645Z Newbie Questions on Shoe Mount Flash & Software

Samm · 11-26-2014, 11:58 AM

Hi all,

Just ordered the 645Z. Just wondering if any of you use shoe mount flash on the Z such as the AF 540 FGZ II or others? Can you please provide comments on your experience especially with high speed sync?

Also, I am also a Canon user. Just love to use the Canon Digital Professional Photography (DPP) that comes free with the camera. Does Pentax have a software just as good? If Pentax doesn't, Lightroom is a good alternative. Thanks a lot.

Samm

LensBeginner · 11-26-2014, 12:06 PM

Pentax processing software, Digital Camera Utility 5, is based on Silkypix and it's not bad.

Samm · 11-26-2014, 12:14 PM

Thanks LensBeginner for the quick reply. Do you know if it has lens profiles for distortion or CA etc....? Can we fix distortion manually? What about crop, and rotate, etc.....? Is the Color any better than LR?

LensBeginner · 11-26-2014, 12:21 PM

I've never used it... I've heard that it mimicks the in-camera settings regarding saturation, sharpness etc. quite well, reading the settings used from the EXIF.
Color I've heard people praising LR, other saying DXO is better and others loving Silkypix.

If I were you I'd also try RawTherapee, which can use the Adobe lens profiles (which you can download for free) and is open source. It also has some nifty features like a huge quantity of film simulation effects. Maybe you're not interested in those, but applying one dialed way down can quickly give you a subtle "look" that it would take time to achieve using the HSL or the curves panel in LR/PS.

Samm · 11-26-2014, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by LensBeginner

I've never used it... I've heard that it mimicks the in-camera settings regarding saturation, sharpness etc. quite well, reading the settings used from the EXIF.
Color I've heard people praising LR, other saying DXO is better and others loving Silkypix.

If I were you I'd also try RawTherapee, which can use the Adobe lens profiles (which you can download for free) and is open source. It also has some nifty features like a huge quantity of film simulation effects. Maybe you're not interested in those, but applying one dialed way down can quickly give you a subtle "look" that it would take time to achieve using the HSL or the curves panel in LR/PS.

Thanks for introducing RawTherapee. If I don't use Silkypix, I might just use LR as Adobe seems to be big enough to be able to last for a long time, and it may be the most popular program for its very purpose.

LensBeginner · 11-26-2014, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by Samm

Thanks for introducing RawTherapee. If I don't use Silkypix, I might just use LR as Adobe seems to be big enough to be able to last for a long time, and it may be the most popular program for its very purpose.

It's a very capable piece of software for sure.
It covers almost every need of your photographic workflow, from organizing & tagging to printing and exporting.
It has very nice RAW development features, though nothing stands out particularly (other specialized softwares can do single things better, from NR to enlargment, but no one can do everything that good).
Only concern would be if they move LR to a subscription model as well since you'll likely need new versions of the software to support newer cameras.

texandrews · 11-26-2014, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by Samm

Hi all,

Just ordered the 645Z. Just wondering if any of you use shoe mount flash on the Z such as the AF 540 FGZ II or others? Can you please provide comments on your experience especially with high speed sync?

I just got one today for a pretty decent price off Amazon---$239 I think. Pretty sure HSS won't work with the Z, but I'll be finding out in the next several days. I am reading the manual, and there are several caveats for Z users, which maybe I'll post in the reviews section for this flash. I'd say that at the price I paid, it's maybe worth it for the Z, but I wouldn't pay more. There are other options.

robertchow999 · 11-26-2014, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by texandrews

I just got one today for a pretty decent price off Amazon---$239 I think. Pretty sure HSS won't work with the Z, but I'll be finding out in the next several days. I am reading the manual, and there are several caveats for Z users, which maybe I'll post in the reviews section for this flash. I'd say that at the price I paid, it's maybe worth it for the Z, but I wouldn't pay more. There are other options.

I just got it from Amazon last week. I tested HSS with the K3 and it worked so I wouldn't be surprised if it worked with the Z. I haven't tried it on my D. However, better results can be obtained employing it off camera. I don't know whether the D/Z can wirelessly fire the flash like the K3.

