[geordieman]

Can I set my popup flash as a trigger for an external flash.
The flash is a Neewer manual type.
I need the popup to fire a week burst of flash, just enough to trigger off camera flash.
Any Ideas, anyone.

Thank you

[Undot]

I don't know your type of flash, but in the K3s flash options the last setting (with W for wireless) it lets you pick Master or Control. I think it's the latter, with which the pop-up flash only acts as a weak trigger.
Works for my Metz 44 at least.

If that doesn't work you could maybe try the Master setting and adjust the flash EV until it's strong enough to trigger your Neewer?

[BrianR]

Does your external flash has a built in optical slave? What is the model?

The k-3's built in flash can be used in manual mode down to 1/128th power that can be used with 'dumb slaves' incapable of ignoring pre-flashes. "Manual Flash Discharge" is the flash mode.

[geordieman]

I don't know your type of flash, but in the K3s flash options the last setting (with W for wireless) it lets you pick Master or Control. I think it's the latter, with which the pop-up flash only acts as a weak trigger.
Works for my Metz 44 at least.

If that doesn't work you could maybe try the Master setting and adjust the flash EV until it's strong enough to trigger your Neewer?

Great got it. Thank you.
My second camera is a K30, but can't seem to find the same option on that model, any ideas?
Cheers

[clackers]

Geordieman, the K-30 doesn't have manual control of its inbuilt flash output. You can take it down two stops (FEC) from what it calculates is needed to expose the scene, but that's it.


If you have one of the P-TTL Pentax external flashes, the K-30 will happily fire it remotely without adding its own flash output.


If you want to fire only a manual off-camera external flash, you would need to buy a wireless trigger or extension cable.

[geordieman]

Geordieman, the K-30 doesn't have manual control of its inbuilt flash output. You can take it down two stops (FEC) from what it calculates is needed to expose the scene, but that's it.


If you have one of the P-TTL Pentax external flashes, the K-30 will happily fire it remotely without adding its own flash output.


If you want to fire only a manual off-camera external flash, you would need to buy a wireless trigger or extension cable.

Thank you.
I came to that conclusion too.

[EarlVonTapia]

If you have one of the P-TTL Pentax external flashes, the K-30 will happily fire it remotely without adding its own flash output.

Just a note on this

Even if you set the camera to not add the light from the pop-up flash to your shot when triggering an external flash, you will still see traces of the pop-up flash in your photo.

The only way to truly prevent any light from the pop-up flash being added to a shot when triggering an external flash is to use one of these:

Nikon Product Reviews and Ratings - Flash/Lighting - Nikon SG-31R Replacement IR Panel for the Built-in Flash on the D200, D70s or D70 Digital Cameras. from Adorama

[Oldbayrunner]

Just a note on this

Even if you set the camera to not add the light from the pop-up flash to your shot when triggering an external flash, you will still see traces of the pop-up flash in your photo.

The only way to truly prevent any light from the pop-up flash being added to a shot when triggering an external flash is to use one of these:

Nikon Product Reviews and Ratings - Flash/Lighting - Nikon SG-31R Replacement IR Panel for the Built-in Flash on the D200, D70s or D70 Digital Cameras. from Adorama

This isn't necessarily true, It would strictly depend on the distance the control flash is from the subject and the lighting fall off from the control flash in relation to the slave flash power. The control flash has a very short fall off so If it is not within the fall off distance the slave flash power normally would be greater than the control flash negating that light output on the subject.

[EarlVonTapia]

This isn't necessarily true, It would strictly depend on the distance the control flash is from the subject and the lighting fall off from the control flash in relation to the slave flash power. The control flash has a very short fall off so If it is not within the fall off distance the slave flash power normally would be greater than the control flash negating that light output on the subject.

That's probably true. I was thinking back to when I would take closeup photos of my lenses for selling on the forums. The pop-up flash light was very visible. I haven't tested it at longer distances.

Just something to think about.

[asp1880]

That's probably true. I was thinking back to when I would take closeup photos of my lenses for selling on the forums. The pop-up flash light was very visible. I haven't tested it at longer distances.

Just something to think about.

I've had the same experience as you. The master/controller setting does make a difference, but the popup flash does indeed contribute to the exposure, even at the controller setting.
The Nikon accessory is a nice solution. You can also DIY it with tape and a pocket mirror, a business card etc.

Regards,
--Anders.