Shooting with external flash

Ivo · 07-23-2009, 01:41 AM

Hi,

I'm using the k20d camera for more than 1 year and I'm very satisfied with it. This is my first SLR camera. But one thing I can't understand - how to operate with external flash. I've got Metz 58 AF-1 which is very good and powerfool flash but lot of my shots are under exposed. Especially when I'm trying to bounce flash light from ceiling.
May be I should use some special angle? May be I should use bouncer card? Which mode I should use - P-TTL or A mode? How to operate properly with flash settings? Help me, please!

nulla · 07-23-2009, 02:55 AM

Originally posted by Ivo

Hi,

I'm using the k20d camera for more than 1 year and I'm very satisfied with it. This is my first SLR camera. But one thing I can't understand - how to operate with external flash. I've got Metz 58 AF-1 which is very good and powerfool flash but lot of my shots are under exposed. Especially when I'm trying to bounce flash light from ceiling.
May be I should use some special angle? May be I should use bouncer card? Which mode I should use - P-TTL or A mode? How to operate properly with flash settings? Help me, please!

Set to AV mode
Try using on your K20 settings FN/flash/slow speed sync/ rear dial to set the +/- and try -1 ev or -2.0 ev exposure compensation.

dont forget though to set back to normal when not in flash mode.

footnote
Sinced having a K-7 my flash nightmares have gone

Neil

imtheguy · 07-23-2009, 05:43 AM

I use a K20K and Metz 48 with bounce almost always. The 48 does not support Auto mode so I use only P-TTL. For shooting people seated or standing with 8' white ceilings I use default flash output and flash WB with the flash aimed about 15 degrees forward from straight up. On 10' ceilings I pump the flash output by 0.7 usually. If the subjects are on the floor like kids or small pets, I switch to direct illumination with a diffuser to get decent light.

You don't say what camera mode you are shooting in so I recommend trying at least Green, A and M with the last 2 modes set to 400 ISO. These may not be the best settings for your circumstances but for testing its just to make sure you are not stuck in a rut someplace while you look for good exposure.

If your 58 supports Auto mode and you can not get the camera to expose properly in P-TTL, look for threads with SOldBear in them recently as he is an advocate for Auto mode where as I have never used it. You may want to give Auto (which is not actually "automatic") a whirl. Read your docs.

**sinus007** · 07-23-2009, 06:51 AM

Hi Ivo,
I had similar problem with k200 and 48 AF-1. I mostly use Lightsphere. I experimented and found solution as others suggested: Av, wider aper. and flash EV +.3-.5
Good luck,

Jonson PL · 07-23-2009, 07:10 AM

I'll find some links for you later. Else already some good advice

GeneV · 07-23-2009, 08:41 AM

Sometimes it also helps to set the ISO manually. When I first bought a K10d a couple of years ago, I would get lots of underexposed flash shots when I let the camera do everything. When I would look at the EXIF on these shots, I would see that the camera had set the ISO so low that it would take a huge amount of power--more than even the AF540 had--to light the room in a way that did not make the photo appear dark overall.

audiobomber · 07-23-2009, 09:51 AM

Originally posted by GeneV

Sometimes it also helps to set the ISO manually. When I first bought a K10d a couple of years ago, I would get lots of underexposed flash shots when I let the camera do everything. When I would look at the EXIF on these shots, I would see that the camera had set the ISO so low that it would take a huge amount of power--more than even the AF540 had--to light the room in a way that did not make the photo appear dark overall.

Same here. I boost the ISO to 400 if use a diffuser or bounce the flash.

GeneV · 07-23-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

Same here. I boost the ISO to 400 if use a diffuser or bounce the flash.

Especially since I moved to the K20, there is no reason not to use at least ISO 400 for bounce.

Ivo · 07-23-2009, 01:00 PM

Thank You. I'm mainly using Av mode with ISO 200. As I understood one of my problems is too low iso setting. But witch mode for flash is more recommended - P-TTL or A mode?

GerryL · 07-23-2009, 03:33 PM

Use P-TTL if it supports it and just add EV compensation as others have said.
Find the right EV compensation for the shot you want/need.

Jonson PL · 07-26-2009, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by Ivo

Thank You. I'm mainly using Av mode with ISO 200. As I understood one of my problems is too low iso setting. But witch mode for flash is more recommended - P-TTL or A mode?

