Pentax K5 flash sync speed

old4570 · 09-13-2013, 12:42 AM

Just wondering , with the K5 are you stuck @ 1/180 as the fastest possibly sync speed ? ( external flash )

calsan · 09-13-2013, 12:45 AM

Yes, unless you enable high speed sync on the external flash, which fires as a strobe, but with some reduction in range / power.

old4570 · 09-13-2013, 01:02 AM

Hmmm , HSS / as strobe , but I thought that the camera would not send out a signal to fire the flash above 1/180 ?

Is there a guide or tutorial ?

I know some other cameras have an option in the menu to increase the sync speed at which the camera will fire the flash , does the K5 offer this ? ( I havent found any such option )

**savoche** · 09-13-2013, 01:29 AM

I have very little experience with flashes, but have a look at the flash info that @mattdm has put up:
High-Speed Sync - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison

calsan · 09-13-2013, 01:40 AM

How to use: Select HS on the flash, use Tv mode (for example) to set the shutter speed as desired. If you go faster than 1/180th then HS will automatically enable. That's it! The only penalty in practice is the 'guide number' of the flash gets reduced.
See pages 31 and 81 of the AF360 manual.
http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/man-pdf/acc_st_af360fgz.pdf

There isn't an option in-camera to select HS, because the built-in flash doesn't support it, however it does work wirelessly from the built in flash.

topace · 09-13-2013, 01:44 AM

The problem with flas sync is not making the flash fire fast enough or at the right time. The problem is making sure that the entire image is exposed during the flash. Fast camera shutters cheat, so regardless of your flash, you won't really get faster than 1/180, unless you have a separate shutter and flash sync (like with the 645 LS lenses).

On the other hand, pentax were able to do faster sync with some of their film cameras in the nineties, and those cameras have larger shutters than the K-5.

mikknu · 09-13-2013, 03:36 AM

It's also worth noting that you don't necessarily need to use HS if the weather is cloudy or you are in the shade where the sun doesn't hit your subject directly, like in a forest. The regular flash will freeze the action anyway regardless, though you might get some "ghosting" if the shutter is below 1/180; this can somewhat be countered with panning.

Also HS is not possible, as far as I know, if you use a trigger set.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-13-2013, 10:26 AM

If you want flash, without HSS and exposure higher than 1/180 then just get a Q, the internal shutter in the lenses can do 1/2000 and in the Pentax PK/Q adaptor 1/1000

amoringello · 09-13-2013, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by old4570

I know some other cameras have an option in the menu to increase the sync speed at which the camera will fire the flash , does the K5 offer this ? ( I havent found any such option )

What most cameras will do is allow the flash to be fired even though the physical sync speed limit has been exceeded.
This can result in the shutter to obscure a portion of the sensor and not allow the flash to fully expose the image.
When used with strobes that have long flash durations and/or with triggers that handle this special case, the effect can be minimized even with exceptionally high shutter speeds.

Sadly, Pentax completely disables the ability to fire the flash via the standard hot-shoe and PC pins when the sync speed is exceeded.
So unless you have a PTTL compatible flash with HighSpeedSync capability, you are simply SOL and limited to the camera's sync speed.

adwb · 09-14-2013, 12:04 AM

Originally posted by amoringello

Sadly, Pentax completely disables the ability to fire the flash via the standard hot-shoe and PC pins when the sync speed is exceeded.
So unless you have a PTTL compatible flash with HighSpeedSync capability, you are simply SOL and limited to the camera's sync speed.

I have never tried it bu I guess since no one suggests it that the above also applies to using the little sync port on the body a well?

amoringello · 09-14-2013, 04:23 AM

Originally posted by adwb

I have never tried it bu I guess since no one suggests it that the above also applies to using the little sync port on the body a well?

Correct, both the center pin on the hotshoe and the PC sync port available on the side of some bodies are also disabled.

**JimJohnson** · 09-14-2013, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by old4570

Just wondering , with the K5 are you stuck @ 1/180 as the fastest possibly sync speed ? ( external flash )

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/231086-...ml#post2451511

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-14-2013, 09:16 AM

Originally posted by JimJohnson

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/231086-...ml#post2451511

You can go to high speed sync, and shoot much faster, if your flash supports HSS
You can switch to film and get a PZ1 that does 1/250 sync,
You can get a q that does 1/2000 sync with the mechanical shutter in the lens

**JimJohnson** · 09-14-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

You can go to high speed sync, and shoot much faster, if your flash supports HSS
You can switch to film and get a PZ1 that does 1/250 sync,
You can get a q that does 1/2000 sync with the mechanical shutter in the lens

I think my link talked about HSS (and its limitation), you previously mentioned the other camera bodies earlier in the thread, but OP specifically wanted information on the K-5.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-14-2013, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by JimJohnson

I think my link talked about HSS (and its limitation), you previously mentioned the other camera bodies earlier in the thread, but OP specifically wanted information on the K-5.

To achieve this, he needs a flash with duration longer than 1/100 roughly and trigger it at the same time as the shutter, so the flash is on the whole time the shutter sweeps. The shutter sweep time is relatively constant all that changes above sync is the width if the windor

09-13-2013, 12:42 AM	#1
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551	Pentax K5 flash sync speed Just wondering , with the K5 are you stuck @ 1/180 as the fastest possibly sync speed ? ( external flash )

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09-13-2013, 12:45 AM	#2
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	Yes, unless you enable high speed sync on the external flash, which fires as a strobe, but with some reduction in range / power.

