[Wolfeye]

When I'm using my AF360 flash on the K-50 it often selects a relatively low shutter speed for flash sync. Like 1/20 or 1/30. Is that normal? Isn't flash sync supposed to be 1/180 or so? There's apparently no way to default it...

[mattt]

Your camera is metering to expose the background. All Automated modes will do that. If you want to increase shutter speed, you will end up with dark back grounds - which might be the desired result. Alternatively you might change your metering to spot metering so that the back ground is not considered when automating the exposure. i shoot almost all of my flash shots in manual.

[Wolfeye]

Thanks Matt! I do have the camera set for spot, and I know I can shoot in manual, but I was just wondering if I missed something. On Canon's EOS DSLRs you can set the shutter speed the flash uses to a default sync speed that it will always use. Otherwise, it does the same thing, meters the ambient light and uses that for shutter speed.

[maxfield_photo]

That's actually impressive, it has been my experience that most pTTL cameras choose way too high of a shutter speed indoors, way too small of an aperture, and way too high of an ISO. That's why I basically stick to manual. If you want to shoot at max sync speed just use manual, Tv, or TAv mode (or X mode, but I don't think the K50 has that).