*ist...not list. How did it work on that camera? Zos Xavius <[email protected]> wrote:
>some more thoughts... > >I've always heard that pttl doesn't work all that great, so I never >bothered getting the 80 dollar hot shoe for my Metz 54. I always used >it in auto and hand fed it settings and used the dummy hot shoe. This >worked beautifully and I could adjust EV on the flash. That flash died. >I can plan on fixing it, but I needed a flash now. I was using a >borrowed speed light, but found it much less accurate than the Metz and >had no EV compensation grrr. Sure cycled fast, I'll give Nikon that. To >be fair it probably works great on a digital Nikon body. > >So a friend offered me an old Pentax swivel flash. Af280 I think? Its >cute, compact and has a great autothyristor. I can get accurate >exposures pretty easily and I think the flash is communicating with the >camera somewhat as it gives flash ready indication in the viewfinder. I >like it. It swivels and rotates 360 degrees. Powerful enough to bounce. >Seems really reliable too. I paid 40 for it. Its even strong enough for >200mm and some distance. I honestly don't know the guide number. He >used to use it with his 67. Mmmm 67.... > >I prefer manual flash control for controlled setups anyways. Best to >just preset everything. For covering say an event, I love auto flashes. >I can use aperture and iso to quickly adjust exposure it needed. If I >were to buy a high end flash, I would get an older Metz like the first >58 AF. The Pentax flashes forgetting settings is a real deal breaker. >So is the preflash. I want one flash and that's it. You get soooo much >less blinking....I don't hear much good about pttl, so who cares about >that? Autothyristors are superior regardless of system IMO. I know I'm >not alone in this thinking. TTL was superior to everything that >followed. Too bad only the list supported it. Funny how they could make >it work back then...... > >Bruce Walker <[email protected]> wrote: > >>Stan, sounds like your project includes using two or more flashes at >>once. It should simplify your decision process a bit to know that >>P-TTL is essentially useless with more than a single flash; or at >>least I've never gotten it to work in 5 years of AF540 ownership (I >>have two of them). >> >>It's great to have at least one P-TTL capable flash in your kit, and >>in my experience the Pentax flashes are solid bricks. You cannot >>overheat them, they don't misfire, they run for hours on a set of >>batteries; so for event shooting with flash on camera in P-TTL they >>rock. And if you have a Pentax P-TTL flash it is pretty-much >>guaranteed to work with all Pentax bodies. I also find them pretty >>easy to configure. You need the manual at first, but they are no worse >>than most other complex electronics and simpler than most cheap >>digital watches, for instance. >> >>But as soon as you are trying to get sophisticated and use them for >>portraiture, real estate interiors, studio work, etc., you are going >>into a galaxy of grief if you try to use P-TTL and wireless with them. >>That probably includes the Sigmas, Metz's and Promasters too. (I think >>that only Nikon has multiflash x-TTL worked out.) >> >>For studio-like shooting, especially multi-flash, I employ fully >>manual flash using a light meter for setup. So I now use my AF540's on >>manual, with the power-saver mode disabled so they stay alive and >>retain their settings. I use cheap radio triggers rather then the >>Pentax optical wireless for more flexibility and reliability. >> >>But for the price of a single AF540 you could buy a Sekonic lightmeter >>and a couple of Yongnuo flashes. The Yongnuo's are being recommended >>by the Strobist crowd. I don't own one yet so I can't say for sure >>that they're good, but were I adding more flashes to my kit I'd try >>one right away. >> >> >>On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 10:40 AM, Stan Halpin >><[email protected]> wrote: >>> I don't use flash often, have never taken time to master the >process. >>But I have an upcoming project that provides the incentive to revisit >>this aspect of my photography. >>> >>> I have the Pentax AF360 FGZ that I bought long ago to pair with my >>MZ-S and which I have used occasionally. >>> >>> I am considering adding the AF540 FGZ. Two things holding me back at >>this point: >>> a. IIRC Pentax is coming out sometime soon with a >replacement >>for the AF540. >>> b. I have noted discussions here about Metz and other >>alternatives. >>> >>> So, my questions: >>> a. Has anybody heard anything more about if/when and for how >>much we'll have an AF540 replacement? >>> b1. If I go with Metz or other system, do I lose >>functionality on my K-5ii? i.e., will I still have the same capability >>for wireless triggering, the use of two-flash setups, etc? >>> b2. Other than cost, are there any advantages to the Metz or >>other systems? >>> b3. Other than Pentax and Metz, which other alternative >>brands should I look at for good, fully capable, reliable flash in the >>AF540 range? >>> >>> Thanks! >>> >>> stan >>> -- >>> 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. > >https://www.facebook.com/zosxaviusphotography https://www.facebook.com/zosxaviusphotography -- 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.
