K10D, the Pentax 14mm and the Built-In Flash...

Question about the K10D -- does the built-in flash work correctly when using the SMCP-DA 14mm lens... does it?

Currently on my *ist DL I get something like this when I use the pop-up flash:



Notice my shadow-mustache.

If I was going to opt for a dedicated flash, is there any reason to go Pentax over the less expensive Sigma EF-500 P-TTL?

I'll probably end up moving up to the K10D before the year is out, but I'm not sure how often I'm going to use the flash with this particular lens. I'm more of a natural light shooter when possible (I'd like to consider my better shots to be "documentary style"), but I do like it for fill when doing outdoor portraits.
--
http://www.downeffect.com/jim/gallery

jpfisher said:

Question about the K10D -- does the built-in flash work correctly
when using the SMCP-DA 14mm lens... does it?

Click to expand...

It shouldn't, all documentation specifies the flash coverage to be 28mm (35mm equivalent), so to cover the AOV of a 14mm lens you would need to add a supplemental flash or a suitable flash diffuser at the very least.

jpfisher said:

Notice my shadow-mustache.

Click to expand...

Very nice.

--
Rob

jpfisher said:

Question about the K10D -- does the built-in flash work correctly
when using the SMCP-DA 14mm lens... does it?

Currently on my *ist DL I get something like this when I use the
pop-up flash:

Click to expand...

Look in the manual for lenses compatible with the DA-14. The answer with be no, it is not compatible as you have discovered.

Regarding flash, can't speak to the Sigma but just got my 2nd 540 and love them. Available light is great, but supplementing with fill flash can be that much more flexibility you have in challenging lighting conditions.

Good luck,

AZ

jpfisher said:

Notice my shadow-mustache.

If I was going to opt for a dedicated flash, is there any reason to
go Pentax over the less expensive Sigma EF-500 P-TTL?

I'll probably end up moving up to the K10D before the year is out,
but I'm not sure how often I'm going to use the flash with this
particular lens. I'm more of a natural light shooter when possible
(I'd like to consider my better shots to be "documentary style"),
but I do like it for fill when doing outdoor portraits.
--
http://www.downeffect.com/jim/gallery

Click to expand...

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DA 12-24 and DA Fish-eye 10-17 and not compatible with built-in flash