09-13-2013, 01:02 AM	#3
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551 Original Poster	Hmmm , HSS / as strobe , but I thought that the camera would not send out a signal to fire the flash above 1/180 ? Is there a guide or tutorial ? I know some other cameras have an option in the menu to increase the sync speed at which the camera will fire the flash , does the K5 offer this ? ( I havent found any such option )

09-13-2013, 01:29 AM	#4
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	I have very little experience with flashes, but have a look at the flash info that @mattdm has put up: High-Speed Sync - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison

09-13-2013, 01:40 AM	#5
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	How to use: Select HS on the flash, use Tv mode (for example) to set the shutter speed as desired. If you go faster than 1/180th then HS will automatically enable. That's it! The only penalty in practice is the 'guide number' of the flash gets reduced. See pages 31 and 81 of the AF360 manual. http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/man-pdf/acc_st_af360fgz.pdf There isn't an option in-camera to select HS, because the built-in flash doesn't support it, however it does work wirelessly from the built in flash.

09-13-2013, 01:44 AM	#6
topace Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Stockholm Posts: 198	The problem with flas sync is not making the flash fire fast enough or at the right time. The problem is making sure that the entire image is exposed during the flash. Fast camera shutters cheat, so regardless of your flash, you won't really get faster than 1/180, unless you have a separate shutter and flash sync (like with the 645 LS lenses). On the other hand, pentax were able to do faster sync with some of their film cameras in the nineties, and those cameras have larger shutters than the K-5.

09-13-2013, 03:36 AM	#7
mikknu Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Silkeborg, Denmark Posts: 82	It's also worth noting that you don't necessarily need to use HS if the weather is cloudy or you are in the shade where the sun doesn't hit your subject directly, like in a forest. The regular flash will freeze the action anyway regardless, though you might get some "ghosting" if the shutter is below 1/180; this can somewhat be countered with panning. Also HS is not possible, as far as I know, if you use a trigger set.

09-13-2013, 10:26 AM	#8
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	If you want flash, without HSS and exposure higher than 1/180 then just get a Q, the internal shutter in the lenses can do 1/2000 and in the Pentax PK/Q adaptor 1/1000

09-13-2013, 02:03 PM	#9
amoringello Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,562	Originally posted by old4570 I know some other cameras have an option in the menu to increase the sync speed at which the camera will fire the flash , does the K5 offer this ? ( I havent found any such option ) What most cameras will do is allow the flash to be fired even though the physical sync speed limit has been exceeded. This can result in the shutter to obscure a portion of the sensor and not allow the flash to fully expose the image. When used with strobes that have long flash durations and/or with triggers that handle this special case, the effect can be minimized even with exceptionally high shutter speeds. Sadly, Pentax completely disables the ability to fire the flash via the standard hot-shoe and PC pins when the sync speed is exceeded. So unless you have a PTTL compatible flash with HighSpeedSync capability, you are simply SOL and limited to the camera's sync speed.

09-14-2013, 12:04 AM	#10
adwb Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bristol UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,636	Originally posted by amoringello Sadly, Pentax completely disables the ability to fire the flash via the standard hot-shoe and PC pins when the sync speed is exceeded. So unless you have a PTTL compatible flash with HighSpeedSync capability, you are simply SOL and limited to the camera's sync speed. I have never tried it bu I guess since no one suggests it that the above also applies to using the little sync port on the body a well?

09-14-2013, 04:23 AM	#11
amoringello Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,562	Originally posted by adwb I have never tried it bu I guess since no one suggests it that the above also applies to using the little sync port on the body a well? Correct, both the center pin on the hotshoe and the PC sync port available on the side of some bodies are also disabled.

09-14-2013, 04:28 AM	#12
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	Originally posted by old4570 Just wondering , with the K5 are you stuck @ 1/180 as the fastest possibly sync speed ? ( external flash ) https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/231086-...ml#post2451511

09-14-2013, 09:16 AM	#13
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by JimJohnson https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/231086-...ml#post2451511 You can go to high speed sync, and shoot much faster, if your flash supports HSS You can switch to film and get a PZ1 that does 1/250 sync, You can get a q that does 1/2000 sync with the mechanical shutter in the lens

09-14-2013, 10:45 AM	#14
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge You can go to high speed sync, and shoot much faster, if your flash supports HSS You can switch to film and get a PZ1 that does 1/250 sync, You can get a q that does 1/2000 sync with the mechanical shutter in the lens I think my link talked about HSS (and its limitation), you previously mentioned the other camera bodies earlier in the thread, but OP specifically wanted information on the K-5.

09-14-2013, 01:45 PM	#15
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by JimJohnson I think my link talked about HSS (and its limitation), you previously mentioned the other camera bodies earlier in the thread, but OP specifically wanted information on the K-5. To achieve this, he needs a flash with duration longer than 1/100 roughly and trigger it at the same time as the shutter, so the flash is on the whole time the shutter sweeps. The shutter sweep time is relatively constant all that changes above sync is the width if the windor