K10D Electronic Flash underexposure

[suntek]

Hi all! I've had my K10D for about 4 months and have consistent problems with flash photos being underexposed - both built-in and with the FGZ540AF (even at +1 exposure). I'm easily within range of the flash and usually shoot in the HyperProgram mode. The flash is in P-TTL mode. I've about used up my 30+ years of photography troubleshooting knowledge but I am new to digital so I'm hoping there's more to be learned here. Are there settings on the camera (other than the mode setting) that aren't obvious that can affect this? In Photoshop I have to adjust my Levels to get a decent exposure otherwise they are compressed toward the black end of the scale. I'm about ready to send it to Pentax for repair but I'd thought I'd try your knowledge and experience first! Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!!

[BLWNHR]

Take a step over to PentaxForums (http://www.pentaxforums.com), we're a friendly bunch and there will be plenty of people to answer your questions.

My first suggestion would be to try shooting in full manual and see if the problem is still there. I was having some flash issues with my Sigma DG-500 Super, swapped to full manual and have never looked back!

Try this: 1/60, f/5.6, ISO-200 and then let the flash work itself out.

Let us know the results. Hope to see you at the PentaxForums. :)

[suntek]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a try!

[jedentagberlin]

Hi all! I've had my K10D for about 4 months and have consistent problems with flash photos being underexposed - both built-in and with the FGZ540AF (even at +1 exposure). I'm easily within range of the flash and usually shoot in the HyperProgram mode. The flash is in P-TTL mode. I've about used up my 30+ years of photography troubleshooting knowledge but I am new to digital so I'm hoping there's more to be learned here. Are there settings on the camera (other than the mode setting) that aren't obvious that can affect this? In Photoshop I have to adjust my Levels to get a decent exposure otherwise they are compressed toward the black end of the scale. I'm about ready to send it to Pentax for repair but I'd thought I'd try your knowledge and experience first! Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!!

Hi there. Just wanted you to know that I have the same problem. My guess is that the built in flash is just ... well, s-h-i-t-t-y. Other than on my MZ5n, which has the same built in flash, technique wise at least, the one on the K10D doesn't seem to serve any purpose. I merely lightens up the lower part of the picture. And be sure to use a short lense without sun-cap (or how do you say?).
Funnily enough, my external Pentax AF220T _overexposes_ the pictures. It is old, yes, but I thought the camera could still adjust to that. It can't, but when I set the camera to underexpose manually and _then_ use my external flash, it's more or less ok.
Every company seems to cut down on parts, no matter how much money you spend as a customer. It's a shame.

[suntek]

Hi! Thanks for the information. Have you checked the (FN) function setting for your built-in flash? You can set it to +1 stop overexpose and -2 stops underexpose. It sounds like you might have it set to the underexposure setting. Any external flash not designed for a Pentax K series digital camera will over expose. I found that out the hard way too.

Thanks again!

[pixels2pics]

I visited a local camera store today to test drive the K10d after seeing many high scoring reviews for it's high build quality and feature content. I would have to agree except for this flash pic underexposure deal. The shopkeeper was puzzled at how dark the images were and tried the flash comp to +1, various manual modes, full auto mode, different lenses and even a complete parameter reset to no avail. This prompted me to search forums further on the subject which brought me here. I really liked the camera otherwise for it's build quality, features and flexibility, but to fail something this elemental just may very well kill my interest in this otherwise fine piece of equipment. I hate to mention the N and C brands, but under the same conditions both the D80 and 40D produced bright and vibrant pics with no fanfare.

[BLWNHR]

...but to fail something this elemental just may very well kill my interest in this otherwise fine piece of equipment. I hate to mention the N and C brands, but under the same conditions both the D80 and 40D produced bright and vibrant pics with no fanfare.

I own the K10D and haven't had any problems with the internal flash, on the few times I've used it. I own 2 external flashes, a much better option for any SLR, and get brilliant results every time.

Perhaps there are some internal flash problems with some examples of the model.

You say you're pleased with the camera, other than this, with the money saved over the C & N options you could buy a Pentax external flash and be much better off.