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bluebronco · 08-29-2014, 06:29 AM

Just pulled the trigger on the K-3 from B&H. They have a great deal going. Free battery grip & Flu card. Also got the AF-540 for $70. Should be shipping today!
Should be a welcome upgrade from my K20D.

**savoche** · 08-29-2014, 06:36 AM

And some upgrade it will be! I don't think you'll be sorry

bluebronco · 08-29-2014, 12:12 PM

I will have plenty of questions when I get it next week.

Poit · 08-29-2014, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by bluebronco

Just pulled the trigger on the K-3 from B&H. They have a great deal going. Free battery grip & Flu card. Also got the AF-540 for $70. Should be shipping today!
Should be a welcome upgrade from my K20D.

I upgraded from the K20D too. You will notice a BIG difference. It just feels like a nicer, more refined machine.

To be honest, I was a little daunted by the options and upgraded menus at first. Once I got comfortable with those (which didn't take too long at all), I found it very enjoyable and intuitive to use and it 'feels' much more pleasant to shoot with than the K-20 ever did. I love taking the K-3 out and about.

Looking forward to hearing your initial impressions, and happy to answer any K-3 'newbie' questions.

Enjoy!

bluebronco · 08-29-2014, 06:15 PM

Can the K3 control the AF540FGZ flash when off the camera? Like a wireless trigger?

aleonx3 · 08-29-2014, 08:19 PM

Originally posted by bluebronco

Can the K3 control the AF540FGZ flash when off the camera? Like a wireless trigger?

I don't have a k-3 (yet), but my k-5IIs can control the 540 flash (at wireless slave) off the camera... I would think that k-3 should.

bluebronco · 08-29-2014, 08:27 PM

It would be nice to have p-ttl control wirelessly.

Poit · 08-30-2014, 12:53 AM

It has the same off-camera flash control system as all previous Pentax cameras (which requires line-of-sight).

Not as useful / powerful as radio systems, but I think it's P-TTL

ChrisA · 08-30-2014, 01:36 AM

Originally posted by bluebronco

Can the K3 control the AF540FGZ flash when off the camera? Like a wireless trigger?

Yes it can.

It does not need to be line of sight from the camera to the flash for the AF540FGZ to fire - there just needs to be enough of the pop-up's flash reflected from the surroundings back to the AF540FGZ's sensor.

Getting the exposure right, or at least the way you want it, can be a bit trial and error though if the relative positions of camera flash and subject are strange.

bluebronco · 09-04-2014, 12:25 PM

I just got it.

I am already having trouble with the FLU card.
I updated the firmware to 1.1.1 I put in the FLU card and receive the message Memory Card Error "2"
I went to the Wireless setting and it says "No Wireless Card in Memory Slot 2"

I am sorry, but this is a little ridiculous. Paying this much money and having problems like this is not acceptable.
From what I have read and seen, it is a great camera. I just have a bad taste in my mouth right off the get go.

Any ideas?

Unregistered User · 09-04-2014, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by bluebronco

I just got it.

I am already having trouble with the FLU card.
I updated the firmware to 1.1.1 I put in the FLU card and receive the message Memory Card Error "2"
I went to the Wireless setting and it says "No Wireless Card in Memory Slot 2"

I am sorry, but this is a little ridiculous. Paying this much money and having problems like this is not acceptable.
From what I have read and seen, it is a great camera. I just have a bad taste in my mouth right off the get go.

Any ideas?

If you have an android phone the usb-cable for charging fits in a portion of the USB-3 and will work as a USB 2...

karro · 09-05-2014, 04:50 PM

BB - it's possible you just have a bad card (this can happen). in case "BobHunt" isn't you - Pentax K3 , just got a Pentax flu card and it show... - RIAC Community

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/ofc1_s.html - here's one more thing to try

bluebronco · 09-06-2014, 11:17 AM

I sent it back for a new one.

Go Cyclones! (It's Saturday)

Poit · 09-12-2014, 04:01 PM

So, apart from the bad experience with the Flu-card, how has your experience upgrading from K20 been?

bluebronco · 09-16-2014, 06:21 PM

It's like comparing a corvette to a chevette. Love it

08-29-2014, 06:29 AM	#1
bluebronco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 170	Just jumped in... Just pulled the trigger on the K-3 from B&H. They have a great deal going. Free battery grip & Flu card. Also got the AF-540 for $70. Should be shipping today! Should be a welcome upgrade from my K20D.

