Total failure with flash photography...

[3KK3]

Just wonder what was wrong..... being a board member of our local genealogy association we recently had the annual meeting and as usual I took all the pictures from the meeting. Being inside a room with somewhat dim light I used my Sigma 610 which I have previously been using with my K-3 for many year without any problems what so ever..... But using that flash with the K-3 mkIII was a total failure. It sure did flash but still all pictures were very dark like the flash never flashed.... in post I had to work with anything from ISO 500 to 10,000.

In "panic" I tested all kind of settings during the photography but it just didn't work. Back home later that day I continued testing and when I used the M setting it was like I never have had a flash problem...With my K-3 I always used Av on the wheel with the flash and had never any problems.

Anyone else with similar experience ? I mean, in my mind the flash should have worked with P, Tv or Av but just didn't.....

KK

 

[Joseph Tainter]

In the past, owners of new Pentax models needed to send Sigma flash units in for a chip upgrade. Much discussion of it here years ago. Maybe your problem?

Joe

 

[Plakanina]

[No message]

 

[anware]

I haven't noticed any differences going from a K-3 to a K-3 iii in any mode with my flash gear (all Godox) but my first thought is that the sync speed could be an issue for you. The sync speed on the K-3 iii has increased from 1/180s to 1/200s. That increase could be the source of your problems.

It's worth dropping the sync speed down to 1/180s or lower (the K-3 iii has a menu option to select it) and test again.

 

[3KK3]

It's worth dropping the sync speed down to 1/180s or lower (the K-3 iii has a menu option to select it) and test again.

Thank You anware! (...and You 3 "thumbs upers")

I did what you suggested and dropped the sync speed to 1/160 (1/180) as it is stated in menu C 5 and my Sigma 610 is working perfect with my K-3 mkIII.... While testing all settings on the wheel I found a totally new setting for my flash photography that I'm gonna use from now on and that's TAv..... what an awesome setting for flash photography (bounce)... so thanks again.

KK

 

[TwoWheeler21]

It's worth dropping the sync speed down to 1/180s or lower (the K-3 iii has a menu option to select it) and test again.

Thank You anware! (...and You 3 "thumbs upers")

I did what you suggested and dropped the sync speed to 1/160 (1/180) as it is stated in menu C 5 and my Sigma 610 is working perfect with my K-3 mkIII.... While testing all settings on the wheel I found a totally new setting for my flash photography that I'm gonna use from now on and that's TAv..... what an awesome setting for flash photography (bounce)... so thanks again.

KK

I think you will find TAV to be an excellent setting for a lot of your photography.

 

[T Evergreen]

I believe you'll find that you get more consistent results using Manual mode on the camera with a fixed ISO value, with the flash set to TTL. Try something like 1/160 or 1/125 shutter, f/4 and ISO 400 for starters. When you're using Auto ISO, the camera tries to expose using the ambient light and that's why you saw ISOs ranging from 500 to 10,000.

If the distance from the flash to the subject being photographed is always the same, you should use manual setting on the flash for consistent results. If the distance changes from shot to shot, use TTL. With TTL, just remember that you can get over or under exposure depending on whether the subject is dark or light, so use flash exposure compensation if necessary.