540 FGZ II First Impressions and vs 540 v1

alcstudios · 11-06-2013, 04:53 PM

I have V1 and despise the battery door, the V2 has a battery door like the sunpak 383 had which is much better

**Ex Finn.** · 11-06-2013, 05:21 PM

Yes, thank you for the comparison. It being WR is excellent, seems really geared towards outdoors action.
Wonder how it would survive the shoot of a drunken 40th birthday party...with jaeger and sticky, full head, craft beer

.

**Eric Auer** · 11-06-2013, 06:32 PM

I'm With some people here in that I think WR and smaller size is worth it.

This just might be my only Pentax purchase for a year. As I love Shooting with flashes.

**7samurai** · 11-06-2013, 07:17 PM

No AC? Does that mean you can't use the external battery pack?

**crewl1** · 11-06-2013, 10:09 PM

Originally posted by 7samurai

No AC? Does that mean you can't use the external battery pack?

That is correct, there is no facility for external power.

Originally posted by Corto-PA

I'm With some people here in that I think WR and smaller size is worth it. This just might be my only Pentax purchase for a year. As I love Shooting with flashes.

Great, let us know of any features that I missed and report back on the WR effectiveness please if you have a chance to test it.

Originally posted by Ex Finn.

Yes, thank you for the comparison. It being WR is excellent, seems really geared towards outdoors action. Wonder how it would survive the shoot of a drunken 40th birthday party...with jaeger and sticky, full head, craft beer

Please let us know.

Originally posted by alcstudios

I have V1 and despise the battery door, the V2 has a battery door like the sunpak 383 had which is much better

Yes this is one of the nice improvements. I don't know how the engineers got away with that last design, I would expect better from Pentax.

**7samurai** · 11-06-2013, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by crewl1

That is correct, there is no facility for external power.

That is really unfortunate. I recently started shooting more events and needed to shoot continously for 400+ shots. I wonder why they took it away. Is the new flash so efficient that it doesn't need a battery pack?

**crewl1** · 11-06-2013, 11:13 PM

Originally posted by 7samurai

That is really unfortunate. I recently started shooting more events and needed to shoot continously for 400+ shots. I wonder why they took it away. Is the new flash so efficient that it doesn't need a battery pack?

Here are the rated number of flashes per battery type.

Attached Images

**7samurai** · 11-07-2013, 12:18 AM

Thank you for posting this information, but my ability to understand these numbers is lacking...

I currently own a Sigma 610 Super as my primary flash. From the sigma website, it appears the Sigma 610 Super is more powerful, but that's not an apple to apple comparison since the dispersion pattern may be different.
Generally the Sigma re-cycle time has been a little slow unless I'm shooting 1/8 with fresh batteries.
The Pentax does seem to be more efficient, 250 vs 160, for Ni-MH batteries.
Strange that they removed the catchlight panel also. Are they using the LED video light to simulate the catchlight panel?

Does anyone know if the battery power pack will help with the recycle times? or just extend the number of flashes?

Vylen · 11-07-2013, 04:10 AM

Originally posted by 7samurai

Does anyone know if the battery power pack will help with the recycle times? or just extend the number of flashes?

Generally, external power packs are meant to do both.

bdery · 11-07-2013, 06:11 AM

What impressed me when I tested for a few minutes at a photo show in town is the smaller size and the much faster operation, charge, etc. It's a faster flash.

asp1880 · 11-07-2013, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by Vylen

Generally, external power packs are meant to do both.

I have the JJC china-ebay power pack for my 540FGZ and I can shoot two pops per second on 1/4 power indefinitely, with the camera on hi-drive.
Once I took 750 shots on a mix of 1/4 and 1/2 power and the batteries were still half full.

They work. It's great to be able to do "double (or triple) tapping" at events without fear of flash depletion.

Regards,
--Anders.

Pheo · 11-07-2013, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by asp1880

I have the JJC china-ebay power pack for my 540FGZ and I can shoot two pops per second on 1/4 power indefinitely, with the camera on hi-drive.
Once I took 750 shots on a mix of 1/4 and 1/2 power and the batteries were still half full.

They work. It's great to be able to do "double (or triple) tapping" at events without fear of flash depletion.

Regards,
--Anders.

Just gotta be careful the thing doesn't catch fire!

**7samurai** · 11-07-2013, 01:37 PM

Sorry about hijacking the thread.
Thank you for everyone who commented.

jake14mw · 11-13-2013, 06:06 AM

Thanks for the review. I had said previously that anyone considering buying this updated flash must really need either the WR or the LED video light to justify such a high cost. That was before I heard that they removed AC, PC, and catchlight panel.

Maybe the smaller size will be a big benefit to some. It just seems to me that these new units are way overpriced.

