K-3 delay when using the flash

Unregistered User · 02-03-2014, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by gosman

Just tried my on board flash again. Shot about 5 times -no hesitation. This seems to be a non issue with maybe a few early models exhibiting the delay.

If you compare using thé two flash modes, P-TTL mode and M mode you have no difference in respons?

gosman · 02-03-2014, 09:08 AM

I actually have a slight delay when in flash manual mode . But I do not have a delay in P-TTL!! Is this what is happening to others?

**RGlasel** · 02-03-2014, 09:49 AM

Perhaps the camera is waiting for the auto-focus to complete. The delay between P-TTL pre-flash and the firing of the flash is brief, a fraction of a second, and I believe you can set your camera so the shutter opens immediately when you trigger it instead for waiting for the camera's auto-focus. The only other thing I can think of that will cause a delay is setting your flash for red eye reduction.

**jbinpg** · 02-03-2014, 02:34 PM

Reasonable assumption. The OP should put the camera in manual focus mode then retry the experiment to see if the delay is gone.

Jack

bxf · 02-03-2014, 05:00 PM

I assume the K-3 has something like the K-5 "Link exposure to AF point", or something like that. I know this is a shot in the dark, but has anyone tried to see if this setting is a factor in the delay? Just a thought, because at least one poster says he does not experience the delay.a

jup · 02-03-2014, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by jbinpg

Reasonable assumption. The OP should put the camera in manual focus mode then retry the experiment to see if the delay is gone.

Jack

This has been tried before and suggested to me by Pentax support. No effect whatsoever.

Originally posted by bxf

I assume the K-3 has something like the K-5 "Link exposure to AF point", or something like that. I know this is a shot in the dark, but has anyone tried to see if this setting is a factor in the delay? Just a thought, because at least one poster says he does not experience the delay.a

Interesting idea. But also no effect. I am still yet to find any combination of settings that would work.

BTW, I bought camera 2 weeks ago from B&H. Although it has been manufactured in October, I wouldn't assume it's early models. But if some people experience it and others don't, hardware may be to blame.

enoeske · 02-03-2014, 06:45 PM

K-3 Silver here with the delay as well. Its small but noticeable between pressing the shutter and pre-flash

**RGlasel** · 02-03-2014, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by enoeske

K-3 Silver here with the delay as well

Not firing the flash until the lens is focused is a feature, not a bug. I don't know what the standard delay for P-TTL communication is, but with strobe flashes, very short (fractions of a second) gaps between light flashes are perceptible. As long as the flash and the shutter are synced, and your subject doesn't fall over in the meantime, a one or two second delay shouldn't be a problem.

enoeske · 02-03-2014, 08:08 PM

Originally posted by RGlasel

Not firing the flash until the lens is focused is a feature, not a bug.

Camera is pre-focused using the rear AF button. After focus is confirmed, shutter is depressed. There is a noticeable delay before the pre-flash begins. This did not occur with any previous Pentax DSLR.

Originally posted by RGlasel

a one or two second delay shouldn't be a problem.

Are you insane? That would be a huge problem.

jup · 02-03-2014, 08:44 PM

Originally posted by enoeske

Camera is pre-focused using the rear AF button. After focus is confirmed, shutter is depressed. There is a noticeable delay before the pre-flash begins. This did not occur with any previous Pentax DSLR.

Are you insane? That would be a huge problem.

Yeah. Luckily delay is really relatively brief - was just playing with flash in downtown San Francisco yesterday, taking photos of moving cars in the night with trailing curtain sync and it still worked relatively well, but the delay is there even with trailing curtain sync and long shutter - before the preflash. Now, with 2s delay... The car would have been kind of gone by that time.

**RGlasel** · 02-03-2014, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by enoeske

That would be a huge problem

I have no idea what kind of flash pictures you are taking, but as long as the flash fires while the shutter is open, I can't imagine what your problem is. Could there be a problem with your camera? Perhaps, but the hand isn't quicker than the eye (or the camera), and if you need to capture the instant an event occurs, you need to look at a different method of triggering your flash than one press of your finger, and that method won't work with P-TTL. Sorry.

gosman · 02-03-2014, 11:01 PM

Originally posted by jup

This has been tried before and suggested to me by Pentax support. No effect whatsoever.

