Pentaxian Registered: September, 2017 Location: South Wales Posts: 2,963 | | Review Date: November 3, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $13.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Multiple power levels, Film era dedication & TTL, Low trigger voltage, bargain in 2021 | | Cons: | For DSLRs there is no TTL and only limited dedication. | |
A unit from the film era, consisting of a body and a separate flash ring, joined by a coiled cable that plugs into the body but is fixed to the ring. Jessops sold it for £130 in the UK in 1988 (plus £10 for the DX module), and I snapped up this near mint one from Ebay when I saw its start price of £9, and was the sole bidder. It came in a nice carry case which seems to have been supplied originally with these things.
Guide number is 8 metres. It has Manual, Auto and TTL modes. The Manual mode has five power levels from full down to 1/16th. The built-in slide rule for the flash formula goes from ISO 25 to [only] 1000, so you need to extrapolate or do your own maths for higher ISOs. The maximum distance in Auto mode is 1 metre, irrespective of the ISO setting (as was usual for flash units of this era).
As one of the Sunpak DX series, it must be used with a plug-in module dedicated to your camera brand - that for Pentax is the PT-1D or PT-2D. The module fits to the bottom of the body and provides the hot-shoe foot and the photo-sensor for the Auto mode. Sunpak also made an un-dedicated module which I understand had only the central connecting pin in the foot.
The dedication module was designed for film era cameras such as the LX and A-series, and on a modern DSLR the TTL mode is incompatible and I have found the dedication features work in a somewhat limited way (depending on the camera mode). I don't miss the dedication in macro usage - it is mainly about setting the camera to sync speed and showing "Flash Ready" in the viewfinder. The TTL capability would have been useful, but on the other hand test shots for exposure are easy with a digital camera.
It is well made, and the battery door on the body has a strong catch arrangement (unlike many other flash units). The body takes four AA batteries so is about as heavy as mid-power general purpose unit such as the Pentax AF280T. It also has a connector for an alternative high voltage supply. I measured the trigger voltage at 4.3 volts, safe for modern cameras. The flash ring has a 52mm male filter thread which is not a size much used by Pentax lenses; my M100 macro lens has a 49mm filter thread so I have to use a 49-52 step ring to mount it.
Recommended as long as you don't expect the bells and whistles of a modern digital unit.
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Junior Member Registered: March, 2019 Location: Hengelo Posts: 32
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 10, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $36.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | easy to install, manual, auto and ttl mode ringflash | | Cons: | i have to learn a bit more how to adjust and use this little toy. | |
Today I bought this ringflash as an extra tool for my macro photography.
I am mainly photographing flowers and insects in my garden using the Pentax K3ii and the Sigma 70mm macro.
I have to learn how to use this ring flash. So far I got the best pictures using the manual mode and 1/16.
The camera is in TAv mode and the ISO is aligned with the ISO settings on the flash.
I have seen nice pictures using the TTL mode but till now the TTL gives overexposed pictures.
When you have recommandations, preffered camera and flash settings, please let me know!
I experimented a bit with the flash in auto mode and the K3ii in Av mode.
The exposure time is 1/125. I put the ISO on 100 and the Aperture at f18.
The light is a bit harsh. But I will keep on experimenting. Probably mounting a diffuser might help a bit.
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Veteran Member Registered: January, 2015 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,677
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 17, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive, powerful | | Cons: | filter thread mount can be frustrating at times | |
I got this item for $40 off ebay, so your cost may vary... But if you can find this ring flash in good condition for under 100$ I'd get it!
This has increased my macro shooting ten fold.
My purchase came with the AD-27 AC Adapter which I've only used once but it works great. Otherwise you just pop in 4 AA batteries and you're good to go!
All manual shooting as I have the Nikon module attached, but it works 100% still.
What else is there to say?
This is a dedicated ring flash, not one of those cheap market ring lights or LED lights. This is a legitimate flash and works incredibly well with Macro photography as well as just getting creative with the flash.
I actually like unscrewing the flash bulb from my lens and using it almost like a 'near' off camera flash since the cable allows movement up to a foot or so from the module.
Check it out if you want to improve you macro photography and can find one in good condition!
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