Crikey, Larry. Why use a $400 flash as a dumb optically triggered slave? You can get old Vivitar 283/285s for that purpose and they are a dime a dozen these days. Add a Vivitar Vari-Power Module (admittedly getting harder to find) and you've got oodles of flexibility on an optically fired slave.
On Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 8:55 PM, Larry Colen <[email protected]> wrote: > When my AF 540 died, I replaced it with a metz 58-2. > > For just basic flash operations, it works a lot better. My AF-540 was an > unreliable piece of crap. Unreliable in that it kept breaking and unreliable > in that I could never rely on it to do what I told it to. > > The UI of the Metz is not very good. The other problem with the Metz is that > I cannot figure out how to use it as a dumb optically triggered strobe. It’ll > work with the fancy ttl controls, at least in theory, I haven’t had much > luck, but when I want it on a stand, triggered off my studio lights, I seem > to be SOL and just need to get an external optical trigger. > > I’ve been looking at the yongnuo and the Midwest photo strobes lately. > > > On Jul 31, 2014, at 2:15 PM, Igor Roshchin <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> Dan, >> >> I've been heavily relying on flash in what I photograph: >> quick dances in a dark room, fill-in flash for my child indoors and >> outdoors photos, some candid portraits in dynamic settings. >> >> While I have only tried Pentax AF540 with K-7, I didn't like it, >> and bought Metz 58 (not "2" yet), that I've been happily using ever >> since, with both K-7 and K-5IIs. >> IMHO, it works much better (but not universally perfectly, - so you have >> to use it smartly). >> I've been using it in two modes: either in "A", where the flash decides >> when to cut itself off, or in PTTL. >> In most cases, I find that "A" mode works better, especially when >> I turn the main flash up, and have the front fill-in sub-flash enabled. >> I use PTTL often for forward-facing (typically longer-distance) shots. >> >> Also, PTTL seems to work somewhat better at the very close range (1-3 feet), >> maybe because camera's CPU is faster to cut off this powerhouse. >> >> I agree, however, that the buttons of Pentax AF540 are more convenient >> than the menues of Metz 58. Those menues are frustrating. >> But I choose a better functionality. >> >> Also, there were some problems (and I don't remember all the details), >> that Pentax AF540 didn't not keep its settings upon power-cycling, and >> it might not allow a manual mode. (Larry might still remember this part, >> - he complained about that more recently.) >> >> It looks like Metz 58-2 might have a better hotshoe mount, which is >> welcome, as the one in Metz 58 is becoming a bit "loose" after a lot of >> use, and may require occasional adjustment after insertion. >> >> See my earlier response about Metz 58 in this thread: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg656989.html >> >> HTH, >> >> Igor >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Thu Jul 31 16:36:09 EDT 2014 >> Paul pentax1941 at gmail.com wrote: >> >> I have both the Metz 58 and the Pentax AF540 and would pretty much >> concur with the Amazon review from Darren's link. Both will tilt and >> swivel, features that I prefer for better lighting. >> >> The Pentax is a little quicker to use since you can make most changes >> via buttons rather than spending time in menus. The secondary flash on >> the Metz is very useful for a fill light and the Metz is upgradeable via >> a USB cable. >> >> Either one will serve you well. The Pentax *is* pricier by about $50. >> >> -p >> >> On 7/31/2014 1:19 PM, Darren Addy wrote: >>> I've never owned a modern Pentax flash. When it came time to get one, >>> I looked at the power and features and went with the Metz 58 AF-1. I >>> think that has been supplanted by the AF-2 now, but it still gets very >>> decent reviews: >>> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744545-REG/Metz_MZ_58327PS_mecablitz_58_AF_2_TTL.html >>> >>> If you don't need that much power: >>> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Metz+52+AF-1+pentax&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= >>> >>> That being said, the first review on this page is worth reading: >>> http://www.amazon.com/Metz-mecablitz-Digital-Pentax-Cameras/product-reviews/B004DUMU8I/ref=pd_sxp_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 >>> >>> Hope this helps. >>> >>> On Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 1:12 PM, Daniel J. Matyola <danmatyola at >>> gmail.com> wrote: >>>> I have been extremely pleased with my new K-5IIs. Recently, however, >>>> my hotshoe mounted flash has be acting up, and I am thinking of >>>> replacing it. >>>> >>>> Which flash unit would you recommend for use with the K-5IIs? >>>> >>>> Thanks in advance for your advice. >>>> >>>> Dan Matyola >>>> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola >>>> >> >> -- >> 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. -- Photographers must learn not to be ashamed to have their photographs look like photographs. ~ Alfred Stieglitz -- 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.
