RE: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Camera doesn't know the focal length of the lens only the amount of light getting through which is very low at that end. The lens only sends aperture into or in A mode the camera sets the aperture to the lens. Kent Gittings -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Richard Seaman Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2001 10:46 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed! Todd, Thanks for this idea, but actually, I was using a Tokina 150-500mm A lens, at the 500mm end! Perhaps the contacts on the lens or body were fouled, and the camera thought it was a short focal length F or FA lens. BTW, what does auto flash mode mean? I've been using this lens for some years without seeing anything like this. I replaced the batteries with a new set, but with no effect. Richard. home page: www.richard-seaman.com original message From: Todd Stanley [EMAIL PROTECTED] What lens were you using? The MZ cameras, in auto flash mode with a F or FA lens attached, choose a shutter speed of 1/focal length as long as the focal length is =100mm, in order to let more ambient light into the picture. I would guess you were using a 50mm lens or a zoom at about 50mm? Todd _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . ** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. www.mimesweeper.com ** - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
On Mon, 3 Dec 2001, Kent Gittings wrote: Camera doesn't know the focal length of the lens only the amount of light getting through which is very low at that end. The lens only sends aperture into or in A mode the camera sets the aperture to the lens. Kent Gittings This is probably true of the MZ-5, but just as a FYI, I've heard that the MZ-7 and newer Pentaxes do communicate focal length information to the body. That's why, on portrait mode, they'll select a large aperture when the lens is zoomed in (to blur the background behind a person) and a much smaller one when the lens is set to a wider angle (it assumes you're doing a group shot and tries to maximize your DOF). Note that I've never actually tested this myself to see if it's true; that's just what I've heard from my Pentax rep. chris - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
I'm not saying it's not possible. but in a Pentax it might require another contact point on both body and lens I think. Still I think when Minolta added the ADI function on the Maxxum 7 it did it over the so-called data contact where the lens and camera body exchange info. So it didn't require anything new as long as both lens and body had the function. Still in a Pentax it would require that the new and older lenses had that function built in and I don't remember any Pentax zooms having a contact on the zoom ring except for the old FA lenses with the power zoom features. Maybe all their zooms have the contact and it has been unused till currently. and they wanted to use it for something since the power zoom feature has been removed from the bodies. Kent Gittings -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Chris Brogden Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 11:11 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed! On Mon, 3 Dec 2001, Kent Gittings wrote: Camera doesn't know the focal length of the lens only the amount of light getting through which is very low at that end. The lens only sends aperture into or in A mode the camera sets the aperture to the lens. Kent Gittings This is probably true of the MZ-5, but just as a FYI, I've heard that the MZ-7 and newer Pentaxes do communicate focal length information to the body. That's why, on portrait mode, they'll select a large aperture when the lens is zoomed in (to blur the background behind a person) and a much smaller one when the lens is set to a wider angle (it assumes you're doing a group shot and tries to maximize your DOF). Note that I've never actually tested this myself to see if it's true; that's just what I've heard from my Pentax rep. chris - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . ** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. www.mimesweeper.com ** - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
On Mon, 3 Dec 2001, Kent Gittings wrote: Camera doesn't know the focal length of the lens only the amount of light getting through which is very low at that end. The lens only sends aperture into or in A mode the camera sets the aperture to the lens. Kent Gittings When using the ftz500 with a Z-1p or MZ-5, the flash adjusts to the length of the lens and tells you which focal length it is using. It must be getting transmitted somehow. dave - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
On Sun, 2 Dec 2001 19:51:05 -0500, you wrote: Wow, that must be one fast baby and some real fast adults too! Looks more like 1/6 second to me than 1/60. Actually, I kind of like the effect, and I'm note sure I'd like the photo any better if it were static. But, I'll admit I'm weird that way. You're not the only one. The mother and grandmother just love that photo. And yes, the baby suddenly moved very fast, and the adults matched suit. But after thinking about your comment, I tend to agree the shutter must have been much slower than 1/60. I took the photo with a digital camera with one nagging problem - every time I rotate the command dial to review a photo, it reverts back to some auto Tv-Av setting (rather than my manual settings) when I switch back to photo mode. I had been shooting at 1/125 flash sync. In this case I think the camera reverted to 1/30 or slower unbeknownst to me. It only meters for ambient when an external flash is attached, so a very slow shutter speed is likely. -- John Mustarde - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Sunday, December 02, 2001, 2:03:22 AM, Richard wrote: RS Artur, RS I think it is a problem if the camera shoots at, say, 1/30th, because at RS that speed the ambient light will affect the final photo, almost regardless RS of what aperture I set. It's quite possible to have a situation where there [...] RS Richard. Hah, Richard, If only I had your problems... I am always complaining of inability to do well-balanced flash+ambient shots. But I hate full-flash shots, I think they are just ugly, always. That's a nice example of YMMV... I would consider a 1/30 flash synch speed TOO FAST... I synch usually at 1/15 - 1/8 with 28mm or 20mm lenses, to get as much ambient as possible in background while freezing the foreground. Otherwise, background would be too dark. Good light, Frantisek Vlcek - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
