*ist DS on board flash query

**mattt** · 08-14-2014, 07:25 AM

Hey folks,
I picked up an *ist DS for my boy, he's pleased as punch to have a real camera. I picked it up used off the local Kijiji and everything works great, but I am struggling with the flash.

No flash exposure is correct. In Auto Mode (green), Manual mode, Flash Exposure bias +1 etc.

Is this a problem with the *ist DS that is known (I couldnt see anything in the forums) or is there possibly a setting I'm missing. My wife indicated (as the subject) when comparing my K5 to the *ist DS that the K5 has a preflash to measure exposure while the *ist DS did not. The menu is a bit foreign to navigate, but i've considered the exposure bias, and auto ISO versus setting ISO to 200 and no difference... all under exposed by at least 2.5 stops or more.

Any advice would be appreciated.

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Tanzer · 08-14-2014, 09:58 AM

For external flashes, the DS will support both TTL and P-TTL modes, but with a preference for P-TTL. By "preference", I mean that if you attach an external flash that supports both TTL and P-TTL (such as the AF360FGZ first edition), the camera will default to P-TTL mode, and in fact there is no way to force it to use the TTL mode. (Except, maybe, by fitting a lens without electronic contacts.)

So that would lead me to believe the DS probably also has a preference for P-TTL mode, with the on-board flash. I could check this myself but my DS is at home, and don't want to be seen browsing through the PDF manual on my work break.

So, maybe there is something wrong with the on-board flash, such that the preflash is firing, but there is not enough stored charge to fire the main flash afterwards. And what your wife is seeing is actually just the pre-flash.

What happens when you use an external flash? I'll bet that works fine.

I guess you could try mounting an older pre-A lens, which might force the on-board flash to use TTL mode, although I'm not positive it supports that. Even if my theory is correct, I don't know if the flash would have enough power to fire a single main pop.

wombat2go · 08-14-2014, 11:50 AM

Hi Mattt,

The ist ds on board flash works in these modes:
DA lens: p-ttl mode and a metering pre-flash will fire.
A lens with aperture ring set to "A" : ttl mode and a pre-flash will not fire
M lens (or lens with aperture ring not set to 'A" ): the flash fires fully
and the exposure has to be controlled by manual aperture.

With AF360fgz, all flash modes on the AF360fgz menu are available
and furthermore, the AF360fgz will work in ttl mode if an M lens is fitted,
and also with a A lens with aperture ring not set to 'A"

Do you have an instruction book?
The above modes and the instruction book are a bit confusing, but refer to pages 49 , 146, and 191

I have just checked all the above on my ist ds and it is correctly exposing.

**mattt** · 08-14-2014, 04:36 PM

Thank guys.. I'm specifically asking about the on board flash which I assumed at this point is cacked out - I tried with fully charged eneloops, and brand new alkaline batteries - no dice. No sweat - we dont need to get him bogged down with a speedlight (yet).

Cheers

kdf9511 · 08-14-2014, 04:48 PM - **1 Like**

What is is with boys loving the *istD series

. I'm putting together an *istD kit for mine on witch the on board flash doesn't work at all. Thanks to the generosity of a fellow member here I got a Pentax AF160Sa this week and it works great on the green mode with the flash set to Program. I think it will be just fine for my boy as all he has to do is put it on and set it to program and everything else is fine.

Jon by kdf9511

Tanzer · 08-14-2014, 08:11 PM - **1 Like**

Yeah, great camera for the kids! My daughter likes to use mine. Got to start them off young!

What I meant about trying the external flash: If that works okay, then you know your other camera settings are okay, and there's no problem with the body reading the lens contacts. That would help isolate the problem to being with the onboard flash. But if the problem persists, then maybe your lens contacts are not being read, or the aperture is not on the "A" setting when you think it is, etc.

08-14-2014, 04:48 PM - 1 Like	#5
kdf9511 Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Weatherford, Oklahoma Posts: 206	What is is with boys loving the istD series. I'm putting together an istD kit for mine on witch the on board flash doesn't work at all. Thanks to the generosity of a fellow member here I got a Pentax AF160Sa this week and it works great on the green mode with the flash set to Program. I think it will be just fine for my boy as all he has to do is put it on and set it to program and everything else is fine. Jon by kdf9511

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08-14-2014, 09:58 AM	#2
Tanzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perrineville, NJ Posts: 1,375	For external flashes, the DS will support both TTL and P-TTL modes, but with a preference for P-TTL. By "preference", I mean that if you attach an external flash that supports both TTL and P-TTL (such as the AF360FGZ first edition), the camera will default to P-TTL mode, and in fact there is no way to force it to use the TTL mode. (Except, maybe, by fitting a lens without electronic contacts.) So that would lead me to believe the DS probably also has a preference for P-TTL mode, with the on-board flash. I could check this myself but my DS is at home, and don't want to be seen browsing through the PDF manual on my work break. So, maybe there is something wrong with the on-board flash, such that the preflash is firing, but there is not enough stored charge to fire the main flash afterwards. And what your wife is seeing is actually just the pre-flash. What happens when you use an external flash? I'll bet that works fine. I guess you could try mounting an older pre-A lens, which might force the on-board flash to use TTL mode, although I'm not positive it supports that. Even if my theory is correct, I don't know if the flash would have enough power to fire a single main pop.

08-14-2014, 11:50 AM	#3
wombat2go Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Hi Mattt, The ist ds on board flash works in these modes: DA lens: p-ttl mode and a metering pre-flash will fire. A lens with aperture ring set to "A" : ttl mode and a pre-flash will not fire M lens (or lens with aperture ring not set to 'A" ): the flash fires fully and the exposure has to be controlled by manual aperture. With AF360fgz, all flash modes on the AF360fgz menu are available and furthermore, the AF360fgz will work in ttl mode if an M lens is fitted, and also with a A lens with aperture ring not set to 'A" Do you have an instruction book? The above modes and the instruction book are a bit confusing, but refer to pages 49 , 146, and 191 I have just checked all the above on my ist ds and it is correctly exposing.

08-14-2014, 04:36 PM	#4
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907 Original Poster	Thank guys.. I'm specifically asking about the on board flash which I assumed at this point is cacked out - I tried with fully charged eneloops, and brand new alkaline batteries - no dice. No sweat - we dont need to get him bogged down with a speedlight (yet). Cheers

08-14-2014, 08:11 PM - 1 Like	#6
Tanzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perrineville, NJ Posts: 1,375	Yeah, great camera for the kids! My daughter likes to use mine. Got to start them off young! What I meant about trying the external flash: If that works okay, then you know your other camera settings are okay, and there's no problem with the body reading the lens contacts. That would help isolate the problem to being with the onboard flash. But if the problem persists, then maybe your lens contacts are not being read, or the aperture is not on the "A" setting when you think it is, etc.