still blur on flashes

[denn23]

After reading on all avaliable flashes for the pentax, im STILLLL so confuse on the flash i should get, mainly because I need a flash for TTL and also for strobing in the future.

anyone has the same problem as me and gotten a solution?

[darrrrrrrrrr]

Originally Posted by denn23 After reading on all avaliable flashes for the pentax, im STILLLL so confuse on the flash i should get, mainly because I need a flash for TTL and also for strobing in the future. anyone has the same problem as me and gotten a solution?

what exactly is your problem?

how do you want to do your off-cam strobing? with full TTL capability using optical wireless, or using manual mode and radio triggers (pocket wizards, skyports, PT04, etc)?

how much power do you need from your flash?

do you need the swivel function?

are you ok with 3rd party flashes from sigma, metz?

[flowerpot]

AF540...

[denn23]

Originally Posted by darrrrrrrrrr what exactly is your problem? how do you want to do your off-cam strobing? with full TTL capability using optical wireless, or using manual mode and radio triggers (pocket wizards, skyports, PT04, etc)? how much power do you need from your flash? do you need the swivel function? are you ok with 3rd party flashes from sigma, metz?

woah..okok..

Thats the things about strobing.. most site i go to in regards to strobing are more nikon and canon orientated. That said, i wish there was a dedicated strobist site for pentax.

I would like to think a full TTL flash is the easiest to handle in normal circumstances.. but as for strobing, TTL may not be the best solution?


in terms of power, one would think its best to get one that is powerful enough to cover most events/ shoot?


swivel function would be definetely be a plus.


im ok with 3rd party flashes as long as they work i guess.. cause the easy way out would be to get the AF 540?


just thoughts.. not a flash person but getting into it so im open to suggestions and advice.

thx

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by denn23 woah..okok.. Thats the things about strobing.. most site i go to in regards to strobing are more nikon and canon orientated. That said, i wish there was a dedicated strobist site for pentax. I would like to think a full TTL flash is the easiest to handle in normal circumstances.. but as for strobing, TTL may not be the best solution? in terms of power, one would think its best to get one that is powerful enough to cover most events/ shoot? swivel function would be definetely be a plus. im ok with 3rd party flashes as long as they work i guess.. cause the easy way out would be to get the AF 540? just thoughts.. not a flash person but getting into it so im open to suggestions and advice. thx

what strobing are you referring to? off camera flash? multiply flashes?

the most reliable and economy way is still manual mode, not TTL.

[matchkk]

Originally Posted by denn23 woah..okok.. Thats the things about strobing.. most site i go to in regards to strobing are more nikon and canon orientated. That said, i wish there was a dedicated strobist site for pentax. I would like to think a full TTL flash is the easiest to handle in normal circumstances.. but as for strobing, TTL may not be the best solution? in terms of power, one would think its best to get one that is powerful enough to cover most events/ shoot? swivel function would be definetely be a plus. im ok with 3rd party flashes as long as they work i guess.. cause the easy way out would be to get the AF 540? just thoughts.. not a flash person but getting into it so im open to suggestions and advice. thx

Read this, this site is very informative.

http://knol.google.com/k/matthew-mil...jwk7bitq8i8/1#

[denn23]

Originally Posted by catchlights what strobing are you referring to? off camera flash? multiply flashes? the most reliable and economy way is still manual mode, not TTL.

most likely off camera.

and yes,, the most reliable is manual mode.. which is where i need to find the balance of a TTL flash for "everyday" use and a manual? flash for strobing.

[catchlights]

your flash don't have manual mode?

[denn23]

Originally Posted by catchlights your flash don't have manual mode?

so would be best to just get the 540? need suggestions..

btw matchkk.. nice link

[pinholecam]

By strobing, I guess you mean off camera flash.
By TTL, do you mean on-camera flash or off camera flash with PTTL function?

Anyway, both Pentax AF360 and AF540 can switch from PTTL, Auto, Manual modes.
Question then is if you need a swivel head or not?


If you can afford, or find a swivel head is worth the additional cost delta between AF360 and AF540, then get AF540.

Wireless flash (PTTL) should work if your camera is above K100D. I can't comment on this, I have a K100D only.
Else you need a pentax flash sync cable

I'm using a AF360 and Vivitar285HV. Very often, I prefer the Vivitar for the ease of use (just turn knob for flash power), over the fidgeting of modes and button of the AF360. But in situations where I have little chance to adj flash power (Eg. a wedding), I'd go for a on-camera AF360 on PTTL.

[Gengh]

Since you want to do both strobing and events, best is to start with a full-featured flash as your first flash. By full featured I mean the AF540 or Sigma 530 super, or equivalent Metz flash. You need a good amount of power, and swivel. As for wireless slave, that depends on whether you want to trigger optically.

Then for subsequent flashes, can buy almost anything, as long as they give you enough control over the power.

[denn23]

Originally Posted by Gengh Since you want to do both strobing and events, best is to start with a full-featured flash as your first flash. By full featured I mean the AF540 or Sigma 530 super, or equivalent Metz flash. You need a good amount of power, and swivel. As for wireless slave, that depends on whether you want to trigger optically. Then for subsequent flashes, can buy almost anything, as long as they give you enough control over the power.

yeap.. i think since its gonna be my first flash, i should get either the 540 or the sigma 530 super.

show of hands to which one i should get?

[darrrrrrrrrr]

or a metz 58?

i think the metz has the best build quality, but the af540 is the most intuitive to use? i dunno

[Grey Knight]

just got the super!
its quite good but frankly, I'm also new on the whole flash thing so I'm still learning. I feel like I only know how to use 0.0001% of the flash right now :/

[denn23]

Originally Posted by Grey Knight just got the super! its quite good but frankly, I'm also new on the whole flash thing so I'm still learning. I feel like I only know how to use 0.0001% of the flash right now :/

any reason why u chose the super over the 540?

thx!

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by denn23 any reason why u chose the super over the 540? thx!

cheaper...

[Grey Knight]

Originally Posted by flowerpot cheaper...

exactly

[Gengh]

Originally Posted by denn23 yeap.. i think since its gonna be my first flash, i should get either the 540 or the sigma 530 super. show of hands to which one i should get?

If $$$ no issue, I would choose the AF540. My reasons can be found here: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420017

[xylestesins]

I have one AF360 and another flashgun that is in Nikon mount.

BUT, doesn't matter to me at all. In fact, given a choice i think i'd trade in my AF360 for 2 more of the PZ40x. I haven't used the TTL since.. well i haven't used it almost at all, since i started out the the PZ40x in only manual mode and loved only manual since.

What i need is just a flashgun that is able to produce a decent GN and have a decent power variation (1/1 - 1/16) or so. Maybe you do too.

Manual mode strobing is the same concept to me as guesstimating exposure. Since i shoot film alot more than digital, it's a regular thing to guess and compensate here and there inside my mind, since i can't trust my shots to the internal meter alone until i get a true incident reading.
In the strobe's case, i compensate for every diffuser, wall bounce or lengthened distance inside my head.

Not everyone will agree with me, but my advice would be..
Get cheap flashes with decent GN (35 or more, preferably over 40), wireless triggers, and work in manual mode while you throw around your creativity rather spend cash to solve things like swivel head and such. If you are not the type who is going to mount your flashgun directly on your camera's hotshoe, you will soon find yourself craving for but 2 things - More light sources (flashguns), more GN. Oh, and maybe a lightstand or 2 when there simply isn't any other place to prop your flashgun on.

[denn23]

is it me or is it damn difficult to find a second hand 540 or the 530 Super?

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