Both should work. And I also believe you can add extra EV directly via the flash's output bar.

here is a thread that míght help :
540 let me down Christmas Day [Page 1]: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

07-23-2009, 01:41 AM	#1
Ivo Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Latvia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25	Shooting with external flash Hi, I'm using the k20d camera for more than 1 year and I'm very satisfied with it. This is my first SLR camera. But one thing I can't understand - how to operate with external flash. I've got Metz 58 AF-1 which is very good and powerfool flash but lot of my shots are under exposed. Especially when I'm trying to bounce flash light from ceiling. May be I should use some special angle? May be I should use bouncer card? Which mode I should use - P-TTL or A mode? How to operate properly with flash settings? Help me, please!

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07-23-2009, 02:55 AM	#2
nulla Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,560	Originally posted by Ivo Hi, I'm using the k20d camera for more than 1 year and I'm very satisfied with it. This is my first SLR camera. But one thing I can't understand - how to operate with external flash. I've got Metz 58 AF-1 which is very good and powerfool flash but lot of my shots are under exposed. Especially when I'm trying to bounce flash light from ceiling. May be I should use some special angle? May be I should use bouncer card? Which mode I should use - P-TTL or A mode? How to operate properly with flash settings? Help me, please! Set to AV mode Try using on your K20 settings FN/flash/slow speed sync/ rear dial to set the +/- and try -1 ev or -2.0 ev exposure compensation. dont forget though to set back to normal when not in flash mode. footnote Sinced having a K-7 my flash nightmares have gone Neil

07-23-2009, 05:43 AM	#3
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	I use a K20K and Metz 48 with bounce almost always. The 48 does not support Auto mode so I use only P-TTL. For shooting people seated or standing with 8' white ceilings I use default flash output and flash WB with the flash aimed about 15 degrees forward from straight up. On 10' ceilings I pump the flash output by 0.7 usually. If the subjects are on the floor like kids or small pets, I switch to direct illumination with a diffuser to get decent light. You don't say what camera mode you are shooting in so I recommend trying at least Green, A and M with the last 2 modes set to 400 ISO. These may not be the best settings for your circumstances but for testing its just to make sure you are not stuck in a rut someplace while you look for good exposure. If your 58 supports Auto mode and you can not get the camera to expose properly in P-TTL, look for threads with SOldBear in them recently as he is an advocate for Auto mode where as I have never used it. You may want to give Auto (which is not actually "automatic") a whirl. Read your docs.

07-23-2009, 06:51 AM	#4
sinus007 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 292	Hi Ivo, I had similar problem with k200 and 48 AF-1. I mostly use Lightsphere. I experimented and found solution as others suggested: Av, wider aper. and flash EV +.3-.5 Good luck,

07-23-2009, 07:10 AM	#5
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	I'll find some links for you later. Else already some good advice

07-23-2009, 08:41 AM	#6
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Sometimes it also helps to set the ISO manually. When I first bought a K10d a couple of years ago, I would get lots of underexposed flash shots when I let the camera do everything. When I would look at the EXIF on these shots, I would see that the camera had set the ISO so low that it would take a huge amount of power--more than even the AF540 had--to light the room in a way that did not make the photo appear dark overall.

07-23-2009, 09:51 AM	#7
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by GeneV Sometimes it also helps to set the ISO manually. When I first bought a K10d a couple of years ago, I would get lots of underexposed flash shots when I let the camera do everything. When I would look at the EXIF on these shots, I would see that the camera had set the ISO so low that it would take a huge amount of power--more than even the AF540 had--to light the room in a way that did not make the photo appear dark overall. Same here. I boost the ISO to 400 if use a diffuser or bounce the flash.

07-23-2009, 11:33 AM	#8
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by audiobomber Same here. I boost the ISO to 400 if use a diffuser or bounce the flash. Especially since I moved to the K20, there is no reason not to use at least ISO 400 for bounce.

07-23-2009, 01:00 PM	#9
Ivo Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Latvia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25 Original Poster	Thank You. I'm mainly using Av mode with ISO 200. As I understood one of my problems is too low iso setting. But witch mode for flash is more recommended - P-TTL or A mode?

07-23-2009, 03:33 PM	#10
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Use P-TTL if it supports it and just add EV compensation as others have said. Find the right EV compensation for the shot you want/need.

07-26-2009, 02:11 PM	#11
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Originally posted by Ivo Thank You. I'm mainly using Av mode with ISO 200. As I understood one of my problems is too low iso setting. But witch mode for flash is more recommended - P-TTL or A mode? Both should work. And I also believe you can add extra EV directly via the flash's output bar. here is a thread that míght help : 540 let me down Christmas Day [Page 1]: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review