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PENTAX AF 360FGZ II

Reviews	Views	Date of last review
4	16,530	Thu August 8, 2019

Recommended By	Average Price	Average User Rating
100% of reviewers	$303.00	9.25

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Description:

The Pentax AF 360FGZ II flash is successor to the original AF 360 FGZ. It features full weather-sealing thanks to built-in weather sealed (known as an "AW" design).

Launch price: $429

This is a powerful flash with a guide number of 36. The flash is compatible with all Pentax SLR and DSLR cameras (except the auto 110 series), but flash automation is not available with older film cameras and also not with M and K lenses. The flash has a zooming flash head and a built-in wide-angle diffuser. The flash head zooms automatically with AF lenses and can also be set manually.

The LED light on the front can be used to create a catch light and also serves as video light and AF assist light.

Distance and zoom head information on the LCD display adapts to the camera format in use (only with AF lenses): 645D, 24x36, APS-C, or Q.

Flash name	PENTAX AF 360FGZ II
Guide Number (meters ISO 100)	36 at max zoom position (58mm APS-C)
Flash control	P-TTL auto, Manual (9 power settings), Multi, Wireless P-TTL, Wireless Manual
Flash synchronization	Leading curtain, Trailing curtain, High speed, Slow speed, Contrast control
Control modes	Master, Control, Slave
Flash exposure comp.	-4 to +2 EV /1/3 EV or 1/2 EV steps)
Flash range	0.7 to 5.4m (35mm lens at f/5.6 lens on APS-C, ISO 100
Flash coverage (APS-C)	16mm lens, 13mm with pull-out wide-angle panel
Flash coverage (645D)	30mm lens, 25mm with pull-out wide-angle panel
Zoom head settings (APS-C)	13 mm*, 16 mm, 19 mm, 24 mm, 34 mm, 48 mm, 58 mm
Zoom head settings (645D)	25 mm*, 30 mm, 35 mm, 43 mm, 62 mm, 87 mm, 105 mm
	* The shortest setting is activated by pulling out the wide-angle panel
Rotating flash head	Tilt and swivel
Flash duration	1/20,000s to 1/1,200
Modeling light	Yes
Autofocus spotbeam	Yes, white beam. Requires firmware update with some cameras
Video light	Yes
Connections	Hot shoe
Hot shoe pins	5 (incl. ground)
Batteries	4 x AA: Alkaline (LR6), Ni-MH rechargeable, Lithium (FR6)
Recycling time (fresh batteries)	Alkaline: 2.5 s, Ni-MH: 1.5 s, Lithium: 2.5 s
Dimensions (W x H x D)	68 x 111 x 106mm
Weight	290g (without batteries)
In production	Yes

Dedicated camera functions	Actual availability depends on the camera, exposure mode and flash settings
Set synch speed when flash is charged	Yes
Flash ready signal in view finder	Yes
Flash confirmation in viewfinder	Yes
Set aperture (Programmed flash)	Yes

In Production:

In-Depth Review:

Price History:

Author:

Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-4 of 4

Saltwater Images

Pentaxian

Registered: November, 2014

Location: Newfoundland

Posts: 495

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!!!

Mikesul

Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: September, 2009

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Posts: 5,307

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.

max_pyne

Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: August, 2010

Location: zurich

Posts: 408

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...

ogunturkay

Senior Member

Registered: June, 2010

Location: Sweden

Posts: 200

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.