On Sat, 01 Dec 2001 09:55:25 -0600, you wrote: Of course, 1/60th sucks as a flash sync speed - 1/100th is bad enough. Flash sync at 1/60 is inadequate for people in motion. Here's an example of why I try to avoid slow sync speeds: http://www.photolin.com/C-Image014.jpg This shot used flash sync of 1/60. Note the static objects are fine, but the moving prople are blurred. And they just happened to move a bit as I tripped the shutter. The flash was bounced off the cathedral ceiling. My other shots at higher sync speed were fine. However, there is one advantage of slow sync speeds. Check this out. You'll be amazed. Try to find the two areas of digital alteration - it's pretty obvious. And, no, there was no digital alteration of the baby. It's just got a transparent head, and I've got the photos to prove it! http://www.photolin.com/trans.jpg Happy Friday, a couple of days late. -- John Mustarde - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
In a message dated 12/2/01 9:52:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: This shot used flash sync of 1/60. Note the static objects are fine, but the moving prople are blurred. And they just happened to move a bit as I tripped the shutter. The flash was bounced off the cathedral ceiling. Slow flash sync ~always~ calls for panning with the moving object, releasing the shutter in the process, meanwhile blurring the background. Mafud [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
On Sun, 2 Dec 2001 10:49:46 EST, mafud wrote: Slow flash sync ~always~ calls for panning with the moving object, releasing the shutter in the process, meanwhile blurring the background. Panning helps with slow flash sync, if one judges the speed and direction correctly, just as you say above, but only if the subject is moving in a known direction, and only if you know in advance that the subject is moving, and only if one pans the lens closely in line with the subject movement. Panning using slow flash sync is not much help if multiple subjects are moving in different directions, or, if one does not know in advance that the subject(s) are going to move, or, heaven forbid, if one does not want to blur the background. Slow flash sync is best for static or very slowly moving objects. Panning could help keep a portion of the frame in focus under certain circumstances. A more reliable and permanent solution to image blur caused by slow flash sync is a faster flash sync rate. -- John Mustarde - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
In a message dated 12/2/01 11:46:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: On Sun, 2 Dec 2001 10:49:46 EST, mafud wrote: Slow flash sync ~always~ calls for panning with the moving object, releasing the shutter in the process, meanwhile blurring the background. Panning helps with slow flash sync, if one judges the speed and direction correctly, just as you say above, but only if the subject is moving in a known direction, and only if you know in advance that the subject is moving, and only if one pans the lens closely in line with the subject movement. John, ~any~ serious photographer, and I'd include the entire PDML list, knows you're correct. That being something we might agree on, the human brain and a little experience calculates all your given parameters in milliseconds and makes the decisions you (we) need to make the photo. Shotgunners, bowlers and other endeavors which demand hand-eye coordination and instinctive targeting call it follow through. Panning using slow flash sync is not much help if multiple subjects are moving in different directions, or, if one does not know in advance that the subject(s) are going to move, or, heaven forbid, if one does not want to blur the background. Again you're correct, given your conditions. But I say the experienced shooter, knowing who and what s/he wants to be or ~is~ the main subject, will ~not~ be confused by all the extemporaneous movement. Slow flash sync is best for static or very slowly moving objects. Panning could help keep a portion of the frame in focus under certain circumstances. A more reliable and permanent solution to image blur caused by slow flash sync is a faster flash sync rate. But... but slow sync is most often ~only~ used on static subjects, the main reason for using the technique being to allow for ambient exposures. But panning is a learned technique which every competent shooter should practice. ***We know that (most) PENTAX cameras, with the exception of the PZ class, all four of whom have 1/250th flash sync, have flash syncs of 1/125th or slower. As I remember, high speed flash sync was instituted by and for the pro camera genre even before the advent of ISO 400, 640 and 800 speed films, the combination of which, with fast, f/2.8 or better pro lenses, did not easily accommodate outdoor slow sync. Fast lenses and fast film forces the shooter to close down their apertures, sometimes to f/22 or smaller, meaning getting bokeh in a shot impossible, especially for wildlife. LX owners often decry their atrociously slow LX flash sync, but for different reasons. -- Mafud [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Wow, that must be one fast baby and some real fast adults too! Looks more like 1/6 second to me than 1/60. Actually, I kind of like the effect, and I'm note sure I'd like the photo any better if it were static. But, I'll admit I'm weird that way. Thanks, Ed http://lightandsilver.