Best bounce flash for Pentax K3

giselag · 08-29-2017, 04:20 PM

Looking for advice on the best bounce flash for Pentax K3. Information on Pentax brands as well as third party brands welcomed.

Manual vs P-TTL - Not sure which way to go.

Thanks for you advice.

rawr · 08-29-2017, 05:25 PM

Not sure if it's the 'best' - that depends on your requirements: eg do you routinely need to illuminate the interior of a large concert hall, do you need high-speed sync, are you OK with manual flash control, do you have a certain $$ budget. Etc etc. From my own use, the Metz 52-AF1 works great for casual un-structured shooting.

But if need be my 30 year old Metz 45-CT1 works OK too, with a Cactus v6 wireless trigger driving it.

The flash area of this forum is probably the best place to ask about flash options.
Flashes, Lighting, and Studio - PentaxForums.com

**ivanvernon** · 08-29-2017, 05:27 PM - **1 Like**

My approach is real simple and cheap:

1. I use manual flash. I get a cheap old flash for $5 to $20, one with plenty of power. I happen to like the big old hammerhead Sunpak 522s, but you can get any flash, like the old Sunpak 422) and set it up on a strobe bracket. I also pick up a voltage control regulater to fit into the camera hot shoe and protect camera from old -fashioned high voltage flash output levels, then fit the old manual flash on top of the voltage regulater/controller. I put flash on Manual setting, and the output level at 1/2.

2. On camera (645N, 645D, K-1, K-3, or K-5II for me), I set ISO at base level (100, 150, or 200 depending on camera or film). I set aperture at f 8 and shutter speed at 1/160 sec. or something different depending on the camera's recommended sync speed (Actually, I put shutter, aperture, and ISO levels on user profile, U1 for me. So when I switch to flash photography, I just switch mode to U1 and start shooting.)

3. Set flash head in desired position--sideways, bounce, or straight ahead (I always use a diffuser to cover flash head for direct or straight-ahead use.), and then start shooting, taking photos, I mean. Too much light? Reduce power output level from 1/2 to 1/4. Try again. You can also open up or close down the aperture to require more or less light. Leave the shutter setting alone. Also, instead of increasing/decreasing flash output level, you can adjust the ISO setting.

4. At an event--party, concert, etc.--once you establish a good flash level, I find that it stays about the same throughout the event. You can generally judge whether you are moving from a darker to lighter area, and make hand adjustments as circumstances demand. You would also make adjustments if you changed distances to the subject or if you change from bounce to straight ahead flash. Any slight over- or under-exposures are quite simple to correct in post processing.

This is how I do it--economical, simple, and direct.

**clackers** · 08-29-2017, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by giselag

Looking for advice on the best bounce flash for Pentax K3. Information on Pentax brands as well as third party brands welcomed.

Manual vs P-TTL - Not sure which way to go.

Thanks for you advice.

For various reasons, I think the best bounce flash for the K3 will be the AFG540 FGZ II.

You will get P-TTL and HSS with it, it's weather resistant and has an LED lamp.

**JimJohnson** · 08-30-2017, 04:25 AM

Aside from Guide Number (flash power) I think the difference between the responses so far boils down to convenience versus price. My high-end Sigma flash probably has more functionality and cost less, but for outright convenience the controls on my Pentax flashes are far more intuitive. As for results - I'd challenge anyone to tell me which flash I used if I used them with the same techniques within their respective guide numbers.

giselag · 08-30-2017, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Not sure if it's the 'best' - that depends on your requirements: eg do you routinely need to illuminate the interior of a large concert hall, do you need high-speed sync, are you OK with manual flash control, do you have a certain $$ budget. Etc etc. From my own use, the Metz 52-AF1 works great for casual un-structured shooting.

But if need be my 30 year old Metz 45-CT1 works OK too, with a Cactus v6 wireless trigger driving it.

The flash area of this forum is probably the best place to ask about flash options.
Flashes, Lighting, and Studio - PentaxForums.com

Ok I'll check that out. Thanks!

**ivanvernon** · 08-30-2017, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by JimJohnson

Aside from Guide Number (flash power) I think the difference between the responses so far boils down to convenience versus price. My high-end Sigma flash probably has more functionality and cost less, but for outright convenience the controls on my Pentax flashes are far more intuitive. As for results - I'd challenge anyone to tell me which flash I used if I used them with the same techniques within their respective guide numbers.

Well stated.

