THE PENTAX DIGITAL CAMERA FLASH LIGHTING SYSTEM An exploration of the functioning and practical operations for the Pentax Camera Brand Dedicated Flash Lighting System. This Guide includes the principles for Camera Operations, Built-in flash, Pentax and Dedicated Third Party flash units. Nigel McGregor - © 2015, London, United Kingdom The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – © Nigel McGregor 2015 Title (i) The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System Welcome To My Guide I’m Nigel McGregor, a passionate user of Pentax DSLR photography equipment. A New Zealander, but long term resident of the United Kingdom, where I live to the South of London near the Surrey border. Landscapes, gardens, flowers and architecture are my main photographic interests, but like many family photographers it is the portraits and action shots of loved ones that take up the most SD card space on my camera. It was the striving to get better results with these people shots, often indoors, that has propelled my interest in flash photography with Pentax equipment. I love taking flash pictures with my Pentax camera and flash. Even more so wirelessly with a softbox or umbrella set-up. But getting good consistent results can be frustrating, and so I want to share my thoughts on understanding the Pentax flash system, and how to get the most out of it. Take a look at the Contents and Introduction here to give you a quick idea of what is contained in this guide. Please join in the discussions about the guide and flash photography in general on the forums. I’d love to hear your feedback, suggestions and responses to the contents of this guide! You can get to me via the following routes; PentaxForums.com/My Profile PentaxUser.com/My Portfolio ThePentaxForum.co.uk/My Profile The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – © Nigel McGregor 2015 Welcome and Contact The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – PDF Version 1, July 2015 © Nigel McGregor, London 2015 {Use your PDF Reader page number indicator to navigate and jump to required pages …} Contents 1. INTRODUCTION o Who is This For? Page 7 o Why Has it Been Created? “ o What is it All About “ o What is This Not About? “ o From Big & Cumbersome to Small & Convenient Page 8 o Built-In & Accessory Flashguns Page 9 o Note About Independent Flashguns “ o A List of Key Flash Features Page 10 o Built-In Flash Units “ o ‘Dedicated’ Accessory Flash Units Page 11 2. UNDERSTANDING FLASH & AMBIENT EXPOSURES o Two Independent Exposures for Each Flash Photograph Page 13 o Controls for Flash & Ambient Exposures Page 14 o Independent Control Page 15 3. THE CAMERA : FLASH & EXPOSURE MODES o Camera Flash Modes Page 16 o The Standard Flash Modes Page 17 o Interactions Between Camera Flash & Exposure Modes “ o ‘Auto-Flash’ o ‘Slow-Speed Sync’ Page 18 o Trailing Curtain Sync Page 19 o Red-Eye Reduction Modes “ o Wireless Mode “ The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – © Nigel McGregor 2015 Contents The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – PDF Version 1, July 2015 © Nigel McGregor, London 2015 CONTENTS (ii) (The Camera : Flash & Exposure Modes cont.) o Using the Camera Flash & Exposure Modes Page 20 o Auto-Exposure; P, Av, Tv, Tav, Sv “ o Manual ‘M’ “ o Exploring Flash Operations within Each Mode Page 21 o ‘Green’, ‘Hyper-Program’ P “ o ‘Aperture Value’ Av Page 22 o ‘Time Value’ Tv Page 23 o ‘Time & Aperture Value’ Tav “ o ‘Sensitivity value’ Sv Page 24 o ‘Manual’ M “ o An Intuitive Manual Working Approach “ 4. THE ACCESSORY FLASHGUN : FLASH MODES Page 25 o A Note on the MkII Pentax & Independent Flashguns “ o Available Modes Dependent on Camera/Lens Combinations Page 26 o ISO & Aperture “ o Flash To Subject Distance Page 27 o Auto ‘A’ Mode “ o P-TTL Mode “ o Manual ‘M’ Mode Page 28 o TTL Mode “ 5. THE FLASH RANGE & DISTANCE INDICATOR Page 28 o The Flash to Subject Distance Component “ o Different Indications Depending on Flash Mode Page 29 o Automatic Modes (P-TTL / Auto ‘A’) “ o Manual ‘M’ Mode Page 30 o Practical Approaches with the Distance & Range Scale Page 31 o A Note on Bounce Flash “ o Two Working Examples In Practice Page 32 o ‘M’ Camera Exposure Mode with P-TTL or ‘A’ Flashgun Mode “ o ‘M’ Camera Exposure Mode with Manual Flashgun Mode Page 33 o A Note on Fully Automatic Flash Photography “ 6. FLASH HEAD ZOOM & CAMERA FORMAT Page 34 o Introductory Note “ o Effect on Power & Range “ o Flash Head Positions & Format Indications Page 35 o Format Detection & Settings Page 36 o AF-540FGZ Zoom Position Settings “ o Flash Head Zooming Page 37 The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – PDF Version 1, July 2015 © Nigel McGregor, London 2015 CONTENTS (iii) 7. FLASH RELATED CAMERA CUSTOM SETTINGS Page 38 o Release While Charging “ o Memory Page 39 o Memory; Flash