K20D won't set to wireless flash

i.m.fildes · 12-25-2009, 12:28 PM

hello folks,

I just got an af540fgz for christmas, which I'm thrilled about, but my k20d won't allow me to set flash to wireless.

It allowed me to do so when I first played around with the flash and it fired just fine off the body, but now the camera won't allow me to choose 'wireless flash' in the flash modes.

I've followed the tutorials on the pentax site to a "t" but it's just not working at the moment.

Any idea what's up?

Thanks

Dom · 12-25-2009, 01:01 PM

Just one quick questions.

What lens are you using?

i.m.fildes · 12-25-2009, 01:06 PM

DA 18-55 at the moment.

Dom · 12-25-2009, 01:23 PM

My guess is that you've got your camera set to IR remote.

i.m.fildes · 12-25-2009, 01:46 PM

Nope, not set to IR remote.

I just tried turning on the camera before the flash, and that allowed me to set it to wireless. I took a couple shots with the flash off the body, then it stopped working. The camera reset itself to regular flash, and now it won't let me choose wireless again.

**Ash** · 12-25-2009, 01:59 PM

A very nice Christmas present.
Hard to know where you've gone wrong as there are so many things to check off before it'll sync wirelessly.
Check the flash on slider - is it halfway? Is the 'flash ready' illuminating button flashing on and off?
Has the flash been 'synced' with the body in wireless mode?
Is the flash in SL2 mode?

i.m.fildes · 12-25-2009, 02:20 PM

Slider is set to wireless
flash ready button is flashing on and off
flash is set in SL1 mode, and as far as syncing the body in wireless mode, I can't even select wireless flash. It and slow rear-curtain flash are grayed out.

This is quite frustrating.

Originally posted by Ash

A very nice Christmas present.
Hard to know where you've gone wrong as there are so many things to check off before it'll sync wirelessly.
Check the flash on slider - is it halfway? Is the 'flash ready' illuminating button flashing on and off?
Has the flash been 'synced' with the body in wireless mode?
Is the flash in SL2 mode?

**Ash** · 12-25-2009, 02:32 PM

Select SL2 - then your flash will work wirelessly.

i.m.fildes · 12-25-2009, 02:38 PM

Great! That worked.
I'm still confused as to why I can't select wireless flash though, is this some sort of different wireless flash than I'm thinking of?

Originally posted by Ash

Select SL2 - then your flash will work wirelessly.

**Ash** · 12-25-2009, 02:48 PM

Try switching your camera and flash off, mount the flash on the camera (well), then switch both on and try the wireless settings again. Hopefully that will work for you.

i.m.fildes · 12-25-2009, 03:03 PM

Tried that, cleaned the contacts with a cotton ball too.
Wireless Flash was an option, so I selected it, took a photo. flash did not fire, checked the settings again, and it had again reverted to onboard flash, with no option for wireless.

looks like theres a problem with either the hot shoe contacts, or the flash contact pins eh?

i.m.fildes · 12-25-2009, 06:03 PM

bump.

Another note, occasionally I can get the camera into wireless flash mode, remove the flash, and take a couple of shots.

The camera then seems to lose any memory of being synced to the flash. This makes me think the problem is beyond the contacts.

What could disrupt this connection after it is established?

jboyde · 12-25-2009, 08:14 PM

Its weird. I just got a new K20 for Christmas and it works perfectly with my AF 360 and 540. I'm betting there's something being overlooked with yours. Keep us posted.

**Ash** · 12-25-2009, 09:28 PM

Very hard to tell what's going on unless we can see it in the flesh.
Nonetheless, it sounds suss, so if you bought it new from a shop, I'd get it back to them with your camera to show them the problem.
It should not be reverting to non-wireless mode spontaneously like that.

Dom · 12-26-2009, 03:17 AM

How up-to-date is the cameras firmware?

