Problem with Pop-up Flash

**Cucho** · 12-03-2013, 02:52 PM

I have a Pentax K5 since 2012 and I've always used an external METZ Flash on it for night events.

A few months ago I tried to use the pop-up flash and it didn't worked, I mean... the camera does not work when I pop the flash out, it doesn't focus, or take the shot =(. Does that have happened to anyone before or have a solution? I have the last firmware on it but... could it be a software problem, or it is electronic/mechanical?

Thank you all for your opinions.

aoeu · 12-03-2013, 03:11 PM

Either the flash or the camera is broken or, more likely there is an unclean contact. I prefer Staedtler erasers.

**seventhdr** · 12-03-2013, 05:14 PM

What mode are you in?
What aperture are you using?
What shutter speed is selected?
What are the internal flash's setting in the custom functions?
What auto focus mode is selected?
What lens(es) does this happen with?

Need this information to give an informed answer.

Regards

Chris

calsan · 12-03-2013, 06:02 PM

Short answer: Your flash is dead.

You need to get the camera fixed.

**Cucho** · 12-04-2013, 06:09 AM

Originally posted by seventhdr

What mode are you in?
What aperture are you using?
What shutter speed is selected?
What are the internal flash's setting in the custom functions?
What auto focus mode is selected?
What lens(es) does this happen with?

Need this information to give an informed answer.

Regards

Chris

Hi Chris! well it doesn't matter because it happens with any lens, at any aperture, on any mode. It just doesn't respond when I pop up the flash. But I'm doing it right now with this settings:

What mode are you in? ---> Av
What aperture are you using? ---> 2.8
What shutter speed is selected? ---> 1/200
What are the internal flash's setting in the custom functions? ---> On
What auto focus mode is selected? ---> AF.S
What lens(es) does this happen with? ---> FA35-2

sterretje · 12-04-2013, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by Cucho

What shutter speed is selected? ---> 1/200

Flash is disabled at shutter speeds faster that 1/180s. Only way around that is HSS (high speed sync).

Reason: 1/180s is the fastest shutter speed at which the shutter is fully open; if the shutter speed is faster, the shutter is not completely open when the flash fires and you would get a picture that only 'receives' the flash light where the shutter is open (in pitch black and depending on shutter speed, that might be e.g. half a picture black and the other half correctly exposed).

**Cucho** · 12-05-2013, 07:31 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

Flash is disabled at shutter speeds faster that 1/180s. Only way around that is HSS (high speed sync).

Reason: 1/180s is the fastest shutter speed at which the shutter is fully open; if the shutter speed is faster, the shutter is not completely open when the flash fires and you would get a picture that only 'receives' the flash light where the shutter is open (in pitch black and depending on shutter speed, that might be e.g. half a picture black and the other half correctly exposed).

I'm trying now at 1/25 and it doesn't work either.

Shastajak · 12-05-2013, 09:38 AM

I have the same problem. Occasionally it will auto-focus, but most of the time not and the shutter wont depress at all. I've tried different shutter speeds, but not different lens yet, as it only started today. But I'm using a Pentax FA 1.4 50mm.

I'm hoping this is not going to be expensive to fix - is there anything I could try?

sterretje · 12-05-2013, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by Cucho

I'm trying now at 1/25 and it doesn't work either.

I only replied to the specific post. I now see that opening post also mentions no AF, which indicates a deeper problem. A reset to factory defaults might solve it (just to get all settings that you might have modified back to 'normal'), but I'm not very optimistic.

Originally posted by Shastajak

I'm hoping this is not going to be expensive to fix - is there anything I could try?

Get a cheap (or expensive) external flash

I know it's not as convenient.

Shastajak · 12-06-2013, 02:08 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

Get a cheap (or expensive) external flash

I know it's not as convenient.

I thought you might say that - I'll have to add it to my Xmas list

**Cucho** · 12-06-2013, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

Get a cheap (or expensive) external flash

I know it's not as convenient.

I always use one, that's why I never noticed the problem, until now xD.

