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01-30-2013, 08:29 PM   #1
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Bizarre behavior K-5 and Metz 58-2 flash

I just picked up a used Metz 58-2 flash. I can't say I have much of a clue on most of the functions, although I do seem to be getting the overexposed image problems I've seen mentioned in other threads.

However, I wanted to flag some really odd behavior because it just doesn't make any sense to me. If I put the camera into P mode and then shift into hyper P, I can move the aperture up and down at will. But if I try and adjust the shutter speed, it only lets me go to slower speeds - I can't go back up to faster ones. If I change the aperture it will reset the shutter speed - but then only to 100 as the fastest speed. I've seen this in a couple of flash modes, although I haven't tested them all. It just seems so odd, that I wanted to post it sooner than later.

Any advice, suggestion or general input on using this flash would be most welcome.

01-31-2013, 12:22 AM   #2
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Overexposure with a flash is a problem k-5 in general. Pentax flash sync supports only exposer speeds up to 1/120.
01-31-2013, 12:49 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by i83N Quote
Overexposure with a flash is a problem k-5 in general. Pentax flash sync supports only exposer speeds up to 1/120.
That's false, it is 1/180

MSL, did you update the firmware of your flash (v3.0) ?

Last edited by fs999; 01-31-2013 at 01:09 AM.
01-31-2013, 01:22 AM   #4
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ups mistype, was to sleepy when was typing...

01-31-2013, 05:40 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by fs999 Quote
MSL, did you update the firmware of your flash (v3.0) ?
Not yet. It is at 2.0. According to the official Metz documentation, all 3.0 did was add support for the K-01. It is on my list to do.

QuoteOriginally posted by i83N Quote
Overexposure with a flash is a problem k-5 in general.
I've since found a lot of threads about this, and the main solution is to us A rather that P-TTL. Something for me to explore.
01-31-2013, 08:34 AM   #6
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-1,1/3 on flash compensation can help to
01-31-2013, 09:32 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by i83N Quote
-1,1/3 on flash compensation can help to
Yup - I regularly would use -.7 to -1.3 (or thereabouts) for the built in flash. This part is solvable. It is the weird behavior I noted that still has me concerned.

01-31-2013, 11:49 AM   #8
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I tried this evening and had the same problem : with my DA 15mm the maximum speed was 1/50 and with my DA 55mm it was 1/100.

This has to do with the Auto ISO parameter and the fact that the batteries of the flash were nearly empty.

With fully charged batteries I could go up to 1/180 !
01-31-2013, 05:25 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by fs999 Quote
I tried this evening and had the same problem : with my DA 15mm the maximum speed was 1/50 and with my DA 55mm it was 1/100.

This has to do with the Auto ISO parameter and the fact that the batteries of the flash were nearly empty.

With fully charged batteries I could go up to 1/180 !
I'm only seeing limitations in P mode (for the camera) as far as I can recall, although I haven't tested every mode. i put in a set of freshly charged batteries, so that should not have been the problem.

When you say Auto ISO Parameter is this something on the camera or the flash?
01-31-2013, 09:01 PM   #10
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I use a 58-2 with my K5 and have had similar issues. The solution for me was to get out of P-mode and into M.
01-31-2013, 09:04 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by abmj Quote
I use a 58-2 with my K5 and have had similar issues. The solution for me was to get out of P-mode and into M.
Thanks for the confirmation. I starting this thread because I had a bit of a panic when I first started using the flash that perhaps I had damaged the K-5 contacts when using an old Minolta flash with the camera. I found the Minolta flash unreliable until I insulated two of the pins from making contact in the hot shoe.

Just to add more data, what version of firmware do you have in the camera and flash. I'm running either 1.12 or 1.13 on the K-5, and V2 for the flash. Both have scope for updating, although I'm not expecting any fixes.
01-31-2013, 09:19 PM   #12
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Version 1.4 in the camera and whatever came in the flash - I haven't upgraded.
01-31-2013, 09:36 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by abmj Quote
Version 1.4 in the camera and whatever came in the flash - I haven't upgraded.
I'm assuming you mean 1.14 in the camera. For the flash, it shows up on the bottom right hand corner when you first power it on. I believe there is a significant difference between 1.0 to 2.0, but not 2.0 to 3.0.

Thanks.
02-01-2013, 12:16 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by MSL Quote
I'm assuming you mean 1.14 in the camera. .
Correct. Bad typing. I just upgraded this week.
02-01-2013, 03:20 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by MSL Quote
When you say Auto ISO Parameter is this something on the camera or the flash?
Camera. Auto ISO is choosing best speed depending on focal length (15mm = 1/50, 55mm 1/100). With the parameter you can change this to lower speed or even higher speed.
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