Mode Page 40 o Memory; Flash Compensation “ o White Balance When Using Flash “ o AWB / Unchanged / Flash Page 41 o Flash in Wireless Mode Page 42 o Note on Using an On-Camera Accessory Flash as Trigger “ 8. HIGH SPEED SYNC (HSS) OPERATIONS Page 43 o Note on DSLR Maximum Sync Speeds “ o Why is There a ‘Maximum Sync Speed’ ? “ o Note on ‘Time Value’ vs ‘Shutter Speed’ Terminology “ o Note on ‘Normal’ Flash Sync Operation Page 44 o ‘A Moving Slit Situation’ at Time Values Shorter than X-Speed Page 45 o The Need for Speed; Why Do We Need to Shoot at Shorter Time Values ? “ o How Does HSS Work Then ? Page 46 o Practical HSS Working Page 47 o A Link to PentaxUser.com, a Practical Example “ o On & Off Camera Considerations “ o Flash Mode & Lens Options for HSS Page 48 o Basic Steps “ 9. WIRELESS (OFF-CAMERA) FLASH OPERATIONS o Wireless Operations Overview Page 49 o Master, Control and Slaves Page 50 o A Note on HSS working during Wireless Operations “ o Supports and Angle of Coverage Page 51 o A Note on Optical Sensor Orientation Page 52 o Wireless Settings and Set-Up Page 53 o Setting the Channels Page 54 o Setting the On-Camera Flash Roles Page 55 The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – PDF Version 1, July 2015 © Nigel McGregor, London 2015 CONTENTS (iv) 10. FLASHGUN FUNCTIONING WITH LENS & MODE CHOICES o Functions that are Covered Page 56 o Some Notes on the Technologies Page 57 o Notes on Flash Modes & Lens Types “ o A Note on ‘Auto’ A Flash Mode Page 58 o Coupled & Non-Coupled Lens Types Page 59 o Wireless (Off-Camera) Considerations “ o Part 1. Auto-Focus KAF2 (HD DA, DA, D FA, FA) Page 60 o A. P-TTL “ o B. Manual ‘M’ “ o Part 2. All Lens Types (KAF2 Plus; F, A, M, K) Page 61 o A. ‘Auto’ A “ o B. Manual ‘M’ Page 62 o Note on Non-Coupled Lens Types “ 11. ‘Auto’ A FLASH MODE – PRACTICAL EXPOSURE CONTOL o Overview Page 63 o Setting Up Steps “ o Flash Exposure Control Page 64 12. The AF-360/540FGZ (II) WR FLASHGUNS o Key Changes from the Older Models Page 65 o Special New Features in Detail Page 66 o 1. New Control Panel “ o 2. The Function Menu Page 67 13. PENTAX FLASHGUNS, MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES o Autofocus Assist Spotbeam Page 68 o Wide Angle & Catchlight Panels Page 69 o Modelling & Test Flash Page 70 o Auto Power Off Page 71 o TR Power-Pack III (for the AF-540FGZ) “ 14. THIRD PARTY FLASH UNITS o ‘Dedicated’ Definitions Page 71 o General Expected Features Page 72 o List of Models “ o Manufacturer Website Links Page 73 ____________________________________________ THE PENTAX DIGITAL CAMERA FLASH LIGHTING SYSTEM Introduction WHO IS THIS FOR? This Guide has been written for all Pentax Digital Camera owners. Any Pentax Photographer in fact who uses their Built-In camera flash, a Pentax accessory Flashgun, or any number of system ‘dedicated’ flashguns made by third party manufacturers, eg Metz, Sigma, Promaster, Tumax. And anyone who is thinking about flash lighting with their Pentax Digital Camera and considering their options for an accessory flashgun. WHY HAS IT BEEN CREATED? This guide and exploration is designed to support and encourage confidence and ease of use when taking flash photographs with Pentax cameras. Due to the longstanding nature of the Pentax system there are many legacy manual focus lenses in common use, and these interact with the camera and flash system in different ways to modern autofocus lenses from the digital era. As well, the way we combine our camera exposure and flash modes has an impact on available functions. This guide looks at all of these combinations and aims to help with the most efficient and reliable practical settings and approaches, taking into account the type of lenses and modes you choose. WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? The Guide will explore every aspect of flash operation as implemented within the Pentax proprietary digital camera system. This includes the camera modes and camera custom settings, flash modes and accessory flashgun features, practical flash photography steps and special flash operations such as High Speed Sync and Wireless (off-camera) flash. Also covered are the variations to flashgun functioning caused by different lens types (eg DA and older autofocus types, A series types, M & K series types). WHAT IS THIS NOT ABOUT? This is not a guide to creative lighting, studio techniques, flash modifiers and other light shaping equipment. There are plenty of other sources for this information. And this is not about radio triggered manual off-camera flash systems, eg Cactus & Yongnuo. The Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System – © Nigel McGregor 2015 Introduction (i) From Big & Cumbersome, to Small and Convenient hese days most books and articles about artificial lighting for photography start with statements T such as ..