Interesting idea. But also no effect. I am still yet to find any combination of settings that would work.

BTW, I bought camera 2 weeks ago from B&H. Although it has been manufactured in October, I wouldn't assume it's early models. But if some people experience it and others don't, hardware may be to blame.

How do you know your camera was built in October? How can I find out about mine?

jup · 02-04-2014, 01:24 AM

Originally posted by gosman

How do you know your camera was built in October? How can I find out about mine?

It's in the EXIF. If your viewer doesn't show it, just use Adam's excellent online tool: Check Shutter Count & Camera Manufacture Date Online - EXIF Reader

awaldram · 02-04-2014, 01:51 AM

Originally posted by RGlasel

I have no idea what kind of flash pictures you are taking, but as long as the flash fires while the shutter is open, I can't imagine what your problem is. Could there be a problem with your camera? Perhaps, but the hand isn't quicker than the eye (or the camera), and if you need to capture the instant an event occurs, you need to look at a different method of triggering your flash than one press of your finger, and that method won't work with P-TTL. Sorry.

Let me give you an example were the additional 1/10 delay is disastrous

Taking a picture of a professional fly swimmer I line up the shot as the swimmer surfaces focused ready to shoot press the shutter ......... swimmer disappears under water flash fires

I can only assume you have little experience of flash or P-ttl and shoot nothing but static subjects as even 'chasing kids' would be frustrating with this delay.

As the delay is not part of P-ttl and is introduced with the k3 it can only a bug.

gosman · 02-04-2014, 07:20 AM

Thank you Jup for the manufacturing date info. The site was very beneficial. My camera was manufactured on 10-13-1013. Does anyone know when the first date is of manufacture? Anyone getting more recent cameras? Maybe I should start a different thread? I did have a complete shut down of the camera yesterday. I updated last night to the 1.01 firmware upgrade. I don't like getting one of the first cameras off the line. But I guess that is what upgraded firmware is all about.

02-03-2014, 11:01 PM	#102
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263	build date Originally posted by jup This has been tried before and suggested to me by Pentax support. No effect whatsoever. Interesting idea. But also no effect. I am still yet to find any combination of settings that would work. BTW, I bought camera 2 weeks ago from B&H. Although it has been manufactured in October, I wouldn't assume it's early models. But if some people experience it and others don't, hardware may be to blame. How do you know your camera was built in October? How can I find out about mine?

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02-03-2014, 08:32 AM	#91
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by gosman Just tried my on board flash again. Shot about 5 times -no hesitation. This seems to be a non issue with maybe a few early models exhibiting the delay. If you compare using thé two flash modes, P-TTL mode and M mode you have no difference in respons?

02-03-2014, 09:08 AM	#92
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263	I actually have a slight delay when in flash manual mode . But I do not have a delay in P-TTL!! Is this what is happening to others?

02-03-2014, 09:49 AM	#93
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,228	Perhaps the camera is waiting for the auto-focus to complete. The delay between P-TTL pre-flash and the firing of the flash is brief, a fraction of a second, and I believe you can set your camera so the shutter opens immediately when you trigger it instead for waiting for the camera's auto-focus. The only other thing I can think of that will cause a delay is setting your flash for red eye reduction.

02-03-2014, 02:34 PM	#94
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Reasonable assumption. The OP should put the camera in manual focus mode then retry the experiment to see if the delay is gone. Jack

02-03-2014, 05:00 PM	#95
bxf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon area Posts: 1,660	I assume the K-3 has something like the K-5 "Link exposure to AF point", or something like that. I know this is a shot in the dark, but has anyone tried to see if this setting is a factor in the delay? Just a thought, because at least one poster says he does not experience the delay.a

02-03-2014, 06:02 PM	#96
jup Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 103	Originally posted by jbinpg Reasonable assumption. The OP should put the camera in manual focus mode then retry the experiment to see if the delay is gone. Jack This has been tried before and suggested to me by Pentax support. No effect whatsoever. Originally posted by bxf I assume the K-3 has something like the K-5 "Link exposure to AF point", or something like that. I know this is a shot in the dark, but has anyone tried to see if this setting is a factor in the delay? Just a thought, because at least one poster says he does not experience the delay.a Interesting idea. But also no effect. I am still yet to find any combination of settings that would work. BTW, I bought camera 2 weeks ago from B&H. Although it has been manufactured in October, I wouldn't assume it's early models. But if some people experience it and others don't, hardware may be to blame.

