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panoguy · 04-03-2009, 06:18 AM

Okay, so I'm a total noob at off-camera flash, but I'm wondering *why* is Shake Reduction automatically turned off when the Flash Mode is set to W(ireless)?

Does this have something to do with acceptable shutter-speeds for flash? (I guess trailing-curtain sync won't work in Pentax wireless...).
Thanks for any illumination (pun) on the topic!

kenyee · 04-03-2009, 07:49 AM

I think they needed the CPU cycles for commander mode. They thought SR doesn't matter anyways since a flash's strobe pulse will freeze any action lit by the flash...
Sucks that we can't use the popup flash in this mode as a focus assist light (no flash) though...it just turns off SR so doing handheld low light work is harder...

**ManuH** · 04-03-2009, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by panoguy

Okay, so I'm a total noob at off-camera flash, but I'm wondering *why* is Shake Reduction automatically turned off when the Flash Mode is set to W(ireless)?

I'd guess it's probably a matter of timing. Fortunately with flash you don't really need SR.

panoguy · 04-03-2009, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by ManuH

I'd guess it's probably a matter of timing. Fortunately with flash you don't really need SR.

Well, I've actually done some shots where keeping the background from being all black required a slower shutter and the flash just pops the foreground (SR makes a world of difference under 1/20).

I'm just waiting for my Cactus V4 triggers to arrive from Taiwan so I can forget about this problem (and kiss P-TTL goodbye in the process...).

Gooshin · 04-03-2009, 09:54 AM

Originally posted by kenyee

I think they needed the CPU cycles for commander mode. They thought SR doesn't matter anyways since a flash's strobe pulse will freeze any action lit by the flash...
Sucks that we can't use the popup flash in this mode as a focus assist light (no flash) though...it just turns off SR so doing handheld low light work is harder...

you sure about that? give it a try, when i was testing the wireless mode the other night i swear i had the popup flash (even in controller mode) illuminate my subject when i turned the lights down.

i'll try again today,

Old Timer 56 · 04-03-2009, 10:20 AM

I don't know why SR is disabled but wireless mode is only relevant with Pentax flashes or perhaps third-party flashes dedicated to the Pentax. Non-dedicated flashes, like my old Vivitar 283, don't need it and can't use it. No problem for me because I set the flash mode on my K10D to Flash On and Flash Comp to -1 or -2. I have a tiny Wein slave on my 283 which is engineered to ignore the Pentax pre-flash. Thus the on-board flash is primarily a trigger for the 283 while providing a little fill and putting some catchlights in the eyes.

The only problem with this setup is when photographing events where other people are popping their flashes. I have to keep my hand over the Wein sensor to keep it from being triggered by those flashes. A radio slave would be more appropriate in those situations but I don't do enough events to justify the expense.

Richard

Arjay Bee · 04-04-2009, 04:43 AM

If you are using wireless mode perhaps it assumes that the camera will be in a studio setup and that you will be using a tripod in any case so you would then turn off SR, so it does it for you.

04-03-2009, 06:18 AM	#1
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Why is SR disabled in wireless flash mode? Okay, so I'm a total noob at off-camera flash, but I'm wondering why is Shake Reduction automatically turned off when the Flash Mode is set to W(ireless)? Does this have something to do with acceptable shutter-speeds for flash? (I guess trailing-curtain sync won't work in Pentax wireless...). Thanks for any illumination (pun) on the topic!

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04-03-2009, 07:49 AM	#2
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	I think they needed the CPU cycles for commander mode. They thought SR doesn't matter anyways since a flash's strobe pulse will freeze any action lit by the flash... Sucks that we can't use the popup flash in this mode as a focus assist light (no flash) though...it just turns off SR so doing handheld low light work is harder...

04-03-2009, 08:13 AM	#3
ManuH Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,249	Originally posted by panoguy Okay, so I'm a total noob at off-camera flash, but I'm wondering why is Shake Reduction automatically turned off when the Flash Mode is set to W(ireless)? I'd guess it's probably a matter of timing. Fortunately with flash you don't really need SR.

04-03-2009, 08:49 AM	#4
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327 Original Poster	Originally posted by ManuH I'd guess it's probably a matter of timing. Fortunately with flash you don't really need SR. Well, I've actually done some shots where keeping the background from being all black required a slower shutter and the flash just pops the foreground (SR makes a world of difference under 1/20). I'm just waiting for my Cactus V4 triggers to arrive from Taiwan so I can forget about this problem (and kiss P-TTL goodbye in the process...).

04-03-2009, 09:54 AM	#5
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by kenyee I think they needed the CPU cycles for commander mode. They thought SR doesn't matter anyways since a flash's strobe pulse will freeze any action lit by the flash... Sucks that we can't use the popup flash in this mode as a focus assist light (no flash) though...it just turns off SR so doing handheld low light work is harder... you sure about that? give it a try, when i was testing the wireless mode the other night i swear i had the popup flash (even in controller mode) illuminate my subject when i turned the lights down. i'll try again today,

04-03-2009, 10:20 AM	#6
Old Timer 56 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New York Posts: 168	I don't know why SR is disabled but wireless mode is only relevant with Pentax flashes or perhaps third-party flashes dedicated to the Pentax. Non-dedicated flashes, like my old Vivitar 283, don't need it and can't use it. No problem for me because I set the flash mode on my K10D to Flash On and Flash Comp to -1 or -2. I have a tiny Wein slave on my 283 which is engineered to ignore the Pentax pre-flash. Thus the on-board flash is primarily a trigger for the 283 while providing a little fill and putting some catchlights in the eyes. The only problem with this setup is when photographing events where other people are popping their flashes. I have to keep my hand over the Wein sensor to keep it from being triggered by those flashes. A radio slave would be more appropriate in those situations but I don't do enough events to justify the expense. Richard

04-04-2009, 04:43 AM	#7
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	If you are using wireless mode perhaps it assumes that the camera will be in a studio setup and that you will be using a tripod in any case so you would then turn off SR, so it does it for you.

Why is SR disabled in wireless flash mode?

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