08-29-2017, 04:20 PM	#1
giselag Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 58	Best bounce flash for Pentax K3 Looking for advice on the best bounce flash for Pentax K3. Information on Pentax brands as well as third party brands welcomed. Manual vs P-TTL - Not sure which way to go. Thanks for you advice.

08-29-2017, 05:27 PM - 1 Like	#3
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Bounce flash My approach is real simple and cheap: 1. I use manual flash. I get a cheap old flash for $5 to $20, one with plenty of power. I happen to like the big old hammerhead Sunpak 522s, but you can get any flash, like the old Sunpak 422) and set it up on a strobe bracket. I also pick up a voltage control regulater to fit into the camera hot shoe and protect camera from old -fashioned high voltage flash output levels, then fit the old manual flash on top of the voltage regulater/controller. I put flash on Manual setting, and the output level at 1/2. 2. On camera (645N, 645D, K-1, K-3, or K-5II for me), I set ISO at base level (100, 150, or 200 depending on camera or film). I set aperture at f 8 and shutter speed at 1/160 sec. or something different depending on the camera's recommended sync speed (Actually, I put shutter, aperture, and ISO levels on user profile, U1 for me. So when I switch to flash photography, I just switch mode to U1 and start shooting.) 3. Set flash head in desired position--sideways, bounce, or straight ahead (I always use a diffuser to cover flash head for direct or straight-ahead use.), and then start shooting, taking photos, I mean. Too much light? Reduce power output level from 1/2 to 1/4. Try again. You can also open up or close down the aperture to require more or less light. Leave the shutter setting alone. Also, instead of increasing/decreasing flash output level, you can adjust the ISO setting. 4. At an event--party, concert, etc.--once you establish a good flash level, I find that it stays about the same throughout the event. You can generally judge whether you are moving from a darker to lighter area, and make hand adjustments as circumstances demand. You would also make adjustments if you changed distances to the subject or if you change from bounce to straight ahead flash. Any slight over- or under-exposures are quite simple to correct in post processing. This is how I do it--economical, simple, and direct.

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08-29-2017, 05:25 PM	#2
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Not sure if it's the 'best' - that depends on your requirements: eg do you routinely need to illuminate the interior of a large concert hall, do you need high-speed sync, are you OK with manual flash control, do you have a certain $$ budget. Etc etc. From my own use, the Metz 52-AF1 works great for casual un-structured shooting. But if need be my 30 year old Metz 45-CT1 works OK too, with a Cactus v6 wireless trigger driving it. The flash area of this forum is probably the best place to ask about flash options. Flashes, Lighting, and Studio - PentaxForums.com

08-29-2017, 06:18 PM	#4
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by giselag Looking for advice on the best bounce flash for Pentax K3. Information on Pentax brands as well as third party brands welcomed. Manual vs P-TTL - Not sure which way to go. Thanks for you advice. For various reasons, I think the best bounce flash for the K3 will be the AFG540 FGZ II. You will get P-TTL and HSS with it, it's weather resistant and has an LED lamp.

08-30-2017, 04:25 AM	#5
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,772	Aside from Guide Number (flash power) I think the difference between the responses so far boils down to convenience versus price. My high-end Sigma flash probably has more functionality and cost less, but for outright convenience the controls on my Pentax flashes are far more intuitive. As for results - I'd challenge anyone to tell me which flash I used if I used them with the same techniques within their respective guide numbers.

08-30-2017, 07:22 AM	#6
giselag Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 58 Original Poster	Originally posted by rawr Not sure if it's the 'best' - that depends on your requirements: eg do you routinely need to illuminate the interior of a large concert hall, do you need high-speed sync, are you OK with manual flash control, do you have a certain $$ budget. Etc etc. From my own use, the Metz 52-AF1 works great for casual un-structured shooting. But if need be my 30 year old Metz 45-CT1 works OK too, with a Cactus v6 wireless trigger driving it. The flash area of this forum is probably the best place to ask about flash options. Flashes, Lighting, and Studio - PentaxForums.com Ok I'll check that out. Thanks!

08-30-2017, 07:26 AM	#7
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Originally posted by JimJohnson Aside from Guide Number (flash power) I think the difference between the responses so far boils down to convenience versus price. My high-end Sigma flash probably has more functionality and cost less, but for outright convenience the controls on my Pentax flashes are far more intuitive. As for results - I'd challenge anyone to tell me which flash I used if I used them with the same techniques within their respective guide numbers. Well stated.