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hal_a · 03-09-2011, 09:49 AM

Hi,

I'm in the market for a flash unit. Please help me make a good choice. Here is what I require from the flash.

- Has to be P-TTL and TTL compatible (not necessarily Pentax branded)

- Has to have easy and quick manual control*

*I used a canon system before coming to Pentax and had a 430EX2 flash unit. It worked in E-TTL mode and had comprehensive manual control, but it was cumbersome to change settings in Manual mode. Pushing buttons just took time. What I would like is a flash unit that offers great manual control, i.e. I'd rather not press through 4 buttons just to halve the power output. Dials and knobs for commonly changed settings would be nice.

Does such a flash exist in Pentaxland?

Thanks

ToGo · 03-09-2011, 10:56 AM

You might want to check out the Metz flashes, 48Af, 50Af and 58Af. They only have 4 control buttons on the back which is good and bad. For some of the more advanced features such as wireless, modeling light, and setting things such as auto shut off time or changing the display from feet to meters you have to push 2 buttons at a time and go through a few menu options. As for switching between p-ttl and manual it is a simple one button operation, and exposure comp and manual power use two buttons, one to increase and one to decrease power. Btw in the manual you can go from full power to 1/128 power on the 48 and 50 models.

mattdm · 03-09-2011, 11:40 AM

I'd second the recommendation for Metz. The interface is simple but relatively quick for common things.

Have you seen my flash guide? That shows you all the options.

**BigDave** · 03-09-2011, 11:52 AM

I picked up the Promaster 7500EDF. It is now compatible with the K7 (not certain if it compatible with the K5). If you get one that has been in stock for a while, the firmware may need to be updated, but this is done free by the manufacturer (you only have to pay postage one way).

It has a Mode button, so going from full TTL to manual is one push of the button. To change flash intensity you just push another button, from 1/1 to 1/64 power (7 stop ranges). The power is pretty good and the price is about $250.

Regards,

hal_a · 03-10-2011, 12:31 AM

Thanks all,

I looked at the Metz flashes online (bhphotovideo). The 48 is discontinued, but the 50 is still there, and its within my price range. The Promaster also sounds great regarding manual control, and I'll check that out also to see which interface I'm more comfortable with.

@Mattdm - I looked at your site, its very comprehensive. Thanks for putting up all that information. I'm going to read about the Metz and the Promaster right now.

bdery · 03-10-2011, 06:05 AM

The Sigma DG Super (530 or 610 versions) would also suit you well.

If you're interested in older, auto flashes instead of PTTL, you could look out for a AF280T Pentax flash, it did TTL with film bodies, but also auto. It's a very reliable flash.

mattdm · 03-10-2011, 08:29 AM

Originally posted by hal_a

I looked at the Metz flashes online (bhphotovideo). The 48 is discontinued, but the 50 is still there, and its within my price range.

FWIW, the 50 AF-1 is priced right where the 48 AF-1 used to be.

newarts · 03-10-2011, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by bdery

The Sigma DG Super (530 or 610 versions) would also suit you well.

If you're interested in older, auto flashes instead of PTTL, you could look out for a AF280T Pentax flash, it did TTL with film bodies, but also auto. It's a very reliable flash.

Are the Sigma's controls simple to switch between P-TTL & manual use?

mattdm · 03-10-2011, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by newarts

Are the Sigma's controls simple to switch between P-TTL & manual use?

The sigma controls aren't really simple for anything. In this case, it's not awful, but requires more button-pressing than necessary. For manual operation, pres the Mode button until it gets to M. Then press SEL, and then press +/- until you get to the level you want, then press SEL again. (It seems to me that SEL button could be left entirely out of this operation.)

newarts · 03-10-2011, 11:36 AM

Originally posted by mattdm

The sigma controls aren't really simple for anything. In this case, it's not awful, but requires more button-pressing than necessary. For manual operation, pres the Mode button until it gets to M. Then press SEL, and then press +/- until you get to the level you want, then press SEL again. (It seems to me that SEL button could be left entirely out of this operation.)

Thanks Matt

mattdm · 03-10-2011, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by newarts

Thanks Matt

I think you'd get used to it pretty quickly if you did it all the time. My main gripe is that if this is something you do rarely, you'll never guess how to do it without looking in the manual.

