[Biro]

A few weeks ago, I gifted my K200D (in great shape) to my niece. With it, I gave her the DA 18-55 WR, the DA 55-200 WR, the DA 35 f/2.4 and the AF360 flash. As you can see in my signature below, that leaves me with the K-5 and a still-healthy collection of Pentax glass - but no flash unit.

While flash is not my most-practiced form of photography, I use it often enough to bother replacing the unit. I only take the flash off the camera occasionally and don't get involved with remote-trigger stuff at all. But I can use flash in conditions as diverse as indoor family gatherings at home (at which I suppose I can use the K-5's built-in flash with certain lenses for a while) to gala events in grand ballrooms of major hotels. I am not a professional - only an experienced enthusiast. And while I am not a flash neophyte (I started with a manual Vivitar unit on my mid-1970s Minolta SRT-200), nor am I a master practitioner in the art of flash.

Now, I've read some rumors about new and improved flashes from Pentax. But, so far, they are just that - rumors. So, I ask my fellow Pentaxians: Should I spring for an AF540 now, maybe pick up another 360, wait for the rumored Pentax replacements or perhaps buy a third-party unit? And if a third-party unit, which one? Both quality and convenience are important to me. Thanks in advance for any input.

[Aegon]

The AF-360 offers a lot of bang for the buck. Other flashes may recycle faster or provide more power. If you don't need faster recycle rates or more power, than the AF-360 (particularly used) really fits the bill.

On the other hand, if you need more power, then I'd consider getting a Metz 50 AF-1. Metal shoe, more power, faster recycle rates, high quality. Of course all Metz flashes have weird menus, including the 50 AF-1.

[AussieTrev]

I haven't used anything but the Pentax units recently so my opinion is related to that. I have both the 540 and the 360 and find the 540 to be a much more versitial unit. I wish I had two and not the 360. Other than that I used a Metz unit for work many years ago and they were great and powerful.

[SOldBear]

Do you need high speed sync? trailing-curtain sync? p-TTL remote triggering? modelling light?

If none of the above, you can get away with something like a Pentax AF280T, Sunpak 383, 444D, 36DX, 422D, 30DX, Vivitar 5600, 4600, 5200, 3700. They cost almost nothing, OK, not nothing, but less than USD 50 for sure.

For more power and features (mainly zoom head, more power ratio settings in manual mode, more aperture settings in auto mode), get a Nikon SB-24, 25, 26, 28, or Contax TLA 360 for less than USD 100.

My favorite is Metz 54MZ3/4/4-i with SCA3702, but they are pretty rare and if found, cost more.

My most-used setup for indoor shooting is a Metz 54MZ4 with SCA3702 on camera, with light bouncing, and a remote-triggered Metz 54MZ4 with SCA3083 to augment ambient light.

Just don't buy a flash without bounce&swivel head, or with p-TTL mode only. You'll regret later.

Edited:

Just re-read your post, and noticed this:

gala events in grand ballrooms of major hotels.

You should try something like a Quantum Qflash or a Sunpak 120J. Bare bulb is great for large ballrooms.

A decent used outfit, including a high voltage external power pack, is about the price of a new Pentax AF540FGZ. From KEH, I bought a Sunpak 120J TTL and a Lumedyne Microcycler (both EX grade) for less than the going price of a used AF540FGZ.

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Last edited by SOldBear; 11-17-2012 at 05:38 PM.

[stormtech]

First I heard of any new flash rumor......guess I need to pay more attention!

[Just1MoreDave]

I can't substantiate this in any way, but I think a new flash would be priced like the Pentax 100mm macro. Old version pretty good and priced like an AF 540 FGZ. New version adds some desireable features and a bigger price tag. (The 540 was a big jump in cost over the 360.)

[Biro]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The AF360 that I had was certainly a decent flash but its lack of swivel ability bothered me a bit and is probably why I easily included it in my gift pack to my niece. While the purchase of an older, classic flash on the used market or finding a new-old-stock example is certainly possible, it seems I'm essentially down to the Pentax AF540 or a Metz 50 or 58 if I am to buy new. The only question will be whether I want the features of the Metz units more than I want the easier interface of the Pentax. However, I suspect I will also be following up on SOldBear's suggestions for using flash in large ballrooms