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aufreise · 12-23-2009, 01:59 AM

Dear Community,

does any one of you know or suspect, if one of the flashes is coming in weather resistant?

They announced a weather resistant macro, right after I bought a macro. Why wouldn't they do that again with the flash?

I would just so love to buy the Pentax WR Ueber-Blitz!

What do you think? Any chances it's coming and I should go with a cheap flash over the next year? Or will it never come, and I should just buy the regular AF-540 FGZ?

Thanks a lot and merry Christmas,

Tobias

kolouch · 12-23-2009, 02:25 AM

guess nobody knows :-( I wanna buy new pentax flash too. WR version & shorter rec. time ..

Adrian Owerko · 12-23-2009, 02:29 AM

With a Metal Hot Shoe & PC sync Port.. And the same power as a SB 900 ..

PentaJP · 12-23-2009, 03:00 AM

I don't know if Pentax is currently developing a WR flash.
But given that AF-360 was released in 2001-02 and AF-540 in 2006,
it is hard for me to imagine that Pentax will upgrade the AF-500 series
before AF-300 series.
With more entry-level Pentax users, thanks to K-x and K-m, I think
demand is higher for a smaller (and cheaper) flash with bounce & swivel
functions. Something like AF-380 (WR would be nice, too)?

MikePerham · 12-23-2009, 10:11 AM

I don't see a WR flash as a priority item. Flash is used primarily indoors where WR is not a concern ...Yes I use my flash outdoors, but I don't think the typical use of a flash would warrent the cost and expense of making it WR.

esman7 · 12-23-2009, 01:47 PM

I would agree with the above. Most likely the situations in which an external flash are used would not warrant the need for weather-resistance.

Would be nice though, no doubt about that.

Erik · 12-23-2009, 04:07 PM

They probably don't want to deal with the lawsuits when the water resistance inevitably fails and someone electrocutes themselves in a rainforest somewhere.

Chwisch87 · 12-23-2009, 04:49 PM

If anything there might be an update AF-540 making it a bit more study (its know to not survive a hard fall, particularity the mounting bracket.)

I mean the AF-540 is pretty much the best or at least within the top 3 of any brand in my opinion of semi-pro/serious amateur strobe equipment. I mean its pretty much a tie between it and a Metz 58. I just got the Pentax 540 cus i wanted the pentax and it has slighty more flash power.

I will say I don't see the point of adding 100 dollars to the to cost to make it heavier and water resistant.

mattdm · 12-23-2009, 06:23 PM

Got my hopes up there. But no, not a rumor, just wishful thinking.

Christopher M.W.T · 12-24-2009, 12:10 AM

Originally posted by Chwisch87

If anything there might be an update AF-540 making it a bit more study (its know to not survive a hard fall, particularity the mounting bracket.)

I mean the AF-540 is pretty much the best or at least within the top 3 of any brand in my opinion of semi-pro/serious amateur strobe equipment. I mean its pretty much a tie between it and a Metz 58. I just got the Pentax 540 cus i wanted the pentax and it has slighty more flash power.

I will say I don't see the point of adding 100 dollars to the to cost to make it heavier and water resistant.

Despite critcisms of its build quality I don't mind the flash, I accidently dropped it onto a tiled floor from about a metre and it didn't do it anything thankfully!

The only real complaint I have against the flash is it forgets manual settings when you power it down, otherwise I can't complain about it.

wlachan · 12-24-2009, 12:31 AM

If there would be any new flash, they better redesign the whole thing. It needs to go on diet, lock on the moving head, better battery cover, better shoe, better P-TTL, smarter wireless, better recycle time, remember user settings, ext pack uses 8 AA, what else I am missing? Did I just suggest a whole new flash?

Mirek · 12-24-2009, 12:50 AM

Originally posted by wlachan

If there would be any new flash, they better redesign the whole thing. It needs to go on diet, lock on the moving head, better battery cover, better shoe, better P-TTL, smarter wireless, better recycle time, remember user settings, ext pack uses 8 AA, what else I am missing? Did I just suggest a whole new flash?

More likely a whole new flash system...

FullertonImages · 12-24-2009, 01:04 AM

Originally posted by wlachan

If there would be any new flash, they better redesign the whole thing. It needs to go on diet, lock on the moving head, better battery cover, better shoe, better P-TTL, smarter wireless, better recycle time, remember user settings, ext pack uses 8 AA, what else I am missing? Did I just suggest a whole new flash?

No no no! Locking heads annoy the crap out of me. I do wish, however, they they would just make the click stops a little more resistant. It is also anooying when you have a little Lumiquest Softbox III on it, and the click stop aren't strong enough to stop it from flopping over. But locking heads, like on the 360, annoy me far worse.

blende8 · 12-24-2009, 06:20 AM

New flash has SDM.

GerryL · 12-25-2009, 04:49 PM

A WR Pentax flash!??
Their top of the line flash is already wayyyy too expensive, and adding to that the WR would make it as expensive as the body..like the K-x.
I would rather want news that they have a new and very affordable flash offering!
Now, that would be news!

