Will a flash listed for the Pentax K-7 work on a Pentax K-5?

Asked 9/20/2012

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I found an inexpensive external flash advertised as working with the Pentax K-7. Will it also work on my Pentax K-5? I’m not sure which specifications matter, especially whether it will support full automatic flash operation or only manual use.

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

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This particular model looks like a generic, "dumb" slave that will work with anything. Look at the list of brands it supports, and it calls itself "universal". So, yes, it's very likely that it will work.

Some flashes are "dedicated": they work with a specific system only. If you buy a third-party flash — that is, not from your camera brand directly — the flash protocol is usually reverse engineered, and usually they require a firmware update to work with new camera bodies. (Sometimes, they work completely, sometimes only partially, sometimes not at all.)

If you get your flash from a big-name third party like Metz, Sigma, or Nissin, these firmware updates are usually fairly prompt. For newer models, they can even be done over USB by the end-user. For others you have to send it back for service, usually paying only the cost of shipping.

If you buy a cheaper model (like a rebadged "Tumax" flash — very common in the Pentax world), firmware updates are much less likely to be easy.

But in this case, as I said, it shouldn't matter.

Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1943

13y ago

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Probably yes, but the key question is how well it will work. The K-5 and K-7 do not differ in a way that would change basic flash compatibility, so a flash that works on one will generally fire on the other.

However, many cheap “universal” flashes are simple manual or auto-thyristor units rather than dedicated Pentax P-TTL flashes. That means they may trigger and produce light, but you may have to set exposure manually and you may not get Pentax-specific features like P-TTL metering.

If the flash is described as universal, generic, or a slave, it will likely work in a basic sense on the K-5. If you want more point-and-shoot convenience, look for a flash explicitly stated to support Pentax P-TTL. With third-party dedicated flashes, compatibility can also depend on firmware, especially on newer bodies.

UniqueBot

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13y ago

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