12-03-2013, 02:52 PM	#1
Cucho Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Viña del Mar Photos: Albums Posts: 145	Problem with Pop-up Flash I have a Pentax K5 since 2012 and I've always used an external METZ Flash on it for night events. A few months ago I tried to use the pop-up flash and it didn't worked, I mean... the camera does not work when I pop the flash out, it doesn't focus, or take the shot =(. Does that have happened to anyone before or have a solution? I have the last firmware on it but... could it be a software problem, or it is electronic/mechanical? Thank you all for your opinions.

12-05-2013, 09:38 AM	#8
Shastajak New Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 4	Me Too I have the same problem. Occasionally it will auto-focus, but most of the time not and the shutter wont depress at all. I've tried different shutter speeds, but not different lens yet, as it only started today. But I'm using a Pentax FA 1.4 50mm. I'm hoping this is not going to be expensive to fix - is there anything I could try?

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12-03-2013, 03:11 PM	#2
aoeu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 496	Either the flash or the camera is broken or, more likely there is an unclean contact. I prefer Staedtler erasers.

12-03-2013, 05:14 PM	#3
seventhdr Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,440	What mode are you in? What aperture are you using? What shutter speed is selected? What are the internal flash's setting in the custom functions? What auto focus mode is selected? What lens(es) does this happen with? Need this information to give an informed answer. Regards Chris

12-03-2013, 06:02 PM	#4
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	Short answer: Your flash is dead. You need to get the camera fixed.

12-04-2013, 06:09 AM	#5
Cucho Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Viña del Mar Photos: Albums Posts: 145 Original Poster	Originally posted by seventhdr What mode are you in? What aperture are you using? What shutter speed is selected? What are the internal flash's setting in the custom functions? What auto focus mode is selected? What lens(es) does this happen with? Need this information to give an informed answer. Regards Chris Hi Chris! well it doesn't matter because it happens with any lens, at any aperture, on any mode. It just doesn't respond when I pop up the flash. But I'm doing it right now with this settings: What mode are you in? ---> Av What aperture are you using? ---> 2.8 What shutter speed is selected? ---> 1/200 What are the internal flash's setting in the custom functions? ---> On What auto focus mode is selected? ---> AF.S What lens(es) does this happen with? ---> FA35-2

12-04-2013, 08:27 PM	#6
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by Cucho What shutter speed is selected? ---> 1/200 Flash is disabled at shutter speeds faster that 1/180s. Only way around that is HSS (high speed sync). Reason: 1/180s is the fastest shutter speed at which the shutter is fully open; if the shutter speed is faster, the shutter is not completely open when the flash fires and you would get a picture that only 'receives' the flash light where the shutter is open (in pitch black and depending on shutter speed, that might be e.g. half a picture black and the other half correctly exposed).

12-05-2013, 07:31 AM	#7
Cucho Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Viña del Mar Photos: Albums Posts: 145 Original Poster	Originally posted by sterretje Flash is disabled at shutter speeds faster that 1/180s. Only way around that is HSS (high speed sync). Reason: 1/180s is the fastest shutter speed at which the shutter is fully open; if the shutter speed is faster, the shutter is not completely open when the flash fires and you would get a picture that only 'receives' the flash light where the shutter is open (in pitch black and depending on shutter speed, that might be e.g. half a picture black and the other half correctly exposed). I'm trying now at 1/25 and it doesn't work either.

12-05-2013, 10:05 AM	#9
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by Cucho I'm trying now at 1/25 and it doesn't work either. I only replied to the specific post. I now see that opening post also mentions no AF, which indicates a deeper problem. A reset to factory defaults might solve it (just to get all settings that you might have modified back to 'normal'), but I'm not very optimistic. Originally posted by Shastajak I'm hoping this is not going to be expensive to fix - is there anything I could try? Get a cheap (or expensive) external flash I know it's not as convenient.

12-06-2013, 02:08 AM	#10
Shastajak New Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 4	Originally posted by sterretje Get a cheap (or expensive) external flash I know it's not as convenient. I thought you might say that - I'll have to add it to my Xmas list

12-06-2013, 08:36 AM	#11
Cucho Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Viña del Mar Photos: Albums Posts: 145 Original Poster	Originally posted by sterretje Get a cheap (or expensive) external flash I know it's not as convenient. I always use one, that's why I never noticed the problem, until now xD.