12-23-2009, 01:59 AM	#1
aufreise Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Oberhausen Posts: 2	New flash AF-540 WR FGZ? Dear Community, does any one of you know or suspect, if one of the flashes is coming in weather resistant? They announced a weather resistant macro, right after I bought a macro. Why wouldn't they do that again with the flash? I would just so love to buy the Pentax WR Ueber-Blitz! What do you think? Any chances it's coming and I should go with a cheap flash over the next year? Or will it never come, and I should just buy the regular AF-540 FGZ? Thanks a lot and merry Christmas, Tobias

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12-23-2009, 02:25 AM	#2
kolouch Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic, Ostrava Posts: 90	guess nobody knows :-( I wanna buy new pentax flash too. WR version & shorter rec. time ..

12-23-2009, 02:29 AM	#3
Adrian Owerko Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Australia Posts: 435	With a Metal Hot Shoe & PC sync Port.. And the same power as a SB 900 ..

12-23-2009, 03:00 AM	#4
PentaJP Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 83	I don't know if Pentax is currently developing a WR flash. But given that AF-360 was released in 2001-02 and AF-540 in 2006, it is hard for me to imagine that Pentax will upgrade the AF-500 series before AF-300 series. With more entry-level Pentax users, thanks to K-x and K-m, I think demand is higher for a smaller (and cheaper) flash with bounce & swivel functions. Something like AF-380 (WR would be nice, too)?

12-23-2009, 10:11 AM	#5
MikePerham Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Prince George, BC Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 642	I don't see a WR flash as a priority item. Flash is used primarily indoors where WR is not a concern ...Yes I use my flash outdoors, but I don't think the typical use of a flash would warrent the cost and expense of making it WR.

12-23-2009, 01:47 PM	#6
esman7 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 322	I would agree with the above. Most likely the situations in which an external flash are used would not warrant the need for weather-resistance. Would be nice though, no doubt about that.

12-23-2009, 04:07 PM	#7
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	They probably don't want to deal with the lawsuits when the water resistance inevitably fails and someone electrocutes themselves in a rainforest somewhere.

12-23-2009, 04:49 PM	#8
Chwisch87 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 317	If anything there might be an update AF-540 making it a bit more study (its know to not survive a hard fall, particularity the mounting bracket.) I mean the AF-540 is pretty much the best or at least within the top 3 of any brand in my opinion of semi-pro/serious amateur strobe equipment. I mean its pretty much a tie between it and a Metz 58. I just got the Pentax 540 cus i wanted the pentax and it has slighty more flash power. I will say I don't see the point of adding 100 dollars to the to cost to make it heavier and water resistant.

12-23-2009, 06:23 PM	#9
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Got my hopes up there. But no, not a rumor, just wishful thinking.

12-24-2009, 12:10 AM	#10
Christopher M.W.T Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,689	Originally posted by Chwisch87 If anything there might be an update AF-540 making it a bit more study (its know to not survive a hard fall, particularity the mounting bracket.) I mean the AF-540 is pretty much the best or at least within the top 3 of any brand in my opinion of semi-pro/serious amateur strobe equipment. I mean its pretty much a tie between it and a Metz 58. I just got the Pentax 540 cus i wanted the pentax and it has slighty more flash power. I will say I don't see the point of adding 100 dollars to the to cost to make it heavier and water resistant. Despite critcisms of its build quality I don't mind the flash, I accidently dropped it onto a tiled floor from about a metre and it didn't do it anything thankfully! The only real complaint I have against the flash is it forgets manual settings when you power it down, otherwise I can't complain about it.

12-24-2009, 12:31 AM	#11
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	If there would be any new flash, they better redesign the whole thing. It needs to go on diet, lock on the moving head, better battery cover, better shoe, better P-TTL, smarter wireless, better recycle time, remember user settings, ext pack uses 8 AA, what else I am missing? Did I just suggest a whole new flash?

12-24-2009, 12:50 AM	#12
Mirek Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Croatia Photos: Gallery Posts: 64	Originally posted by wlachan If there would be any new flash, they better redesign the whole thing. It needs to go on diet, lock on the moving head, better battery cover, better shoe, better P-TTL, smarter wireless, better recycle time, remember user settings, ext pack uses 8 AA, what else I am missing? Did I just suggest a whole new flash? More likely a whole new flash system...

12-24-2009, 01:04 AM	#13
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 883	Originally posted by wlachan If there would be any new flash, they better redesign the whole thing. It needs to go on diet, lock on the moving head, better battery cover, better shoe, better P-TTL, smarter wireless, better recycle time, remember user settings, ext pack uses 8 AA, what else I am missing? Did I just suggest a whole new flash? No no no! Locking heads annoy the crap out of me. I do wish, however, they they would just make the click stops a little more resistant. It is also anooying when you have a little Lumiquest Softbox III on it, and the click stop aren't strong enough to stop it from flopping over. But locking heads, like on the 360, annoy me far worse.

12-24-2009, 06:20 AM	#14
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	New flash has SDM.

12-25-2009, 04:49 PM	#15
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	A WR Pentax flash!?? Their top of the line flash is already wayyyy too expensive, and adding to that the WR would make it as expensive as the body..like the K-x. I would rather want news that they have a new and very affordable flash offering! Now, that would be news!

New flash AF-540 WR FGZ?

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