K-x and manual flash mode

moshepupkin · 02-08-2014, 09:53 AM

For some reason my Pentax k-x refuses to fire the flash (even in manual mode) if the shutter speed is below 1/200. Is there any way around this limitation?

elliott · 02-08-2014, 10:09 AM

That is a physical limitation of the shutter, any faster than 1/180 and you'll get banding on the image.

Using High Speed Sync with an external flash is the only way around it, it works by pulsing the flash to increase duration and cover the whole frame.

45 Mike · 02-14-2014, 12:01 AM

Originally posted by moshepupkin

For some reason my Pentax k-x refuses to fire the flash (even in manual mode) if the shutter speed is below 1/200. Is there any way around this limitation?

Are you saying that if your shutter is set to 1/500, then your flash will fire?
Then if you set your shutter to 1/60 then your flash will not fire?

If that is true then your camera is likely in need of repair.

However, it is possible that your camera is set to auto flash, and the scene you are shooting does not require flash with a lower shutter speed, but if you set the shutter higher, then the scene is dark enough to need flash, so the flash fires.

If the flash is firing in that circumstance, then I would bet that if you check the actual shutter speed for that shot, after you shoot it, you will find that the shutter was auto set to 1/180 or below.

02-08-2014, 09:53 AM	#1
moshepupkin Inactive Account Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 37	K-x and manual flash mode For some reason my Pentax k-x refuses to fire the flash (even in manual mode) if the shutter speed is below 1/200. Is there any way around this limitation?

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02-08-2014, 10:09 AM	#2
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	That is a physical limitation of the shutter, any faster than 1/180 and you'll get banding on the image. Using High Speed Sync with an external flash is the only way around it, it works by pulsing the flash to increase duration and cover the whole frame.

02-14-2014, 12:01 AM	#3
45 Mike Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,350	Originally posted by moshepupkin For some reason my Pentax k-x refuses to fire the flash (even in manual mode) if the shutter speed is below 1/200. Is there any way around this limitation? Are you saying that if your shutter is set to 1/500, then your flash will fire? Then if you set your shutter to 1/60 then your flash will not fire? If that is true then your camera is likely in need of repair. However, it is possible that your camera is set to auto flash, and the scene you are shooting does not require flash with a lower shutter speed, but if you set the shutter higher, then the scene is dark enough to need flash, so the flash fires. If the flash is firing in that circumstance, then I would bet that if you check the actual shutter speed for that shot, after you shoot it, you will find that the shutter was auto set to 1/180 or below.