Mr Spocko · 11-16-2013, 06:45 PM

540 FGZ II if it had built in radio flash like the Canon (they're priced the same where I am) then I would be impressed.
As it is Metz are probably better bang per buck

11-06-2013, 05:21 PM	#17
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Yes, thank you for the comparison. It being WR is excellent, seems really geared towards outdoors action. Wonder how it would survive the shoot of a drunken 40th birthday party...with jaeger and sticky, full head, craft beer.

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11-06-2013, 04:53 PM	#16
alcstudios Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Albums Posts: 146	I have V1 and despise the battery door, the V2 has a battery door like the sunpak 383 had which is much better

11-06-2013, 06:32 PM	#18
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211	I'm With some people here in that I think WR and smaller size is worth it. This just might be my only Pentax purchase for a year. As I love Shooting with flashes.

11-06-2013, 07:17 PM	#19
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	No AC? Does that mean you can't use the external battery pack?

11-06-2013, 10:09 PM	#20
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807 Original Poster	Originally posted by 7samurai No AC? Does that mean you can't use the external battery pack? That is correct, there is no facility for external power. Originally posted by Corto-PA I'm With some people here in that I think WR and smaller size is worth it. This just might be my only Pentax purchase for a year. As I love Shooting with flashes. Great, let us know of any features that I missed and report back on the WR effectiveness please if you have a chance to test it. Originally posted by Ex Finn. Yes, thank you for the comparison. It being WR is excellent, seems really geared towards outdoors action. Wonder how it would survive the shoot of a drunken 40th birthday party...with jaeger and sticky, full head, craft beer Please let us know. Originally posted by alcstudios I have V1 and despise the battery door, the V2 has a battery door like the sunpak 383 had which is much better Yes this is one of the nice improvements. I don't know how the engineers got away with that last design, I would expect better from Pentax.

11-06-2013, 10:42 PM	#21
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	Originally posted by crewl1 That is correct, there is no facility for external power. That is really unfortunate. I recently started shooting more events and needed to shoot continously for 400+ shots. I wonder why they took it away. Is the new flash so efficient that it doesn't need a battery pack?

11-06-2013, 11:13 PM	#22
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807 Original Poster	Originally posted by 7samurai That is really unfortunate. I recently started shooting more events and needed to shoot continously for 400+ shots. I wonder why they took it away. Is the new flash so efficient that it doesn't need a battery pack? Here are the rated number of flashes per battery type. Attached Images

11-07-2013, 12:18 AM	#23
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	Thank you for posting this information, but my ability to understand these numbers is lacking... I currently own a Sigma 610 Super as my primary flash. From the sigma website, it appears the Sigma 610 Super is more powerful, but that's not an apple to apple comparison since the dispersion pattern may be different. Generally the Sigma re-cycle time has been a little slow unless I'm shooting 1/8 with fresh batteries. The Pentax does seem to be more efficient, 250 vs 160, for Ni-MH batteries. Strange that they removed the catchlight panel also. Are they using the LED video light to simulate the catchlight panel? Does anyone know if the battery power pack will help with the recycle times? or just extend the number of flashes?

11-07-2013, 04:10 AM	#24
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Originally posted by 7samurai Does anyone know if the battery power pack will help with the recycle times? or just extend the number of flashes? Generally, external power packs are meant to do both.

11-07-2013, 06:11 AM	#25
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	What impressed me when I tested for a few minutes at a photo show in town is the smaller size and the much faster operation, charge, etc. It's a faster flash.

11-07-2013, 09:08 AM	#26
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	Originally posted by Vylen Generally, external power packs are meant to do both. I have the JJC china-ebay power pack for my 540FGZ and I can shoot two pops per second on 1/4 power indefinitely, with the camera on hi-drive. Once I took 750 shots on a mix of 1/4 and 1/2 power and the batteries were still half full. They work. It's great to be able to do "double (or triple) tapping" at events without fear of flash depletion. Regards, --Anders.

11-07-2013, 09:53 AM	#27
Pheo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brighton, United Kingdom Photos: Gallery Posts: 311	Originally posted by asp1880 I have the JJC china-ebay power pack for my 540FGZ and I can shoot two pops per second on 1/4 power indefinitely, with the camera on hi-drive. Once I took 750 shots on a mix of 1/4 and 1/2 power and the batteries were still half full. They work. It's great to be able to do "double (or triple) tapping" at events without fear of flash depletion. Regards, --Anders. Just gotta be careful the thing doesn't catch fire!

11-07-2013, 01:37 PM	#28
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	Sorry about hijacking the thread. Thank you for everyone who commented.

11-13-2013, 06:06 AM	#29
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	Thanks for the review. I had said previously that anyone considering buying this updated flash must really need either the WR or the LED video light to justify such a high cost. That was before I heard that they removed AC, PC, and catchlight panel. Maybe the smaller size will be a big benefit to some. It just seems to me that these new units are way overpriced.

11-16-2013, 06:45 PM	#30
Mr Spocko Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 254	540 FGZ II if it had built in radio flash like the Canon (they're priced the same where I am) then I would be impressed. As it is Metz are probably better bang per buck