flash does not work pentax k-x

ISMAILRY · 04-06-2010, 12:58 AM

Hi ,

I have just become a proud owner of a Pentax k-x camera with 18-55mm zoom ,its my first Pentax.

the two problems i am facing are as follows:-

1) I can not get the flash to work regardless of which mode i put the camera in.for example if i put the camera in Tv mode set the shutter speed then i open the flash . The moment i pressure the shutter release button ,the shutter does not activate however if i close the flash the shutter activates.

2) When i record video in hd mode on playing there is no sound even though it has been activated from the main menu.Regardless of whether i play the file through the camera or by copying it to a computer.

If anyone can help i will be most grateful .

Ismail rashid

Ira · 04-06-2010, 05:49 AM

Originally posted by ISMAILRY

Hi ,

I have just become a proud owner of a Pentax k-x camera with 18-55mm zoom ,its my first Pentax.

the two problems i am facing are as follows:-

1) I can not get the flash to work regardless of which mode i put the camera in.for example if i put the camera in Tv mode set the shutter speed then i open the flash . The moment i pressure the shutter release button ,the shutter does not activate however if i close the flash the shutter activates.

2) When i record video in hd mode on playing there is no sound even though it has been activated from the main menu.Regardless of whether i play the file through the camera or by copying it to a computer.

If anyone can help i will be most grateful .

Ismail rashid

The flash requires a shutter speed of 180 or less, and the burst is much faster than that.

I have the kx, and I don't know for sure, but the on-board flash might not even operate in Tv mode if you set the shutter speed faster than 180.

ISMAILRY · 04-06-2010, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by Ira

The flash requires a shutter speed of 180 or less, and the burst is much faster than that.

I have the kx, and I don't know for sure, but the on-board flash might not even operate in Tv mode if you set the shutter speed faster than 180.

i have tried with shutter speed lower then 180 but it still does not work

Ira · 04-06-2010, 07:36 AM

Originally posted by ISMAILRY

i have tried with shutter speed lower then 180 but it still does not work

Does it work in other modes?

Krishna Srinivasan · 04-06-2010, 07:50 AM

What lens are you using? Try changing the lens to the included kit lens and see if your Flash works after that.
See page 161 in the K-x manual that talks about Flash being unavailable when using certain lenses due to vignetting.

Try following pg 148 to set up sound when making a movie. Also check whether you have increased the playback volume to audible levels as described in pages 148 throuh 151.

All the best.
Krishna

Camgen · 04-06-2010, 10:52 AM

Shouldn't you set it at manual flash instead of auto flash in the settings?

ISMAILRY · 04-07-2010, 01:11 AM

I have tried the other modes as well Av,M and it does not work ,Setting the flash to manual does not make a difference.

The lens i am using is the 18-55 kit lens which comes with the camera.

nulla · 04-07-2010, 01:31 AM

Originally posted by ISMAILRY

I have tried the other modes as well Av,M and it does not work ,Setting the flash to manual does not make a difference.

The lens i am using is the 18-55 kit lens which comes with the camera.

This might be a silly question but I must ask the obvious

Are you raising the flash by pressing the "up" button

Also what settings have you set for flash.?

Troubleshooting flash is on page 287 of the K-x manual

another thing you could do is reset to default settings and see if that helps.

otherwise it sounds like you have a fault in the camera

Neil

stephsr · 04-09-2010, 09:21 PM

I am having the exact same problem with my new K-X. I have tried all the different modes that SHOULD use the flash. It pops up like it is going to discharge but never does. Same thing happens when the flash is set to manual and I push the flash up button. Any suggestions??? I may just have a faulty camera?

kdk087 · 04-11-2010, 08:43 PM

Same thing is happening to me, but I got it working by going into portrait mode with manual flash. Then popped the flash up and it worked! then I changed it to Manual Exposure (1/100 f4.5) without turning it off or shutting the flash and it worked again...

If I turn it off or close the flash lid it won't work again... I'm guessing its a firmware or software error?

Anyways thats what I've found out... can anyone else confirm what I did?

thanks.

update:
its working flawlessly now for some reason... I think a reset helps...

Cinders · 06-17-2010, 10:32 PM

I'm having the same problem. It won't flash at all. No matter what mode I'm in.

I just tried manual flash in portrait but it still didn't work.

Marc Sabatella · 06-18-2010, 08:55 AM

Is it possible the batteries are too weak to power the flash? have you set the battery type option appropriately? Are the cells freshly charged? Or, if non-rechargeable, they aren't alkalines, are they? Those basically don't work.

Cinders · 06-18-2010, 09:14 AM

they are brand new lithiums :< and i have the battery setting set correctly

in a dark situation, the flash never pops up on it's own
also when i manually pop it up, there's a flash icon in the viewfinder, and when I half press, the icon blinks, but when i take the picture nothing, i thought maybe it wanted me to wait till it's done blinking, so i held it half pressed for like 3 whole minutes and it still kept blinking

Ira · 06-18-2010, 11:26 AM

First make sure In Custom Menu 3 that Item 16 is set to 1 (off).

Also, you don't happen to have HDR on, do you? Or another auto bracketing function?

subeeds · 06-18-2010, 12:16 PM

Sorry to hear you are having problems. I haven't encountered anything like like that with my new K-X. I have the flash turned off on the menu and when I want to use it, I just do it manually by popping it up with the button.

