Wireless flash question

lotech · 07-30-2012, 09:50 PM

Hi there,

I got a K5 and just purchased a Metz 44AF flash, I purchase this flash due to the lower price and the accurate exposure control of Metz I learn from experience, lacking a LCD display I thought there is nothing special to play with, but to my surprise the flash has build in wireless slave function. I can use my K5 to trigger the Metz with TTL, the overall exposure is little over but still usable, the flash doesn't look like using light sensor trigger but wireless, as the camera has to enable wireless flash in order to use this feature, and the flash manual said the slave function is compatible with most model DC, I am new to this and wonder how it works, can I use multiple flash setup ? I am not going to use multi flash, just wonder how the flash 'handshake' with the camera, I have some electronics background and struggling to learn about how things work !

Adam · 08-04-2012, 05:44 AM

I think the camera flash communicates the exposure info by sending out a particular pattern of flashes that the unit on the other end can decode. The intensity of the light is so high that the external flash doesn't need any fancy sensors to be able to clearly decode the signal.

lotech · 08-04-2012, 07:19 AM

I think the same, I just don't know this has become mainstream and supported by most camera.

mtansley · 08-04-2012, 08:01 AM

The 'wireless', read 'optical' flash communication does only work between the same manufacturer's systems.

The Pentax one is fairly primitive I find, you can have multiple remote flashes but all these only really work with P-TTL mode, you can't adjust individual power remotely.

The Nikon system does allow up to three groups (you could have multiple flashes in each group) and you can adjust power for each of those groups from your camera and if I remember my Nikon D80 (traded it for the K-5 last December) you could have each group of flashes set to 'auto' mode or 'manual' mode.

Pg 193 of the K-5 manual gives some basic details on what happens between the camera and flash.

lotech · 08-04-2012, 08:18 AM

I see, I know Nikon has a more advanced flash control system, I don't need multiple flash at this stage, and I doubt 'wireless via flash' can do multiple flash properly, it should use RF or infrared I think.

mtansley · 08-04-2012, 08:28 AM

And most multiple flash setups use a radio trigger and the power of each flash is set manually, no relying on P-TTL, except that some studio lighting systems can have the power of each strobe set manually, remotely. (if that makes sense!)

Timd · 08-06-2012, 10:22 AM

The Metz 48 can operate wirelessly either P-TTL or manual if you update the firmware.

FrancisK7 · 08-06-2012, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by mtansley

And most multiple flash setups use a radio trigger and the power of each flash is set manually, no relying on P-TTL, except that some studio lighting systems can have the power of each strobe set manually, remotely. (if that makes sense!)

Paul C Buff has the Cyber Commander which allows to set flash power remotely, but you need to be using AB, WL or Einstein strobes.

AFAIK Pentax has no such options.

mtansley · 08-06-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by FrancisK7

Paul C Buff has the Cyber Commander which allows to set flash power remotely, but you need to be using AB, WL or Einstein strobes.

AFAIK Pentax has no such options.

Yes, that Paul C Buff system looks nice. I just wish I either had the funds or the need for that type of equipment.

07-30-2012, 09:50 PM	#1
lotech Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,312	Wireless flash question Hi there, I got a K5 and just purchased a Metz 44AF flash, I purchase this flash due to the lower price and the accurate exposure control of Metz I learn from experience, lacking a LCD display I thought there is nothing special to play with, but to my surprise the flash has build in wireless slave function. I can use my K5 to trigger the Metz with TTL, the overall exposure is little over but still usable, the flash doesn't look like using light sensor trigger but wireless, as the camera has to enable wireless flash in order to use this feature, and the flash manual said the slave function is compatible with most model DC, I am new to this and wonder how it works, can I use multiple flash setup ? I am not going to use multi flash, just wonder how the flash 'handshake' with the camera, I have some electronics background and struggling to learn about how things work !

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08-04-2012, 05:44 AM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	I think the camera flash communicates the exposure info by sending out a particular pattern of flashes that the unit on the other end can decode. The intensity of the light is so high that the external flash doesn't need any fancy sensors to be able to clearly decode the signal.

08-04-2012, 07:19 AM	#3
lotech Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,312 Original Poster	I think the same, I just don't know this has become mainstream and supported by most camera.

08-04-2012, 08:01 AM	#4
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	The 'wireless', read 'optical' flash communication does only work between the same manufacturer's systems. The Pentax one is fairly primitive I find, you can have multiple remote flashes but all these only really work with P-TTL mode, you can't adjust individual power remotely. The Nikon system does allow up to three groups (you could have multiple flashes in each group) and you can adjust power for each of those groups from your camera and if I remember my Nikon D80 (traded it for the K-5 last December) you could have each group of flashes set to 'auto' mode or 'manual' mode. Pg 193 of the K-5 manual gives some basic details on what happens between the camera and flash.

08-04-2012, 08:18 AM	#5
lotech Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,312 Original Poster	I see, I know Nikon has a more advanced flash control system, I don't need multiple flash at this stage, and I doubt 'wireless via flash' can do multiple flash properly, it should use RF or infrared I think.

08-04-2012, 08:28 AM	#6
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	And most multiple flash setups use a radio trigger and the power of each flash is set manually, no relying on P-TTL, except that some studio lighting systems can have the power of each strobe set manually, remotely. (if that makes sense!)

08-06-2012, 10:22 AM	#7
Timd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cape Town, SA Posts: 262	The Metz 48 can operate wirelessly either P-TTL or manual if you update the firmware.

08-06-2012, 12:00 PM	#8
FrancisK7 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 474	Originally posted by mtansley And most multiple flash setups use a radio trigger and the power of each flash is set manually, no relying on P-TTL, except that some studio lighting systems can have the power of each strobe set manually, remotely. (if that makes sense!) Paul C Buff has the Cyber Commander which allows to set flash power remotely, but you need to be using AB, WL or Einstein strobes. AFAIK Pentax has no such options.

08-06-2012, 06:19 PM	#9
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by FrancisK7 Paul C Buff has the Cyber Commander which allows to set flash power remotely, but you need to be using AB, WL or Einstein strobes. AFAIK Pentax has no such options. Yes, that Paul C Buff system looks nice. I just wish I either had the funds or the need for that type of equipment.