Samm · 11-26-2014, 02:34 PM

Hey Guys, what flash did you just buy for only $239? Can you please provide links? I think the AF540 FGZ II costs around US$500...... Please also let me know about HSS. Thx much.

aremmes · 11-26-2014, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by robertchow999

I just got it from Amazon last week. I tested HSS with the K3 and it worked so I wouldn't be surprised if it worked with the Z. I haven't tried it on my D. However, better results can be obtained employing it off camera. I don't know whether the D/Z can wirelessly fire the flash like the K3.

You'll need another P-TTL flash on the camera. The Pentax flashes are triggered by a pre-exposure flash burst instead of a radio signal.

Samm · 11-26-2014, 02:43 PM

I am looking for shoe mount flash as I already have a set of Profoto.

texandrews · 11-26-2014, 04:18 PM

Originally posted by Samm

I am looking for shoe mount flash as I already have a set of Profoto.

Wow, sorry. This is the second time in 3 days I've missed a crucial bit of the OP. I got the 540 FGZ, not the II. I think the II does do HSS with the Z. I didn't want to spend the money to get the II, when there may be other options that would serve me better. But what I spent for the 540 FGZ seemed ok to at least have a Pentax flash....

Samm · 11-26-2014, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by texandrews

Wow, sorry. This is the second time in 3 days I've missed a crucial bit of the OP. I got the 540 FGZ, not the II. I think the II does do HSS with the Z. I didn't want to spend the money to get the II, when there may be other options that would serve me better. But what I spent for the 540 FGZ seemed ok to at least have a Pentax flash....

No worries Texandrews. Please do let us know if HSS works on the Z with your flash though. Thank you and have a nice evening.

Samm · 11-27-2014, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Samm

No worries Texandrews. Please do let us know if HSS works on the Z with your flash though. Thank you and have a nice evening.

The flash search is over, at least temporarily. Bought AF 540 FGZ II from Adorama on Black Friday sale with the Pentax TR Power Pack III.

11-26-2014, 11:58 AM	#1
Samm New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 8	645Z Newbie Questions on Shoe Mount Flash & Software Hi all, Just ordered the 645Z. Just wondering if any of you use shoe mount flash on the Z such as the AF 540 FGZ II or others? Can you please provide comments on your experience especially with high speed sync? Also, I am also a Canon user. Just love to use the Canon Digital Professional Photography (DPP) that comes free with the camera. Does Pentax have a software just as good? If Pentax doesn't, Lightroom is a good alternative. Thanks a lot. Samm

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11-26-2014, 12:06 PM	#2
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Pentax processing software, Digital Camera Utility 5, is based on Silkypix and it's not bad.

11-26-2014, 12:14 PM	#3
Samm New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Thanks LensBeginner for the quick reply. Do you know if it has lens profiles for distortion or CA etc....? Can we fix distortion manually? What about crop, and rotate, etc.....? Is the Color any better than LR?

11-26-2014, 12:21 PM	#4
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	I've never used it... I've heard that it mimicks the in-camera settings regarding saturation, sharpness etc. quite well, reading the settings used from the EXIF. Color I've heard people praising LR, other saying DXO is better and others loving Silkypix. If I were you I'd also try RawTherapee, which can use the Adobe lens profiles (which you can download for free) and is open source. It also has some nifty features like a huge quantity of film simulation effects. Maybe you're not interested in those, but applying one dialed way down can quickly give you a subtle "look" that it would take time to achieve using the HSL or the curves panel in LR/PS.

11-26-2014, 12:47 PM	#5
Samm New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by LensBeginner I've never used it... I've heard that it mimicks the in-camera settings regarding saturation, sharpness etc. quite well, reading the settings used from the EXIF. Color I've heard people praising LR, other saying DXO is better and others loving Silkypix. If I were you I'd also try RawTherapee, which can use the Adobe lens profiles (which you can download for free) and is open source. It also has some nifty features like a huge quantity of film simulation effects. Maybe you're not interested in those, but applying one dialed way down can quickly give you a subtle "look" that it would take time to achieve using the HSL or the curves panel in LR/PS. Thanks for introducing RawTherapee. If I don't use Silkypix, I might just use LR as Adobe seems to be big enough to be able to last for a long time, and it may be the most popular program for its very purpose.

