGDAL HA-EMEQ Posts: 79	Frame rate drop to 3 on K-5 with Flash!!! Yesterday I joined a wedding photographer who works with NIKON D300 with SB-800 or SB-900 (I did not notice that). I worked with K-5 (of course) and METZ 58 AF1. One significant thing I noticed is that the frame rate per second of the D300 with FLASH remains very high on my K-5 it dropped to about 3 frames per second . I worked with 6MP JPEG, Flash was on reduced power - 2 / 3, shutter speed was 1 / 60 to 1 / 100 I tried to reduce the power of Flash to a minimum but still did not change anything ... Still 3 Frame per second . With flash "OFF' K-5 fired at an incredible pace and beautifully, without that I changed anything except turning the flash "OFF" . Has anyone managed to get 7 frames per second with flash is working on a K-5?

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05-27-2011, 06:33 AM	#2
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	Was your flash set to p-ttl? If so, that makes the camera spend time on preflashes inbetween exposures. Try switching the flash from p-ttl to auto or manual and see if that makes a difference. Sincerely, --Anders.

05-27-2011, 06:43 AM	#3
ionutmar Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 43	what ISO and what F did you use? i have the same combination camera - flash, i will try.

05-27-2011, 06:43 AM	#4
LEON Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MIGDAL HA-EMEQ Posts: 79 Original Poster	Originally posted by asp1880 Was your flash set to p-ttl? If so, that makes the camera spend time on preflashes inbetween exposures. Try switching the flash from p-ttl to auto or manual and see if that makes a difference. Sincerely, --Anders. It was on Manual and HS-PTTL and "A"... still 3 Frame per second.

05-27-2011, 06:47 AM	#5
LEON Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MIGDAL HA-EMEQ Posts: 79 Original Poster	Originally posted by ionutmar what ISO and what F did you use? i have the same combination camera - flash, i will try. ISO - 160 to 320 F-8 thanks...

05-27-2011, 08:45 AM	#6
darrenleow Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 541	Originally posted by LEON ISO - 160 to 320 F-8 thanks... That aperture-ISO combination seems to be quite demanding on the flash, perhaps the delay is from the flash recharge rather than from the camera? Try shooting at a higher ISO and/or larger aperture and see if it speeds things up?

05-27-2011, 08:53 AM	#7
LEON Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MIGDAL HA-EMEQ Posts: 79 Original Poster	Originally posted by darrenleow That aperture-ISO combination seems to be quite demanding on the flash, perhaps the delay is from the flash recharge rather than from the camera? Try shooting at a higher ISO and/or larger aperture and see if it speeds things up? I already tried that. both on manual (with most reduced power on the flash) and on auto. still 3 Frame per second !!!!

05-27-2011, 09:04 AM	#8
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	I noticed that too, it was already with K-7 so the case. It actually is 2.9 fps and that is excatly the same as with K10D, so there is some limitation within the electronic system. If you use something like Cactus then you can maintain 7 fps with off camera flash. No idea how it is with Pentax flash, but with firmware 1.01 it didn't worked different. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/123952-k-5-x-synx.html

05-27-2011, 12:10 PM	#9
ionutmar Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 43	i tested at 1/160 F4 ISO 3200 in Manual, Metz 58AF1 on Auto = 3 fps for 23 consecutive shots

05-27-2011, 02:48 PM	#10
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	In the Custom menu is a line item that allows the camera to release the flash before fully charged - would that help?

05-27-2011, 10:13 PM	#11
LEON Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MIGDAL HA-EMEQ Posts: 79 Original Poster	Originally posted by philbaum In the Custom menu is a line item that allows the camera to release the flash before fully charged - would that help? no, sorry, that doesn't help ether.

05-27-2011, 10:45 PM	#12
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Looks like it's a limitation. I've also confirmed it with a Sigma EF-500 Super. Regardless of drive mode, release during charge or WB in flash settings, the max rate for shooting with flash is 3fps.

05-27-2011, 11:55 PM	#13
Darkside_Hero New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 5	Just tried this out for myself on the K-5 and it defaults to 3fps even if the flash is off but on the shoe. Can anyone test to see if this also happens if the PC socket is used? If so this is extremely disappointing for me. I was going to invest in a nice set of mono lights but if I am limited to 3fps shooting with flash then I will not bother.

05-28-2011, 12:12 AM	#14
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by Darkside_Hero Just tried this out for myself on the K-5 and it defaults to 3fps even if the flash is off but on the shoe. Can anyone test to see if this also happens if the PC socket is used? If so this is extremely disappointing for me. I was going to invest in a nice set of mono lights but if I am limited to 3fps shooting with flash then I will not bother. as I said with cactus it works. I have no cable at home to sync, but it did work before after firmware 1.02

05-28-2011, 12:55 AM	#15
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Yes, it seems to also drop to 3fps when something is mounted on the hotshoe, regardless of it being powered on or not.