Cannot fire old Nikon TTL Flash with K30

Pheo · 12-03-2012, 02:35 PM

Anyone got any idea as to why I'm not able to trigger an old Jessops, Nikon make TTL/M flash from my K30's hot shoe? I was trying to use it in bounce mode, but couldn't get it to work! Wanted to bounce it to fill, and use it to trigger my Metz 58-AF1 (although I've since discovered that the Metz in Servo mode suppresses the Pentax PTTL Pre-flash, so wouldn't go off, but lets ignore that one for a minute!)

The thing just doesn't go off! I thought it would at least fire, always remember it doing so on my K10D (although its been in a box and not used for ages)

Any thoughts? I tried covering the smaller pins, with electrical tape, in-case something was confusing the camera, but to no avail.

EDIT: Should emphasise, I'm not trying to use TTL, I've got the flash on its M switch...

Anvh · 12-03-2012, 03:19 PM

Okay, going to the basic.
What settings are you actual using?

AOShep · 12-03-2012, 04:16 PM

You may have already checked this: check your shutter speed or put the mode dial on X.

Nass · 12-03-2012, 04:25 PM

You wouldn't happen to be using a manual lens would you?

Pheo · 12-03-2012, 04:32 PM

Nope, was shooting with my new sigma 50mm f1.4 AF in with the camera in fully manual mode with the flash mode on the camera set to... flash - perhaps I need to force the camera to fire the flash? I was wondering if it was getting confused by the flash in some way, as the camera seemed to notice when it was turned on!

L33tGreg · 12-03-2012, 06:21 PM

The test button on the flash works?

Anvh · 12-04-2012, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by Pheo

Nope, was shooting with my new sigma 50mm f1.4 AF in with the camera in fully manual mode with the flash mode on the camera set to... flash - perhaps I need to force the camera to fire the flash? I was wondering if it was getting confused by the flash in some way, as the camera seemed to notice when it was turned on!

Flash is turned off when you go faster then the sync speed (typically for Pentax 1/180) So with 1/200 shutterspeed or faster the flash won't fire, use something like 1/80 now just to be sure it fires.
Or instead of manual use the X mode for your camera.

MPrince · 12-04-2012, 06:26 PM

Is the center pin on the flash lined up with the center contact on the hotshoe, and is the shutter speed set at or below max sync speed? Does the flash have a test button and if so, does it fire when the test button is pushed? Do you have another camera you can try the flash on?

12-03-2012, 02:35 PM	#1
Pheo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brighton, United Kingdom Photos: Gallery Posts: 311	Cannot fire old Nikon TTL Flash with K30 Anyone got any idea as to why I'm not able to trigger an old Jessops, Nikon make TTL/M flash from my K30's hot shoe? I was trying to use it in bounce mode, but couldn't get it to work! Wanted to bounce it to fill, and use it to trigger my Metz 58-AF1 (although I've since discovered that the Metz in Servo mode suppresses the Pentax PTTL Pre-flash, so wouldn't go off, but lets ignore that one for a minute!) The thing just doesn't go off! I thought it would at least fire, always remember it doing so on my K10D (although its been in a box and not used for ages) Any thoughts? I tried covering the smaller pins, with electrical tape, in-case something was confusing the camera, but to no avail. EDIT: Should emphasise, I'm not trying to use TTL, I've got the flash on its M switch...

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12-03-2012, 03:19 PM	#2
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Okay, going to the basic. What settings are you actual using?

12-03-2012, 04:16 PM	#3
AOShep Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Eastern PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 293	You may have already checked this: check your shutter speed or put the mode dial on X.

12-03-2012, 04:25 PM	#4
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	You wouldn't happen to be using a manual lens would you?

12-03-2012, 04:32 PM	#5
Pheo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brighton, United Kingdom Photos: Gallery Posts: 311 Original Poster	Nope, was shooting with my new sigma 50mm f1.4 AF in with the camera in fully manual mode with the flash mode on the camera set to... flash - perhaps I need to force the camera to fire the flash? I was wondering if it was getting confused by the flash in some way, as the camera seemed to notice when it was turned on!

12-03-2012, 06:21 PM	#6
L33tGreg Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 369	The test button on the flash works?

12-04-2012, 11:53 AM	#7
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by Pheo Nope, was shooting with my new sigma 50mm f1.4 AF in with the camera in fully manual mode with the flash mode on the camera set to... flash - perhaps I need to force the camera to fire the flash? I was wondering if it was getting confused by the flash in some way, as the camera seemed to notice when it was turned on! Flash is turned off when you go faster then the sync speed (typically for Pentax 1/180) So with 1/200 shutterspeed or faster the flash won't fire, use something like 1/80 now just to be sure it fires. Or instead of manual use the X mode for your camera.

12-04-2012, 06:26 PM	#8
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Is the center pin on the flash lined up with the center contact on the hotshoe, and is the shutter speed set at or below max sync speed? Does the flash have a test button and if so, does it fire when the test button is pushed? Do you have another camera you can try the flash on?