I can't answer your question about third party alternatives, but I have experienced the broken zoom mechanism on both of my 540 flashes. I had them repaired at a cost of about $150 each, if memory serves me. I use them extensively, so I count that as normal wear and tear. Plus, I used them with a heavy diffuser hanging on the end (and should have turned off auto zoom). But I would be annoyed if I hadn't used the flashes much and they failed. Is your 360 out of warranty? If so, figure on a somewhat expensive repair.
Paul On Oct 3, 2012, at 7:34 PM, Brian Walters <[email protected]> wrote: > 'morning all > > I'm pretty much a novice when it comes to using flash. When I need to use my > AF360FGZ, I just put it on the camera and hope for the best. The best rarely > occurs... > > Anyway. I have a function coming up where I'd like to get some reasonably > passable shots so I dragged out the 360 yesterday, together with the > instruction manual, to try to come to grips with its mysteries. When I > switched it on, there was a low humming noise for several seconds before the > LCD panel lit up. Strange. I'd never heard that before. Anyway, everything > seemed OK initially but then I noticed that the flash head wouldn't zoom as I > zoomed the lens. > > Checked that the flash was sitting in the hotshoe properly. It was. Tried > again with the same problem. The Zoom button wouldn't work and the focal > length indicator just flashed at 16mm. > > All of this was happening with the K-5 and 16-45mm DA lens, so I tried it on > the K200D. Same result. > > On reading the manual, I noted that the Zoom button doesn't work if the wide > angle diffuser is in place in front of the flash head. It wasn't, but I had > been using it in that position a couple of weeks ago and I suspect that some > electrical contact has broken that tells the flash that the diffuser is no > longer in place. > > Sorry - that's a bit long winded... > > I guess I can still use the 360 provided I stick to the fairly wide end of > the lens' zoom range but I'm considering having the flashgun repaired. I'm > wondering, though, what third part PTTL alternatives are available that might > be a more economical proposition. > > Suggestions appreciated. > > > -- > Cheers > > Brian > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > Brian Walters > Western Sydney Australia > http://lyons-ryan.org/southernlight/ > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
