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**THoog** · 02-11-2014, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by photolady95

Thanks for the instructions Todd.

I just wish I could get it to work as a flash on the K-30. It works this way on my K-x.

What shutter speed are you using? I just tried mine, and it wouldn't flash at anything over 1/180.

photolady95 · 02-11-2014, 07:53 PM

I think it was set at 1/200s. I will try at 1/160s. I can't set my shutter for 1/180s That only appears if I am using my onboard flash.

photolady95 · 02-11-2014, 08:02 PM

I just tried setting the shutter to 1/160s and it did flash but the camera is not taking a photo. There is just a black photo. Acts like I still have the lens cap in place which I don't have.

**THoog** · 02-11-2014, 08:39 PM

Try something slower, like 1/60, with a fairly high ISO (800) and a fairly large aperture (f/4). Like I said, it's not much of a flash. I think it's so slow to come on that at 1/180 the shutter has already closed before the flash is on, and the official Guide Number of 15 is really optimistic - that would make it as powerful as the onboard flash, and it just doesn't compare. Shooting something ten feet away, I could barely tell a difference between it and ambient light.

photolady95 · 02-12-2014, 05:43 AM

Something slower would be okay with flowers but I can't see it working for small bugs that tend to fly or move really fast. I usually am not shooting anything over 3 foot away. Usually more like a few inches.

**THoog** · 02-12-2014, 08:58 AM

I re-read one of the reviews, and the reviewer gave the range of workable shutter speeds as 1/10 - 1/100, with significant drop-off for every step down from 1/10. It's just too slow and too dim to be useful as a "flash". Turning the light on and leaving it on is a lot easier and more productive.

photolady95 · 02-12-2014, 03:57 PM

I think I'll just do what you do and just use the light portion of this flash. Thanks for the help on this.

Not a Number · 02-14-2014, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

Thanks for the instructions Todd.

I just wish I could get it to work as a flash on the K-30. It works this way on my K-x.

It could be a problem similar to this:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/125-flashes-lighting-studio/242806-sunpak...ml#post2582109

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02-11-2014, 07:47 PM	#16
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Originally posted by photolady95 Thanks for the instructions Todd. I just wish I could get it to work as a flash on the K-30. It works this way on my K-x. What shutter speed are you using? I just tried mine, and it wouldn't flash at anything over 1/180.

02-11-2014, 07:53 PM	#17
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	I think it was set at 1/200s. I will try at 1/160s. I can't set my shutter for 1/180s That only appears if I am using my onboard flash.

02-11-2014, 08:02 PM	#18
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	I just tried setting the shutter to 1/160s and it did flash but the camera is not taking a photo. There is just a black photo. Acts like I still have the lens cap in place which I don't have.

02-11-2014, 08:39 PM	#19
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	Try something slower, like 1/60, with a fairly high ISO (800) and a fairly large aperture (f/4). Like I said, it's not much of a flash. I think it's so slow to come on that at 1/180 the shutter has already closed before the flash is on, and the official Guide Number of 15 is really optimistic - that would make it as powerful as the onboard flash, and it just doesn't compare. Shooting something ten feet away, I could barely tell a difference between it and ambient light.

02-12-2014, 05:43 AM	#20
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	Something slower would be okay with flowers but I can't see it working for small bugs that tend to fly or move really fast. I usually am not shooting anything over 3 foot away. Usually more like a few inches.

02-12-2014, 08:58 AM	#21
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	I re-read one of the reviews, and the reviewer gave the range of workable shutter speeds as 1/10 - 1/100, with significant drop-off for every step down from 1/10. It's just too slow and too dim to be useful as a "flash". Turning the light on and leaving it on is a lot easier and more productive.

02-12-2014, 03:57 PM	#22
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712 Original Poster	I think I'll just do what you do and just use the light portion of this flash. Thanks for the help on this.

02-14-2014, 09:45 AM	#23
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by photolady95 Thanks for the instructions Todd. I just wish I could get it to work as a flash on the K-30. It works this way on my K-x. It could be a problem similar to this: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/125-flashes-lighting-studio/242806-sunpak...ml#post2582109

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