Flash for K100D

pinholecam · 25th July 2007

Hi All,

1st post here. I currently have a K100D and I'm looking for a budget flash. Budget is around $400 (pref lower). Most of the photos I take are landscape and holiday shots and family events. I figure that flash use will mainly be fill flash and bounce, so I'm really not sure if I should go for a flash that has power adjustment. So far I've looked at

Metz44 : ~$450 at K13. Seems to come with swivel head and flash power ctrl. Anyone got a review on it?

Sigma 500 super : Was quoted ~$450 at MSColor (but no stock). Comes with swivel head and flash power ctrl.

Pentax 360 : $360 at CP. Comes with flash power ctrl.

If i go the way of just wanting an adjustable head (for bounce) and give up on pwr ctrl, are there any other options at cheaper prices out there?
Thanks

longko · 25th July 2007

Sigma EF 500 DG Super is cheaper if you buy a "grey" set from OP

IIRC Mertz44 doesn't come with PTTL. AF360FGZ doesn't swirl so it'll be troublesome if you take portraits.

longko · 25th July 2007

OT a bit. Why don't Pentax gives color gels for its flash?

Anyone can suggest where to get color gels for AF540FGZ?

alanswan · 25th July 2007

Originally Posted by longko

OT a bit. Why don't Pentax gives color gels for its flash? Anyone can suggest where to get color gels for AF540FGZ?

My friend (not Pentax, but can borrow idea) 'bought' the stacks of free color gel samples from B&H, cut from there and stick with tape.

That is provided you got lobang for courier back to SG though...

sbc · 26th July 2007

i m more interested in a polarized filter for the flash. maybe one day i will buy a cheaper sunglass and cut out a filter.
or
buy polarized film to cut and stick to the wide angle diffuser in the 540fzg.

sbc · 26th July 2007

Or u might like to wait for this

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/news/news.asp?nID=3349

longko · 26th July 2007

Originally Posted by alanswan

My friend (not Pentax, but can borrow idea) 'bought' the stacks of free color gel samples from B&H, cut from there and stick with tape.
That is provided you got lobang for courier back to SG though...

Thanks, but I was hoping there's a better way. Think I'll consider getting a whaletail since can buy color gels for it. But like a bit ex now, hope OP brings in oem brands

longko · 26th July 2007

Originally Posted by sbc

i m more interested in a polarized filter for the flash. maybe one day i will buy a cheaper sunglass and cut out a filter.
or
buy polarized film to cut and stick to the wide angle diffuser in the 540fzg.

Why not use an old used X-ray?

sbc · 26th July 2007

x-ray film are polarized?

longko · 26th July 2007

Originally Posted by sbc

x-ray film are polarized?

Sorry remember wrongly, it's used to DIY IR filter

BTW how much does it cost for polarized film? I'm thinking of buying those LCD anti-glare flim

sbc · 26th July 2007

I have no idea. Hv not bought any before but I know there are such things around. Just hv to hunt for it. I wonder if those windscreen or windows specialist have it.

longko · 26th July 2007

Originally Posted by sbc

I have no idea. Hv not bought any before but I know there are such things around. Just hv to hunt for it. I wonder if those windscreen or windows specialist have it.

If you want to look for sunglass, try Daiso. I recall they have those clip-on sunglasses for spects.

pinholecam · 3rd August 2007

Went down to OP y'day, but they did not have stock for Sigma EF500 Super DG. But the price they quoted was real good ($370). Is there any other place I can get this flash at this price?

alanswan · 3rd August 2007

Probably not... Did you check with them when the stock is coming in?

pinholecam · 3rd August 2007

Originally Posted by alanswan

Probably not... Did you check with them when the stock is coming in?

No leh...
Shop attendant was rather non committal on when next stock will come in and just said that "when got stock, they will bring in"

alanswan · 3rd August 2007

I also agree that the customer service in OP has been pretty bad lately (the last couple of times i was there), esp. when the female bosses is not around....

fengwei · 3rd August 2007

Originally Posted by alanswan

I also agree that the customer service in OP has been pretty bad lately (the last couple of times i was there), esp. when the female bosses is not around....