11-26-2014, 12:59 PM	#6
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by Samm Thanks for introducing RawTherapee. If I don't use Silkypix, I might just use LR as Adobe seems to be big enough to be able to last for a long time, and it may be the most popular program for its very purpose. It's a very capable piece of software for sure. It covers almost every need of your photographic workflow, from organizing & tagging to printing and exporting. It has very nice RAW development features, though nothing stands out particularly (other specialized softwares can do single things better, from NR to enlargment, but no one can do everything that good). Only concern would be if they move LR to a subscription model as well since you'll likely need new versions of the software to support newer cameras.

11-26-2014, 01:10 PM	#7
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,392	Originally posted by Samm Hi all, Just ordered the 645Z. Just wondering if any of you use shoe mount flash on the Z such as the AF 540 FGZ II or others? Can you please provide comments on your experience especially with high speed sync? I just got one today for a pretty decent price off Amazon---$239 I think. Pretty sure HSS won't work with the Z, but I'll be finding out in the next several days. I am reading the manual, and there are several caveats for Z users, which maybe I'll post in the reviews section for this flash. I'd say that at the price I paid, it's maybe worth it for the Z, but I wouldn't pay more. There are other options.

11-26-2014, 02:04 PM	#8
robertchow999 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 117	Originally posted by texandrews I just got one today for a pretty decent price off Amazon---$239 I think. Pretty sure HSS won't work with the Z, but I'll be finding out in the next several days. I am reading the manual, and there are several caveats for Z users, which maybe I'll post in the reviews section for this flash. I'd say that at the price I paid, it's maybe worth it for the Z, but I wouldn't pay more. There are other options. I just got it from Amazon last week. I tested HSS with the K3 and it worked so I wouldn't be surprised if it worked with the Z. I haven't tried it on my D. However, better results can be obtained employing it off camera. I don't know whether the D/Z can wirelessly fire the flash like the K3.

11-26-2014, 02:34 PM	#9
Samm New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Hey Guys, what flash did you just buy for only $239? Can you please provide links? I think the AF540 FGZ II costs around US$500...... Please also let me know about HSS. Thx much.

11-26-2014, 02:35 PM	#10
aremmes Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Philadelphia Photos: Albums Posts: 217	Originally posted by robertchow999 I just got it from Amazon last week. I tested HSS with the K3 and it worked so I wouldn't be surprised if it worked with the Z. I haven't tried it on my D. However, better results can be obtained employing it off camera. I don't know whether the D/Z can wirelessly fire the flash like the K3. You'll need another P-TTL flash on the camera. The Pentax flashes are triggered by a pre-exposure flash burst instead of a radio signal.

11-26-2014, 02:43 PM	#11
Samm New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	I am looking for shoe mount flash as I already have a set of Profoto.

11-26-2014, 04:18 PM	#12
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,392	Originally posted by Samm I am looking for shoe mount flash as I already have a set of Profoto. Wow, sorry. This is the second time in 3 days I've missed a crucial bit of the OP. I got the 540 FGZ, not the II. I think the II does do HSS with the Z. I didn't want to spend the money to get the II, when there may be other options that would serve me better. But what I spent for the 540 FGZ seemed ok to at least have a Pentax flash....

11-26-2014, 04:28 PM	#13
Samm New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by texandrews Wow, sorry. This is the second time in 3 days I've missed a crucial bit of the OP. I got the 540 FGZ, not the II. I think the II does do HSS with the Z. I didn't want to spend the money to get the II, when there may be other options that would serve me better. But what I spent for the 540 FGZ seemed ok to at least have a Pentax flash.... No worries Texandrews. Please do let us know if HSS works on the Z with your flash though. Thank you and have a nice evening.

11-27-2014, 12:32 PM	#14
Samm New Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by Samm No worries Texandrews. Please do let us know if HSS works on the Z with your flash though. Thank you and have a nice evening. The flash search is over, at least temporarily. Bought AF 540 FGZ II from Adorama on Black Friday sale with the Pentax TR Power Pack III.