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of John Mustarde Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2001 9:45 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed! On Sat, 01 Dec 2001 09:55:25 -0600, you wrote: Of course, 1/60th sucks as a flash sync speed - 1/100th is bad enough. Flash sync at 1/60 is inadequate for people in motion. Here's an example of why I try to avoid slow sync speeds: http://www.photolin.com/C-Image014.jpg snip - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Doesn't the MZ-5 have a setting on the shutter speed dial for 1/100? Bill, KG4LOV [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: Tom Rittenhouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 11:48 PM Subject: Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed! I think that your camera is actually using 1/100 sec. but the dislay does not have that speed so it shows the next lower speed. --graywolf - Original Message - From: Richard Seaman [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 10:54 PM Subject: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed! folks, I went on a four day trip over Thanksgiving, and my MZ-5 started telling me that it had set the shutter speed to 1/60th of a second when I was using the flash. Since it's normally set to 1/100th for flash, this naturally bothered me a bit. I wasn't sure if it really was using 1/60th, so I got a roll of film developed and it looked fine, so I continued shooting in the hope that all would be well. Sure enough, when I got the other rolls developed, everything was OK. Has anyone seen this behavior in a Pentax camera? Do people think it really is setting the shutter speed to 1/60th, or just telling me that it is? thanks, Richard. home page: www.richard-seaman.com _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Yeah, what Chris said. To sum up, it depends on the ambient light level. The camera sets a faster sync speed in brighter light and a slower on in dim light in order to (attempt to) balance the flash and ambient light better. Thanks, Ed http://lightandsilver.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Chris Brogden Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2001 1:38 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed! On Fri, 30 Nov 2001, Tom Rittenhouse wrote: I think that your camera is actually using 1/100 sec. but the dislay does not have that speed so it shows the next lower speed. No, the display shows that speed. I noticed this with the MZ-7 a few days ago... it seems to set a sync speed of 1/15 to 1/45 when used on the fully automatic mode indoors, which snip - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Todd, Thanks for this idea, but actually, I was using a Tokina 150-500mm A lens, at the 500mm end! Perhaps the contacts on the lens or body were fouled, and the camera thought it was a short focal length F or FA lens. BTW, what does auto flash mode mean? I've been using this lens for some years without seeing anything like this. I replaced the batteries with a new set, but with no effect. Richard. home page: www.richard-seaman.com original message From: Todd Stanley [EMAIL PROTECTED] What lens were you using? The MZ cameras, in auto flash mode with a F or FA lens attached, choose a shutter speed of 1/focal length as long as the focal length is =100mm, in order to let more ambient light into the picture. I would guess you were using a 50mm lens or a zoom at about 50mm? Todd _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Tom, The MZ-5 can display 100, in fact it can display all the valid speeds up to and including 2000. I'm hoping that the camera WAS using 1/100th but displaying 1/60th. I'm wondering if the film would have been properly exposed (ie, flash output over the whole film area) if the camera was operating at 1/60th. Would both shutter curtains be open simultaneously at 1/60th? I suppose they would. Of course, 1/60th sucks as a flash sync speed - 1/100th is bad enough. I'm surprised the MZ-S has a top speed of only 1/180, compared to the Z-1's 1/250. The MZ-S's high-speed sync with the new flash unit doesn't count for me, because of the type of photography I do - my subject is often 20, 30 or more feet away from me. When using high-speed sync, the guide number falls to virtually nothing! Richard. home page: www.richard-seaman.com --- original message --- From: Tom Rittenhouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think that your camera is actually using 1/100 sec. but the dislay does not have that speed so it shows the next lower speed. - --graywolf _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
Artur, I think it is a problem if the camera shoots at, say, 1/30th, because at that speed the ambient light will affect the final photo, almost regardless of what aperture I set. It's quite possible to have a situation where there isn't enough light to shoot at 1/500th, which means I have to use flash, but there's too much ambient light to shoot at 1/30th, because I would have severe camera shake. I have this problem even when the flash sync is correctly set to 1/100th. I do usually drag a tripod with me, but my subject matter is usually too dynamic to allow me to make much use of it, which is why I do most of my shooting handheld. Richard. home page: www.richard-seaman.com - - Original Message - Thanks for this idea, but actually, I was using a Tokina 150-500mm A lens, at the 500mm end Come on:) With the focal length of 500 mm it actually doesn't matter if the camera chooses to shoot at 1/100, 1/60 or 1/30 - in terms of sharpness of one's pics, of course. You should use a tripod/monopod anyway... But it DOES affect balance between the flash light and the ambient light, especially in case of slower films... Greetz Artur _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
At 19:36 1-12-2001 -0500, you wrote: From: Richard Seaman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed! Of course, 1/60th sucks as a flash sync speed Me and my MX have never been particularly bothered by it. Then again, I don't use flash that often anyway. The thing uses 4xAA batteries and somebody's usually nicked them for their gameboy or whatever. Wendy --- Wendy Paul Beard Ottawa, Canada mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: HELP: my MZ-5 thinks 1/60th is a great flash sync speed!
On Fri, 30 Nov 2001, Tom Rittenhouse wrote: I think that your camera is actually using 1/100 sec. but the dislay does not have that speed so it shows the next lower speed. No, the display shows that speed. I noticed this with the MZ-7 a few days ago... it seems to set a sync speed of 1/15 to 1/45 when used on the fully automatic mode indoors, which is ludicrous... few casual shooters can handhold at that speed, even when the flash provides some of the exposure. Pentax's explanation was that a slow speed provides a better balance between flash and ambient light, which is true, but it can also result in subject blur. Canons use a faster sync speed, which makes for more flash-heavy picutres, but which results in sharper exposures sometimes. chris - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