I guess they finally lost patience (so many people come and ask around but don't buy anything at all)

. It's really hard to have good service all the time from a small private shop like that, generally speaking.

creampuff · 4th August 2007

Actually, the Pentax AF360FGZ isn't so bad an option. It's real versatility comes when used off-camera with another AF flash unit as commander or slave. Lately I've been helping a friend do some commercial product shots and instead of using a studio flash setup, I opted to use 2 AF360FGZ units that I had. Coupled with some Pentax off-camera flash shoes and cables, the results were better than I expected. When set to master and slave control, the TTL flash metering was spot on. Didn't need to use my Minolta flash meter except to check the occasional exposure.

25th July 2007	#1
pinholecam Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 725	Flash for K100D Hi All, 1st post here. I currently have a K100D and I'm looking for a budget flash. Budget is around $400 (pref lower). Most of the photos I take are landscape and holiday shots and family events. I figure that flash use will mainly be fill flash and bounce, so I'm really not sure if I should go for a flash that has power adjustment. So far I've looked at Metz44 : ~$450 at K13. Seems to come with swivel head and flash power ctrl. Anyone got a review on it? Sigma 500 super : Was quoted ~$450 at MSColor (but no stock). Comes with swivel head and flash power ctrl. Pentax 360 : $360 at CP. Comes with flash power ctrl. If i go the way of just wanting an adjustable head (for bounce) and give up on pwr ctrl, are there any other options at cheaper prices out there? Thanks

25th July 2007	#2
longko Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Balestier Posts: 2,057	Re: Flash for K100D Sigma EF 500 DG Super is cheaper if you buy a "grey" set from OP IIRC Mertz44 doesn't come with PTTL. AF360FGZ doesn't swirl so it'll be troublesome if you take portraits. __________________ Reason to mean photographers http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...axon/WTD03.gif

25th July 2007	#3
longko Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Balestier Posts: 2,057	Re: Flash for K100D OT a bit. Why don't Pentax gives color gels for its flash? Anyone can suggest where to get color gels for AF540FGZ? __________________ Reason to mean photographers http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...axon/WTD03.gif

26th July 2007	#5
sbc Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West of Singapore Posts: 605	Re: Flash for K100D i m more interested in a polarized filter for the flash. maybe one day i will buy a cheaper sunglass and cut out a filter. or buy polarized film to cut and stick to the wide angle diffuser in the 540fzg. __________________ K20D, BG2, DA18-55II, DFA100, DA*60-250, 540FGZ

26th July 2007	#6
sbc Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West of Singapore Posts: 605	Sigma EF-530 DG Super Or u might like to wait for this http://www.sigmaphoto.com/news/news.asp?nID=3349 __________________ K20D, BG2, DA18-55II, DFA100, DA*60-250, 540FGZ

26th July 2007	#9
sbc Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West of Singapore Posts: 605	Re: Flash for K100D x-ray film are polarized? __________________ K20D, BG2, DA18-55II, DFA100, DA*60-250, 540FGZ

26th July 2007	#11
sbc Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West of Singapore Posts: 605	Re: Flash for K100D I have no idea. Hv not bought any before but I know there are such things around. Just hv to hunt for it. I wonder if those windscreen or windows specialist have it. __________________ K20D, BG2, DA18-55II, DFA100, DA*60-250, 540FGZ

3rd August 2007	#13
pinholecam Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 725	Re: Flash for K100D Went down to OP y'day, but they did not have stock for Sigma EF500 Super DG. But the price they quoted was real good ($370). Is there any other place I can get this flash at this price?

3rd August 2007	#14
alanswan Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seng Kang Posts: 944	Re: Flash for K100D Probably not... Did you check with them when the stock is coming in?

3rd August 2007	#16
alanswan Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seng Kang Posts: 944	Re: Flash for K100D I also agree that the customer service in OP has been pretty bad lately (the last couple of times i was there), esp. when the female bosses is not around....

4th August 2007	#18
creampuff Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: East side Posts: 3,342	Re: Flash for K100D Actually, the Pentax AF360FGZ isn't so bad an option. It's real versatility comes when used off-camera with another AF flash unit as commander or slave. Lately I've been helping a friend do some commercial product shots and instead of using a studio flash setup, I opted to use 2 AF360FGZ units that I had. Coupled with some Pentax off-camera flash shoes and cables, the results were better than I expected. When set to master and slave control, the TTL flash metering was spot on. Didn't need to use my Minolta flash meter except to check the occasional exposure. __________________ http://ideastoprint.blogspot.com/