02-03-2014, 06:45 PM	#97
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	K-3 Silver here with the delay as well. Its small but noticeable between pressing the shutter and pre-flash

02-03-2014, 07:44 PM	#98
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,228	Originally posted by enoeske K-3 Silver here with the delay as well Not firing the flash until the lens is focused is a feature, not a bug. I don't know what the standard delay for P-TTL communication is, but with strobe flashes, very short (fractions of a second) gaps between light flashes are perceptible. As long as the flash and the shutter are synced, and your subject doesn't fall over in the meantime, a one or two second delay shouldn't be a problem.

02-03-2014, 08:08 PM	#99
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by RGlasel Not firing the flash until the lens is focused is a feature, not a bug. Camera is pre-focused using the rear AF button. After focus is confirmed, shutter is depressed. There is a noticeable delay before the pre-flash begins. This did not occur with any previous Pentax DSLR. Originally posted by RGlasel a one or two second delay shouldn't be a problem. Are you insane? That would be a huge problem.

02-03-2014, 08:44 PM	#100
jup Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 103	Originally posted by enoeske Camera is pre-focused using the rear AF button. After focus is confirmed, shutter is depressed. There is a noticeable delay before the pre-flash begins. This did not occur with any previous Pentax DSLR. Are you insane? That would be a huge problem. Yeah. Luckily delay is really relatively brief - was just playing with flash in downtown San Francisco yesterday, taking photos of moving cars in the night with trailing curtain sync and it still worked relatively well, but the delay is there even with trailing curtain sync and long shutter - before the preflash. Now, with 2s delay... The car would have been kind of gone by that time.

02-03-2014, 09:01 PM	#101
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,228	Originally posted by enoeske That would be a huge problem I have no idea what kind of flash pictures you are taking, but as long as the flash fires while the shutter is open, I can't imagine what your problem is. Could there be a problem with your camera? Perhaps, but the hand isn't quicker than the eye (or the camera), and if you need to capture the instant an event occurs, you need to look at a different method of triggering your flash than one press of your finger, and that method won't work with P-TTL. Sorry.

02-04-2014, 01:24 AM	#103
jup Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 103	Originally posted by gosman How do you know your camera was built in October? How can I find out about mine? It's in the EXIF. If your viewer doesn't show it, just use Adam's excellent online tool: Check Shutter Count & Camera Manufacture Date Online - EXIF Reader

02-04-2014, 01:51 AM	#104
awaldram Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 732	Originally posted by RGlasel I have no idea what kind of flash pictures you are taking, but as long as the flash fires while the shutter is open, I can't imagine what your problem is. Could there be a problem with your camera? Perhaps, but the hand isn't quicker than the eye (or the camera), and if you need to capture the instant an event occurs, you need to look at a different method of triggering your flash than one press of your finger, and that method won't work with P-TTL. Sorry. Let me give you an example were the additional 1/10 delay is disastrous Taking a picture of a professional fly swimmer I line up the shot as the swimmer surfaces focused ready to shoot press the shutter ......... swimmer disappears under water flash fires I can only assume you have little experience of flash or P-ttl and shoot nothing but static subjects as even 'chasing kids' would be frustrating with this delay. As the delay is not part of P-ttl and is introduced with the k3 it can only a bug.

02-04-2014, 07:20 AM	#105
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263	Thank you Jup for the manufacturing date info. The site was very beneficial. My camera was manufactured on 10-13-1013. Does anyone know when the first date is of manufacture? Anyone getting more recent cameras? Maybe I should start a different thread? I did have a complete shut down of the camera yesterday. I updated last night to the 1.01 firmware upgrade. I don't like getting one of the first cameras off the line. But I guess that is what upgraded firmware is all about.