12-25-2009, 12:28 PM	#1
i.m.fildes New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PE, Canada Posts: 22	K20D won't set to wireless flash hello folks, I just got an af540fgz for christmas, which I'm thrilled about, but my k20d won't allow me to set flash to wireless. It allowed me to do so when I first played around with the flash and it fired just fine off the body, but now the camera won't allow me to choose 'wireless flash' in the flash modes. I've followed the tutorials on the pentax site to a "t" but it's just not working at the moment. Any idea what's up? Thanks

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12-25-2009, 01:01 PM	#2
Dom Guest	Just one quick questions. What lens are you using?

12-25-2009, 01:06 PM	#3
i.m.fildes New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PE, Canada Posts: 22 Original Poster	DA 18-55 at the moment.

12-25-2009, 01:23 PM	#4
Dom Guest	My guess is that you've got your camera set to IR remote.

12-25-2009, 01:46 PM	#5
i.m.fildes New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PE, Canada Posts: 22 Original Poster	Nope, not set to IR remote. I just tried turning on the camera before the flash, and that allowed me to set it to wireless. I took a couple shots with the flash off the body, then it stopped working. The camera reset itself to regular flash, and now it won't let me choose wireless again.

12-25-2009, 01:59 PM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	A very nice Christmas present. Hard to know where you've gone wrong as there are so many things to check off before it'll sync wirelessly. Check the flash on slider - is it halfway? Is the 'flash ready' illuminating button flashing on and off? Has the flash been 'synced' with the body in wireless mode? Is the flash in SL2 mode?

12-25-2009, 02:20 PM	#7
i.m.fildes New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PE, Canada Posts: 22 Original Poster	Slider is set to wireless flash ready button is flashing on and off flash is set in SL1 mode, and as far as syncing the body in wireless mode, I can't even select wireless flash. It and slow rear-curtain flash are grayed out. This is quite frustrating. Originally posted by Ash A very nice Christmas present. Hard to know where you've gone wrong as there are so many things to check off before it'll sync wirelessly. Check the flash on slider - is it halfway? Is the 'flash ready' illuminating button flashing on and off? Has the flash been 'synced' with the body in wireless mode? Is the flash in SL2 mode?

12-25-2009, 02:32 PM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Select SL2 - then your flash will work wirelessly.

12-25-2009, 02:38 PM	#9
i.m.fildes New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PE, Canada Posts: 22 Original Poster	Great! That worked. I'm still confused as to why I can't select wireless flash though, is this some sort of different wireless flash than I'm thinking of? Originally posted by Ash Select SL2 - then your flash will work wirelessly.

12-25-2009, 02:48 PM	#10
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Try switching your camera and flash off, mount the flash on the camera (well), then switch both on and try the wireless settings again. Hopefully that will work for you.

12-25-2009, 03:03 PM	#11
i.m.fildes New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PE, Canada Posts: 22 Original Poster	Tried that, cleaned the contacts with a cotton ball too. Wireless Flash was an option, so I selected it, took a photo. flash did not fire, checked the settings again, and it had again reverted to onboard flash, with no option for wireless. looks like theres a problem with either the hot shoe contacts, or the flash contact pins eh?

12-25-2009, 06:03 PM	#12
i.m.fildes New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PE, Canada Posts: 22 Original Poster	bump. Another note, occasionally I can get the camera into wireless flash mode, remove the flash, and take a couple of shots. The camera then seems to lose any memory of being synced to the flash. This makes me think the problem is beyond the contacts. What could disrupt this connection after it is established?

12-25-2009, 08:14 PM	#13
jboyde Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York Posts: 328	Its weird. I just got a new K20 for Christmas and it works perfectly with my AF 360 and 540. I'm betting there's something being overlooked with yours. Keep us posted.

12-25-2009, 09:28 PM	#14
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Very hard to tell what's going on unless we can see it in the flesh. Nonetheless, it sounds suss, so if you bought it new from a shop, I'd get it back to them with your camera to show them the problem. It should not be reverting to non-wireless mode spontaneously like that.

12-26-2009, 03:17 AM	#15
Dom Guest	How up-to-date is the cameras firmware?