| Author: | | Custom User Title Registered: January, 2016 Location: Alberta Posts: 5,200 | | Review Date: October 6, 2020 | I can recommend this item: Yes |
Price: $275.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | swivel/bounce, WR, HSS | | Cons: | HSS option are now in menus instead of a physical switch | |
I've owned three AF-360 FGZ flashes and thought I could manage with having Cactus triggers to compensate for the lack of swivel.
Relying solely on the Cactus triggers for the swivel was too much hassle and in addition, the battery doors on the FGZ I version breaks way too easy.
As a bonus, this flash is WR.
If you are considering between this FGZ I and the FGZ II, I cannot stress enough that the FGZ II should be had, if you have the means.
The FGZ II is a bit more compact than the FGZ I as well.
Kinda odd how the FGZII is written without a "-" between the 'AF' and the '360', but the FGZI includes the "-".
Love this flash, use it all the time  | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2014 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 499 | | Review Date: August 8, 2019 | I can recommend this item: Yes |
Price: $279.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Everything the original AF360FGZ should have been!!! | | Cons: | No integrated bounce card | |
This past Saturday my original AF360FGZ busted while shooting a wedding. Fortunately I had an AF201FG in the bag and it was only needed for some fill during an outdoor shoot. The original AG360FGZ served me well for 12 years seeing considerable use. Despite it’s shortcomings it has been my favourite flash for ease of use and reliability. I prefer the original 360 over a generation 1 AF54FGZ as well as Cactus RF 60’s. The only notable shortcomings of the original AF360FGZ are the plastic foot and flimsy battery door.
On Sunday I saw great pricing for the AF360FGZ II on Amazon. Despite having a 540 - I absolutely had to have another 360. It arrived today and I must say KUDOS RICOH!!! This is the flash the original 360 should have been!!!!
Noticeable improvements:
- Faster recycle.
- Solid battery door!!!
- Metal foot!!!
- Tilt AND Swivel!!!
- Construction is much more robust.
- Smaller and narrower profile.
- Balances much better on the KP without a battery grip.
- Simplified display.
- Even better control layout (and the old layout was awesome)!
- Integrated LED.
Took it for a test run and wow!!! Love it!!! Just need to order a new Sto-Fen OM-600 as the Sto-Fen for the original 360 is too big. Awesome flash, if you’re considering the AF 360FGZ II - just buy it!!! You won’t regret it!!!
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: September, 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,477
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 20, 2018 | I can recommend this item: Yes |
Price: $200.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Compact, fast recycling, PTTL HSS | | Cons: | None that are not common to all Pentax flash units. High price. | |
The AF540fgz II was my first flash from the new II generation. I had an AF540FGZ before that. The AF540FGZ II flash had problems which it took Precision months to acknowledge and eventually replace. Although the new AF540FGZ II functioned properly it was frustratingly slow to recycle. I decided to try the AF360FGZ II and was delighted with its operation, size and, above all, with its quicker recycle times. It is a solid, reliable flash for most uses. The AF540FGZ II has a couple features the AF360FGZ II lacks, such as greater reach, but I have not missed them. I highly recommend this model.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: August, 2010 Location: zurich Posts: 409
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 11, 2015 | I can recommend this item: Yes |
Price: $430.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | All | | Cons: | Nothing so far, despite radio triggering | |
what would make it a 10 for me is if it would have a built in radio trigger... but thats a weak point in the overall pentax flash line-up....
but you can easy fix that with something like cactus or any other available radio triggers...
the LED comes in handy and you can set the light intensity manually when you turn the LED on and turn the setting wheel just after ... otherwise like mentioned in the review below it will adjust automatically.
its a huge improvement over the "540 I" when out in the field as this one is much smaller, lighter, weather sealed and recycles much quicker...
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2010 Location: Östergötland, Sweden Posts: 216
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 24, 2014 | I can recommend this item: Yes |
Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Dimensions, Metal hot shoe-mount, Build quality, New battery door with spring, New -more stabilized- battery seats, Horizontal and vertical turnable head, LED beam, Weather-resistant construction | | Cons: | Not noticed yet | |
I bought this flash system as an upgrade of AF 540 FGZ and couldn't try it in detailed but I was impressed after my first impressions! It's compact, lightweight, weather sealed and feels like more tough! Also it has a quite silent zooming system and smooth movements in internal lens system. That's great!
Another thing, LED beam light! It's measuring the scenes and changing brightness automatically!
I had some problematic experiments with previous system's hot shoe-mount like loosening and also there are plenty much complaints about broken ones. All that kind of issues seems like fixed with this new metal mount system.
AF 360 FGZ II little bit lighter than AF 540 FGZ II (290g vs 350g), smaller and recycling time just approx. 1.5 - 2.5 seconds (in AF 540 FGZ II: 3 - 5 seconds) and 1/1200 - 1/20000 sec. flash duration etc... It's small and fast!
Also that's why I bought this and not the AF 540 FGZ II.
I will try it with Better Beamer extending stuff and update my review in time...
Best Regards.
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