03-09-2011, 09:49 AM	#1
hal_a Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 60	Flash Advice Hi, I'm in the market for a flash unit. Please help me make a good choice. Here is what I require from the flash. - Has to be P-TTL and TTL compatible (not necessarily Pentax branded) - Has to have easy and quick manual control* *I used a canon system before coming to Pentax and had a 430EX2 flash unit. It worked in E-TTL mode and had comprehensive manual control, but it was cumbersome to change settings in Manual mode. Pushing buttons just took time. What I would like is a flash unit that offers great manual control, i.e. I'd rather not press through 4 buttons just to halve the power output. Dials and knobs for commonly changed settings would be nice. Does such a flash exist in Pentaxland? Thanks

03-09-2011, 10:56 AM	#2
ToGo Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NYC Photos: Albums Posts: 56	You might want to check out the Metz flashes, 48Af, 50Af and 58Af. They only have 4 control buttons on the back which is good and bad. For some of the more advanced features such as wireless, modeling light, and setting things such as auto shut off time or changing the display from feet to meters you have to push 2 buttons at a time and go through a few menu options. As for switching between p-ttl and manual it is a simple one button operation, and exposure comp and manual power use two buttons, one to increase and one to decrease power. Btw in the manual you can go from full power to 1/128 power on the 48 and 50 models. Last edited by ToGo; 03-09-2011 at 11:17 AM.

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03-09-2011, 11:40 AM	#3
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	I'd second the recommendation for Metz. The interface is simple but relatively quick for common things. Have you seen my flash guide? That shows you all the options.

03-09-2011, 11:52 AM	#4
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	I picked up the Promaster 7500EDF. It is now compatible with the K7 (not certain if it compatible with the K5). If you get one that has been in stock for a while, the firmware may need to be updated, but this is done free by the manufacturer (you only have to pay postage one way). It has a Mode button, so going from full TTL to manual is one push of the button. To change flash intensity you just push another button, from 1/1 to 1/64 power (7 stop ranges). The power is pretty good and the price is about $250. Regards,

03-10-2011, 12:31 AM	#5
hal_a Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 60 Original Poster	Thanks all, I looked at the Metz flashes online (bhphotovideo). The 48 is discontinued, but the 50 is still there, and its within my price range. The Promaster also sounds great regarding manual control, and I'll check that out also to see which interface I'm more comfortable with. @Mattdm - I looked at your site, its very comprehensive. Thanks for putting up all that information. I'm going to read about the Metz and the Promaster right now.

03-10-2011, 06:05 AM	#6
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,363	The Sigma DG Super (530 or 610 versions) would also suit you well. If you're interested in older, auto flashes instead of PTTL, you could look out for a AF280T Pentax flash, it did TTL with film bodies, but also auto. It's a very reliable flash.

03-10-2011, 08:29 AM	#7
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by hal_a I looked at the Metz flashes online (bhphotovideo). The 48 is discontinued, but the 50 is still there, and its within my price range. FWIW, the 50 AF-1 is priced right where the 48 AF-1 used to be.

03-10-2011, 08:40 AM	#8
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Originally posted by bdery The Sigma DG Super (530 or 610 versions) would also suit you well. If you're interested in older, auto flashes instead of PTTL, you could look out for a AF280T Pentax flash, it did TTL with film bodies, but also auto. It's a very reliable flash. Are the Sigma's controls simple to switch between P-TTL & manual use?

03-10-2011, 10:39 AM	#9
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by newarts Are the Sigma's controls simple to switch between P-TTL & manual use? The sigma controls aren't really simple for anything. In this case, it's not awful, but requires more button-pressing than necessary. For manual operation, pres the Mode button until it gets to M. Then press SEL, and then press +/- until you get to the level you want, then press SEL again. (It seems to me that SEL button could be left entirely out of this operation.)

03-10-2011, 11:36 AM	#10
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Originally posted by mattdm The sigma controls aren't really simple for anything. In this case, it's not awful, but requires more button-pressing than necessary. For manual operation, pres the Mode button until it gets to M. Then press SEL, and then press +/- until you get to the level you want, then press SEL again. (It seems to me that SEL button could be left entirely out of this operation.) Thanks Matt

03-10-2011, 02:50 PM	#11
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by newarts Thanks Matt I think you'd get used to it pretty quickly if you did it all the time. My main gripe is that if this is something you do rarely, you'll never guess how to do it without looking in the manual.

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