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Kalimar 2X power automatic teleconverter (converted to extension tube) | | Latest Review Posted | PENTAX AF 080C Ring Light
I obtained mine used from another forum member, with original pouches and instructions. Putting it all together and screwing it onto the front of the lens is a breeze - the ring flash itself fits directly to the 49mm threads of my 35mm DA Limited Macro and 100mm D-FA WR Macro lenses and their front filters. The flash unit then plugs into the power and control unit on the camera's hot-shoe. The owner who had it prior to me had been using it without problems on his DSLR, so I had no qualms about doing the same on my K-5.
The major problem I find with this unit stems from two issues that could not have been anticipated by the designers - first, that the camera it was mounted on would not have TTL support (this is the fault of the K5's designers; I believe some earlier Pentax DSLRs did have it) and second, that said camera would not have any sensitivity slower than 80ASA. If I were able to go down to 50 or 25 ASA, I would have no problem with setting the flash to one-quarter power and having room to move on the aperture spectrum. As things lie, for various reasons connected with the things I photograph, I am usually taking pictures VERY close to the subject with the 35mm macro, and even operating on one-quarter power I have to dial all the way down to ISO 80 and f/22 in order not to grossly overexpose the subject. Those with DSLRs that don't go down this far may find themselves regularly overexposing very close subjects - even ISO 100 was just too much. Seriously consider a 49... | |
