Bouncing with AF360?

[scorpioh]

May I check with owners of this flash, is it possible to rotate the flash head such that it points to the ceiling when in portrait mode because there is only one axis of rotation, unlike the AF540? Thanks. Need to get this flash soon.

[fengwei]

If you mount the 360 flash directly on a camera body, there is no way you can do that. But you can try get wireless flash, flash cable, L flash bracket and etc...

Why not just get a 540 flash, or some Sigma equivelent which has pan tile capability? That'll save you a lot trouble ...

[flowerpot]

cannot... this is something pentax should address... how difficult to make a swivel head... best option is the AF-540... if i dun need a flash for macro, i would have dump my flash long ago... lucky i seldom shoot events...

hopefully pentax can improved on their flash systems...

[pinholecam]

The non-swivel head seems to be one of the features that makes the AF360 cheaper than AF540. I have always wondered how difficult it is to make a swivel head. Then again, I'm using a AF360 cause I did not want to spend a bomb on a flash that I would use only occasionally.

To get round the bounce issue, on Af360,
1. Use a large bounce card
2. Use a cheapo wireless trigger
3. Use flash cable

I am mainly using option #1. This method is usable up to approx 4-6meters with high ceiling. Fall-off of the bounce flash will be quite rapid over distance and at 5-6 meters, it can be quite weak and may be to personal preference.

[scorpioh]

Thanks all for the very prompt reply. I don't mind getting the 540 but I had read quite a number of bad reviews due to some QC issues, hotshoe mounting problems and that kind of put me off. The 360 seems to be of a better built and less issues. Any comments on this? Thanks.

[night86mare]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Thanks all for the very prompt reply. I don't mind getting the 540 but I had read quite a number of bad reviews due to some QC issues, hotshoe mounting problems and that kind of put me off. The 360 seems to be of a better built and less issues. Any comments on this? Thanks.

hrm, most of the reviews i had read placed 540 with better build? hrm.

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by pinholecam The non-swivel head seems to be one of the features that makes the AF360 cheaper than AF540. I have always wondered how difficult it is to make a swivel head. Then again, I'm using a AF360 cause I did not want to spend a bomb on a flash that I would use only occasionally. To get round the bounce issue, on Af360, 1. Use a large bounce card 2. Use a cheapo wireless trigger 3. Use flash cable I am mainly using option #1. This method is usable up to approx 4-6meters with high ceiling. Fall-off of the bounce flash will be quite rapid over distance and at 5-6 meters, it can be quite weak and may be to personal preference.

how to bounce to ceiling if u want to shoot in portrait style where do u point the flash head ?? can oni point to the side since cannot swivel...use bounce card to bounce to the ceiling ??

for its price although is much cheaper than the AF540... but if u look other flash system, for the same price point... almost all can swivel

dun waste time on the AF360 la scorpioh... if u really need a flash just bite the bullet and get the AF540... spend more, help the econmoy... help pentax too

unless u looking for a 2nd flash, then AF360 can consider...

[night86mare]

Originally Posted by flowerpot dun waste time on the AF360 la scorpioh... if u really need a flash just bite the bullet and get the AF540... spend more, help the econmoy... help pentax too unless u looking for a 2nd flash, then AF360 can consider...

how about the sigma one?

[scorpioh]

Originally Posted by flowerpot how to bounce to ceiling if u want to shoot in portrait style where do u point the flash head ?? can oni point to the side since cannot swivel...use bounce card to bounce to the ceiling ?? for its price although is much cheaper than the AF540... but if u look other flash system, for the same price point... almost all can swivel dun waste time on the AF360 la scorpioh... if u really need a flash just bite the bullet and get the AF540... spend more, help the econmoy... help pentax too unless u looking for a 2nd flash, then AF360 can consider...

Haha, flowerpot, u always poison me lah, last time the FA77, now the 540.

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Thanks all for the very prompt reply. I don't mind getting the 540 but I had read quite a number of bad reviews due to some QC issues, hotshoe mounting problems and that kind of put me off. The 360 seems to be of a better built and less issues. Any comments on this? Thanks.

i got both nikon and pentax flash... built quality wise yes its slightly(just) not as good as nikon, but its still fine... the hotshoe mounting problem is very rare and can be prevented if u keen to diy urself, just need to remove the locking pin, even nikon flash(metal hotshoe at flash side) got problem... the hotshoe sometimes does not have a good contact and miss fire happens...

oni issue i have with pentax flash is learning how to use it effectively... its the photographer(me) problem... not the flash... if use correctly, the results is good...

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by night86mare how about the sigma one?

i no experience in sigma flash... but i think i works fine... i have seem many ppl use it... can swivel

but if u use it extensively for events for example... its better to use back pentax flash for better results... for occsasional usage... then i think the sigma is a great option for its price

[Gengh]

Haha, after I got the AF360, the lack of a swivel head bothered me a little too, otherwise I'm very happy with the flash. Then I went on to get the Sigma 530 Super, and here's my opinion on the Sigma: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420017. Hope that helps!

[istDeS]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Thanks all for the very prompt reply. I don't mind getting the 540 but I had read quite a number of bad reviews due to some QC issues, hotshoe mounting problems and that kind of put me off. The 360 seems to be of a better built and less issues. Any comments on this? Thanks.

If you are worried about the pin stuck at hotshoe problem, some of the bro's here had the pin removed. Some of us here had used the 540 without problem. Don't really have to worry too much getting the 540 as those reported problems can be easily solved.

[scorpioh]

Thanks all. I had just done further read up. About the stuck-zoom thing, wat does it mean? Have to send in for RMA one huh?

[istDeS]

Originally Posted by night86mare hrm, most of the reviews i had read placed 540 with better build? hrm.

I think it's in terms of features as 540 got swivel but not in terms of build. The build for both about the same to me.

[istDeS]

Originally Posted by flowerpot how to bounce to ceiling if u want to shoot in portrait style where do u point the flash head ?? can oni point to the side since cannot swivel...use bounce card to bounce to the ceiling ??

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe can DIY a light scoop to redirect some of the flash to ceiling?

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Thanks all. I had just done further read up. About the stuck-zoom thing, wat does it mean? Have to send in for RMA one huh?

RMA so who pay for the RMA... stuck zoom happen to all other brand of flash also la... the motor inside spoilt liao... the flash cannot set the zoom settings, anyway the zoom setting is useless to mi, cos i neber fire flash direct unless im using some form of light modifiers...

alamak any product will have any possibility of defect la... just buy 1 with warranty lor... sledom spoilt 1 la... spoilt look for kevin la...

[scorpioh]

Originally Posted by flowerpot RMA so who pay for the RMA... stuck zoom happen to all other brand of flash also la... the motor inside spoilt liao... the flash cannot set the zoom settings, anyway the zoom setting is useless to mi, cos i neber fire flash direct unless im using some form of light modifiers... alamak any product will have any possibility of defect la... just buy 1 with warranty lor... sledom spoilt 1 la... spoilt look for kevin la...

I see. I dunno flash can zoom one. I think I just get the 360 and stofen-omni bounce and flash direct. Not much of a flash user, just need for an occasional event. Ha.

[scorpioh]

OT: the reply/view ratio for this thread is more than 0.5!!!! Thanks for all the helpful advice.

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by scorpioh I see. I dunno flash can zoom one. I think I just get the 360 and stofen-omni bounce and flash direct. Not much of a flash user, just need for an occasional event. Ha.

advice of the day... get the sigma (u will need the swivel)... advice of the century, neber flash direct with stofen-omni bounce... at an angle at least... or better yet used a 50cent bounce card... works better...