04-06-2010, 12:58 AM	#1
ISMAILRY Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: lusaka Posts: 3	flash does not work pentax k-x Hi , I have just become a proud owner of a Pentax k-x camera with 18-55mm zoom ,its my first Pentax. the two problems i am facing are as follows:- 1) I can not get the flash to work regardless of which mode i put the camera in.for example if i put the camera in Tv mode set the shutter speed then i open the flash . The moment i pressure the shutter release button ,the shutter does not activate however if i close the flash the shutter activates. 2) When i record video in hd mode on playing there is no sound even though it has been activated from the main menu.Regardless of whether i play the file through the camera or by copying it to a computer. If anyone can help i will be most grateful . Ismail rashid

04-07-2010, 01:31 AM	#8
nulla Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,560	Originally posted by ISMAILRY I have tried the other modes as well Av,M and it does not work ,Setting the flash to manual does not make a difference. The lens i am using is the 18-55 kit lens which comes with the camera. This might be a silly question but I must ask the obvious Are you raising the flash by pressing the "up" button Also what settings have you set for flash.? Troubleshooting flash is on page 287 of the K-x manual another thing you could do is reset to default settings and see if that helps. otherwise it sounds like you have a fault in the camera Neil Last edited by nulla; 04-07-2010 at 01:53 AM.

04-11-2010, 08:43 PM	#10
kdk087 New Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NSW Posts: 1	Same thing is happening to me, but I got it working by going into portrait mode with manual flash. Then popped the flash up and it worked! then I changed it to Manual Exposure (1/100 f4.5) without turning it off or shutting the flash and it worked again... If I turn it off or close the flash lid it won't work again... I'm guessing its a firmware or software error? Anyways thats what I've found out... can anyone else confirm what I did? thanks. update: its working flawlessly now for some reason... I think a reset helps... Last edited by kdk087; 04-12-2010 at 05:28 AM.

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04-06-2010, 05:49 AM	#2
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by ISMAILRY Hi , I have just become a proud owner of a Pentax k-x camera with 18-55mm zoom ,its my first Pentax. the two problems i am facing are as follows:- 1) I can not get the flash to work regardless of which mode i put the camera in.for example if i put the camera in Tv mode set the shutter speed then i open the flash . The moment i pressure the shutter release button ,the shutter does not activate however if i close the flash the shutter activates. 2) When i record video in hd mode on playing there is no sound even though it has been activated from the main menu.Regardless of whether i play the file through the camera or by copying it to a computer. If anyone can help i will be most grateful . Ismail rashid The flash requires a shutter speed of 180 or less, and the burst is much faster than that. I have the kx, and I don't know for sure, but the on-board flash might not even operate in Tv mode if you set the shutter speed faster than 180.

04-06-2010, 06:42 AM	#3
ISMAILRY Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: lusaka Posts: 3 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ira The flash requires a shutter speed of 180 or less, and the burst is much faster than that. I have the kx, and I don't know for sure, but the on-board flash might not even operate in Tv mode if you set the shutter speed faster than 180. i have tried with shutter speed lower then 180 but it still does not work

04-06-2010, 07:36 AM	#4
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by ISMAILRY i have tried with shutter speed lower then 180 but it still does not work Does it work in other modes?

04-06-2010, 07:50 AM	#5
Krishna Srinivasan New Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: GA Posts: 11	What lens are you using? Try changing the lens to the included kit lens and see if your Flash works after that. See page 161 in the K-x manual that talks about Flash being unavailable when using certain lenses due to vignetting. Try following pg 148 to set up sound when making a movie. Also check whether you have increased the playback volume to audible levels as described in pages 148 throuh 151. All the best. Krishna

04-06-2010, 10:52 AM	#6
Camgen Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sunny SoCal Posts: 49	Shouldn't you set it at manual flash instead of auto flash in the settings?

04-07-2010, 01:11 AM	#7
ISMAILRY Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: lusaka Posts: 3 Original Poster	I have tried the other modes as well Av,M and it does not work ,Setting the flash to manual does not make a difference. The lens i am using is the 18-55 kit lens which comes with the camera.

04-09-2010, 09:21 PM	#9
stephsr New Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1	I am having the exact same problem with my new K-X. I have tried all the different modes that SHOULD use the flash. It pops up like it is going to discharge but never does. Same thing happens when the flash is set to manual and I push the flash up button. Any suggestions??? I may just have a faulty camera?

06-17-2010, 10:32 PM	#11
Cinders Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 118	I'm having the same problem. It won't flash at all. No matter what mode I'm in. I just tried manual flash in portrait but it still didn't work.

06-18-2010, 08:55 AM	#12
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Is it possible the batteries are too weak to power the flash? have you set the battery type option appropriately? Are the cells freshly charged? Or, if non-rechargeable, they aren't alkalines, are they? Those basically don't work.

06-18-2010, 09:14 AM	#13
Cinders Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 118	they are brand new lithiums :< and i have the battery setting set correctly in a dark situation, the flash never pops up on it's own also when i manually pop it up, there's a flash icon in the viewfinder, and when I half press, the icon blinks, but when i take the picture nothing, i thought maybe it wanted me to wait till it's done blinking, so i held it half pressed for like 3 whole minutes and it still kept blinking

06-18-2010, 11:26 AM	#14
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	First make sure In Custom Menu 3 that Item 16 is set to 1 (off). Also, you don't happen to have HDR on, do you? Or another auto bracketing function?

06-18-2010, 12:16 PM	#15
subeeds Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camden County, Ga. Photos: Gallery Posts: 333	Sorry to hear you are having problems. I haven't encountered anything like like that with my new K-X. I have the flash turned off on the menu and when I want to use it, I just do it manually by popping it up with the button.