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Kim1000 · 01-21-2009, 02:21 AM

I want to lower the shutter speed for the "X" setting so I can play with stobes/long shutter speeds. I rented some strobe lights (Multiblitz -Compactlite) and they would only fire when the camera was set to "X", which is "locked" at 1/180. Can I either change this or is there a way to make the strobes fire while on M? I tried but only X would fire the strobes. The strobe kit came with a sync chord which i plugged into my hotshoe adapter thingy.
Don't know if this matters but I only have old lenses -ie none with any electronics at all -Hence the motivation for getting this camera as I have a fairly good kit of lenses for my K1000.

dlacouture · 01-21-2009, 02:58 AM

Hello!

Well, in M mode, this only happens to me when I go over the 1/180 limit...
Anything under will trigger the flash...
Maybe I have changed something deeply buried in the menu, but I don't think so. I'll have a look.

flyer · 01-21-2009, 03:00 AM

Manual lenses only allow "X" sync because the camera can't control the lens opening, or even know what is the lens opening. Change your lens and your problem will be solved.

StephenG · 01-21-2009, 04:01 AM

Originally posted by flyer

Manual lenses only allow "X" sync because the camera can't control the lens opening, or even know what is the lens opening. Change your lens and your problem will be solved.

flash firing is linked to shutter speed and not to aperture settings (lens opening) so why should a manual lens make any difference to flash fire?

geauxpez · 01-21-2009, 04:59 AM

In manual mode, your flash should fire at 1/180 or lower. 1/180 is the upper limit for flash sync speed.

Mike Cash · 01-21-2009, 05:23 AM

Originally posted by StephenG

flash firing is linked to shutter speed and not to aperture settings (lens opening) so why should a manual lens make any difference to flash fire?

That had me scratching my head too. Then I figured he must be assuming the use of P-TTL flash.

kenyee · 01-21-2009, 08:01 AM

I do strobist stuff in TAv mode. The hotshoe gets pulsed all the time (and the PC port does as well if you have anything plugged into it).

Turn that little dial up top off X mode ;-)

ryan s · 01-21-2009, 12:36 PM

Ok...I'll try to make a clear line here

The on-camera flash will fire at full power using lenses without an A contact, regardless of shutter speed less than or equal to 1/180s if in M or X modes. You would need to adjust the aperture and/or shutter speed to control the exposure.

Off camera/Strobist with manual lenses is easy since you have a "controllable" flash. Therefore, you can use M mode on the camera, use an aperture of your choice, then dial in the power of the flash. You will not have any automation whatsoever (good for Strobist things)

And just as an FYI in case this comes up in search results...Cactus Triggers will only work up to 1/160s.

kenyee · 01-21-2009, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by ryan s

And just as an FYI in case this comes up in search results...Cactus Triggers will only work up to 1/160s.

This is heavily dependent on the flashes you use and sample variation of your camera and cactus triggers. Mine have always worked at 1/180...

ryan s · 01-21-2009, 04:00 PM

My V2s version will leave a black band on the bottom, caused by the shutter...Nikon SB-24 flash which, coincidentally, works great on the hot shoe at X speed.

kenyee · 01-21-2009, 05:25 PM

You probably have a bad transmitter or it needs a battery replacement. Mine worked at 1/180 w/ an SB-28 and both the K10D I had and the K20D I have now...
Could be your camera or the trigger; if you can find someone locally w/ V2s triggers, you can isolate this (holler if you make it out to Boston and you can try mine). Nikon SB flashes work pretty well through their shoes or PC ports.

felix68 · 01-21-2009, 05:36 PM

My V2s work at 1/180th also, but I have had problems when the batteries start to go. The batteries that come with the set are junk and should be replaced immediately. If you start having synch issues, the batteries should be the first place you look.

ryan s · 01-21-2009, 05:47 PM

Hmmm...I just put a fresh battery in the receiver to replace the "Great Power" one that came with it. I'll give it another shot and amend my earlier post if it works out.

Good lookin out...although...Boston isn't on my itinerary

kenyee · 01-21-2009, 06:47 PM

the receiver battery is usually not the issue...the transmitter one is. Batteries in the flash if it's a vivitar can also be an issue but you don't have a vivitar flash...

geauxpez · 01-21-2009, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by ryan s

Ok...I'll try to make a clear line here

And just as an FYI in case this comes up in search results...Cactus Triggers will only work up to 1/160s.

My cactus triggers work up to 1/125 with my SB-24's without the black band. Good enough for portrait work.

