What the heck is it doing? Flash

boodiespost · 12-13-2009, 11:26 AM

I always have my flash on manual discharge. After reading a post below on K-x sensor, I put my flash on auto in a pretty dim room. When I pressed the shutter half way down, the flash did this lightning effect where it strobed real fast for like 1/4 second. What was that all about? Is that normal?

Thanks

vizjerei · 12-13-2009, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by boodiespost

I always have my flash on manual discharge. After reading a post below on K-x sensor, I put my flash on auto in a pretty dim room. When I pressed the shutter half way down, the flash did this lightning effect where it strobed real fast for like 1/4 second. What was that all about? Is that normal?

Thanks

It is doing it for helping the auto focus, as the room has not enough light, that will give enough light for the auto focus to check focus.

boodiespost · 12-13-2009, 12:58 PM

great, I was sorta thinking that, glad to know it's some defective malfunction. Thanks

GerryL · 12-14-2009, 05:00 PM

It doesn't have an AF assist lamp so, the strobing of the built-in flash is its AF assist "compensation" lamp.
The only DSLR so far by Pentax that has a built in AF assist lamp is the K7.

12-13-2009, 11:26 AM	#1
boodiespost Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 114	What the heck is it doing? Flash I always have my flash on manual discharge. After reading a post below on K-x sensor, I put my flash on auto in a pretty dim room. When I pressed the shutter half way down, the flash did this lightning effect where it strobed real fast for like 1/4 second. What was that all about? Is that normal? Thanks

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12-13-2009, 11:37 AM	#2
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Originally posted by boodiespost I always have my flash on manual discharge. After reading a post below on K-x sensor, I put my flash on auto in a pretty dim room. When I pressed the shutter half way down, the flash did this lightning effect where it strobed real fast for like 1/4 second. What was that all about? Is that normal? Thanks It is doing it for helping the auto focus, as the room has not enough light, that will give enough light for the auto focus to check focus.

12-13-2009, 12:58 PM	#3
boodiespost Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 114 Original Poster	great, I was sorta thinking that, glad to know it's some defective malfunction. Thanks

12-14-2009, 05:00 PM	#4
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	It doesn't have an AF assist lamp so, the strobing of the built-in flash is its AF assist "compensation" lamp. The only DSLR so far by Pentax that has a built in AF assist lamp is the K7.