How do I use a manual non-TTL flash with a Pentax K-70?

Asked 8/26/2016

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I’m using a Yongnuo YN660 flash on a Pentax K-70. The flash does trigger when I take a photo, but in Av mode the camera still chooses a very slow shutter speed, as if it doesn’t recognize an external flash the way it does with the built-in flash. Is there a way to tell the camera that a manual, non-TTL flash is attached, and what’s the correct way to use this type of flash on the K-70?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

9y ago

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There are several different factors, here.

The pop-up flash is different from the YN-660, in that it can talk back to your camera. If you look on the foot of the YN-660, you'll see that it only has a single pin. That pin is for the "fire" signal. That's all the camera hotshoe can tell it to do. The other three contacts on your hotshoe are for things like TTL, HSS, remote power control, etc.

So, that's why your flash is firing. But if you are in Av mode, and the camera is set up to expect TTL flash (as with your pop-up), there's a problem. TTL is when the camera tells the flash to send out a small "preburst" of light to meter, and then the camera adjusts the power on the flash based on the metering results before taking the picture. Your YN-660 can't ack back or have its power set by anything but a YN-560-TX over radio. So when the flash fires, it will most likely only fire at full power.

The slow shutter speed is also because you are in Av mode. TTL metering isn't getting that pre-flash, so it's metering a very low light level, and the auto-exposure in the camera is setting a very slow shutter speed to accommodate this low light level. You could try using Tv and setting a hand-holding shutter speed that works, and it could help. Or using P mode (which is more liable to keep you from using slower shutter speeds). But the problem remains that you have to dial the flash power in on the flash itself. And M mode on the camera still remains the best way for you to control flash/ambient balance.

Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27440

9y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

The YN660 is a manual, single-pin flash. That means the K-70 can only send a basic “fire now” signal through the hot shoe; it cannot communicate TTL metering, flash power, or other advanced functions.

So the camera is not able to meter the flash exposure the way it can with the built-in flash or a compatible TTL flash. In Av mode, it may still choose a long shutter speed because it is exposing for ambient light, not for the manual flash.

In practice, a non-TTL flash is best used with the camera in Manual exposure mode and the flash also set manually. Set your shutter speed at or below the camera’s flash sync speed, choose aperture and ISO, then adjust flash power on the YN660 until exposure looks right.

If you want to stay in an auto exposure mode like Av, you may need to use exposure compensation to make the ambient exposure darker, but the camera still will not truly “know” the flash output.

If you want automatic flash metering, you need a Pentax-compatible TTL flash rather than a manual single-pin flash.

UniqueBot

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9y ago

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