01-21-2009, 02:21 AM	#1
Kim1000 New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Victoria BC Canada Posts: 1	K10D - "X" sync speed - can it be lowered? I want to lower the shutter speed for the "X" setting so I can play with stobes/long shutter speeds. I rented some strobe lights (Multiblitz -Compactlite) and they would only fire when the camera was set to "X", which is "locked" at 1/180. Can I either change this or is there a way to make the strobes fire while on M? I tried but only X would fire the strobes. The strobe kit came with a sync chord which i plugged into my hotshoe adapter thingy. Don't know if this matters but I only have old lenses -ie none with any electronics at all -Hence the motivation for getting this camera as I have a fairly good kit of lenses for my K1000.

01-21-2009, 05:36 PM	#12
felix68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 281	My V2s Work at 1/180th Also My V2s work at 1/180th also, but I have had problems when the batteries start to go. The batteries that come with the set are junk and should be replaced immediately. If you start having synch issues, the batteries should be the first place you look.

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01-21-2009, 02:58 AM	#2
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	Hello! Well, in M mode, this only happens to me when I go over the 1/180 limit... Anything under will trigger the flash... Maybe I have changed something deeply buried in the menu, but I don't think so. I'll have a look.

01-21-2009, 03:00 AM	#3
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Manual lenses only allow "X" sync because the camera can't control the lens opening, or even know what is the lens opening. Change your lens and your problem will be solved.

01-21-2009, 04:01 AM	#4
StephenG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Photos: Gallery Posts: 107	Originally posted by flyer Manual lenses only allow "X" sync because the camera can't control the lens opening, or even know what is the lens opening. Change your lens and your problem will be solved. flash firing is linked to shutter speed and not to aperture settings (lens opening) so why should a manual lens make any difference to flash fire?

01-21-2009, 04:59 AM	#5
geauxpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Atlanta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,196	In manual mode, your flash should fire at 1/180 or lower. 1/180 is the upper limit for flash sync speed.

01-21-2009, 05:23 AM	#6
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by StephenG flash firing is linked to shutter speed and not to aperture settings (lens opening) so why should a manual lens make any difference to flash fire? That had me scratching my head too. Then I figured he must be assuming the use of P-TTL flash.

01-21-2009, 08:01 AM	#7
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	I do strobist stuff in TAv mode. The hotshoe gets pulsed all the time (and the PC port does as well if you have anything plugged into it). Turn that little dial up top off X mode ;-)

01-21-2009, 12:36 PM	#8
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	Ok...I'll try to make a clear line here The on-camera flash will fire at full power using lenses without an A contact, regardless of shutter speed less than or equal to 1/180s if in M or X modes. You would need to adjust the aperture and/or shutter speed to control the exposure. Off camera/Strobist with manual lenses is easy since you have a "controllable" flash. Therefore, you can use M mode on the camera, use an aperture of your choice, then dial in the power of the flash. You will not have any automation whatsoever (good for Strobist things) And just as an FYI in case this comes up in search results...Cactus Triggers will only work up to 1/160s.

01-21-2009, 01:24 PM	#9
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	Originally posted by ryan s And just as an FYI in case this comes up in search results...Cactus Triggers will only work up to 1/160s. This is heavily dependent on the flashes you use and sample variation of your camera and cactus triggers. Mine have always worked at 1/180...

01-21-2009, 04:00 PM	#10
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	My V2s version will leave a black band on the bottom, caused by the shutter...Nikon SB-24 flash which, coincidentally, works great on the hot shoe at X speed.

01-21-2009, 05:25 PM	#11
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	You probably have a bad transmitter or it needs a battery replacement. Mine worked at 1/180 w/ an SB-28 and both the K10D I had and the K20D I have now... Could be your camera or the trigger; if you can find someone locally w/ V2s triggers, you can isolate this (holler if you make it out to Boston and you can try mine). Nikon SB flashes work pretty well through their shoes or PC ports.

01-21-2009, 05:47 PM	#13
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	Hmmm...I just put a fresh battery in the receiver to replace the "Great Power" one that came with it. I'll give it another shot and amend my earlier post if it works out. Good lookin out...although...Boston isn't on my itinerary

01-21-2009, 06:47 PM	#14
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	the receiver battery is usually not the issue...the transmitter one is. Batteries in the flash if it's a vivitar can also be an issue but you don't have a vivitar flash...

01-21-2009, 08:03 PM	#15
geauxpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Atlanta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,196	Originally posted by ryan s Ok...I'll try to make a clear line here And just as an FYI in case this comes up in search results...Cactus Triggers will only work up to 1/160s. My cactus triggers work up to 1/125 with my SB-24's without the black band. Good enough for portrait work.

K10D - "X" sync speed - can it be lowered?

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