09-04-2014, 12:25 PM	#10
bluebronco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 170 Original Poster	I just got it. I am already having trouble with the FLU card. I updated the firmware to 1.1.1 I put in the FLU card and receive the message Memory Card Error "2" I went to the Wireless setting and it says "No Wireless Card in Memory Slot 2" I am sorry, but this is a little ridiculous. Paying this much money and having problems like this is not acceptable. From what I have read and seen, it is a great camera. I just have a bad taste in my mouth right off the get go. Any ideas? Last edited by Ash; 09-04-2014 at 05:03 PM.

09-04-2014, 01:13 PM	#11
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by bluebronco I just got it. I am already having trouble with the FLU card. I updated the firmware to 1.1.1 I put in the FLU card and receive the message Memory Card Error "2" I went to the Wireless setting and it says "No Wireless Card in Memory Slot 2" I am sorry, but this is a little ridiculous. Paying this much money and having problems like this is not acceptable. From what I have read and seen, it is a great camera. I just have a bad taste in my mouth right off the get go. Any ideas? If you have an android phone the usb-cable for charging fits in a portion of the USB-3 and will work as a USB 2... Last edited by Ash; 09-04-2014 at 05:04 PM. Reason: removal of expletive

09-05-2014, 04:50 PM	#12
karro Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Riga Photos: Albums Posts: 245	BB - it's possible you just have a bad card (this can happen). in case "BobHunt" isn't you - Pentax K3 , just got a Pentax flu card and it show... - RIAC Community http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/ofc1_s.html - here's one more thing to try Last edited by karro; 09-05-2014 at 04:56 PM.

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08-29-2014, 06:36 AM	#2
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	And some upgrade it will be! I don't think you'll be sorry

08-29-2014, 12:12 PM	#3
bluebronco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 170 Original Poster	I will have plenty of questions when I get it next week.

08-29-2014, 04:16 PM	#4
Poit Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 423	Originally posted by bluebronco Just pulled the trigger on the K-3 from B&H. They have a great deal going. Free battery grip & Flu card. Also got the AF-540 for $70. Should be shipping today! Should be a welcome upgrade from my K20D. I upgraded from the K20D too. You will notice a BIG difference. It just feels like a nicer, more refined machine. To be honest, I was a little daunted by the options and upgraded menus at first. Once I got comfortable with those (which didn't take too long at all), I found it very enjoyable and intuitive to use and it 'feels' much more pleasant to shoot with than the K-20 ever did. I love taking the K-3 out and about. Looking forward to hearing your initial impressions, and happy to answer any K-3 'newbie' questions. Enjoy!

08-29-2014, 06:15 PM	#5
bluebronco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 170 Original Poster	Can the K3 control the AF540FGZ flash when off the camera? Like a wireless trigger?

08-29-2014, 08:19 PM	#6
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by bluebronco Can the K3 control the AF540FGZ flash when off the camera? Like a wireless trigger? I don't have a k-3 (yet), but my k-5IIs can control the 540 flash (at wireless slave) off the camera... I would think that k-3 should.

08-29-2014, 08:27 PM	#7
bluebronco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 170 Original Poster	It would be nice to have p-ttl control wirelessly.

08-30-2014, 12:53 AM	#8
Poit Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 423	It has the same off-camera flash control system as all previous Pentax cameras (which requires line-of-sight). Not as useful / powerful as radio systems, but I think it's P-TTL

08-30-2014, 01:36 AM	#9
ChrisA Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London Posts: 393	Originally posted by bluebronco Can the K3 control the AF540FGZ flash when off the camera? Like a wireless trigger? Yes it can. It does not need to be line of sight from the camera to the flash for the AF540FGZ to fire - there just needs to be enough of the pop-up's flash reflected from the surroundings back to the AF540FGZ's sensor. Getting the exposure right, or at least the way you want it, can be a bit trial and error though if the relative positions of camera flash and subject are strange.

09-06-2014, 11:17 AM	#13
bluebronco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 170 Original Poster	I sent it back for a new one. Go Cyclones! (It's Saturday)

09-12-2014, 04:01 PM	#14
Poit Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 423	So, apart from the bad experience with the Flu-card, how has your experience upgrading from K20 been?

09-16-2014, 06:21 PM	#15
bluebronco Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 170 Original Poster	It's like comparing a corvette to a chevette. Love it

Just jumped in...

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