Third Party P-TTL flash for K-3

Pentax Bob · 02-05-2014, 08:23 AM

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will answer all your questions shortly. Right now I am overwhelmed with weather related issues. Yes, my B&H flash is a Tumex brand flash that is not more than 2 years old.

dcBear78 · 02-05-2014, 08:38 AM

Another Metz 52 here and works perfect.

I'm interested why anyone would NEED a WR flash?

gosman · 02-05-2014, 08:48 AM

The camera body is WR, many lenses are WR, why not a flash that is WR?

awaldram · 02-05-2014, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by gosman

The camera body is WR, many lenses are WR, why not a flash that is WR?

two reasons

1 Cost
2 however WR a flash would be I'd feel exposed shooting with 25,000V two inches from my nose in the wet

dcBear78 · 02-05-2014, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by gosman

The camera body is WR, many lenses are WR, why not a flash that is WR?

But I'm trying to think of a time when you would actually use it in wet weather? Or is it just a transport/piece of mind thing? If that is the case I'm sure a 1 cent zip lock bag could do just as good a job.

jup · 02-05-2014, 05:05 PM

I like weather resistance of Pentax flashes, and if I was in the market for flash now, I might get one.

That said, pretty unique feature of Metz flashes is that their firmware is user updatable. I don't think this is common for flashes and Metz actually does release upates with new features from time to time. See for example here: http://www.metz.de/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=fileadmin/fm-dam/Do...9532bbd6f8ca30

gosman · 02-05-2014, 05:36 PM

I wonder what the firmware updates will be for the K-3? I suspect that the engineers at Pentax control their firmware updates within the camera to accommodate the Pentax flash systems. Rather than the other way around that Metz has to do!

derekkite · 02-05-2014, 08:12 PM

Originally posted by dcBear78

Another Metz 52 here and works perfect.

I'm interested why anyone would NEED a WR flash?

Macro and long birding with a flash extender. Non WR makes it unusable most of the time.

dansamy · 02-05-2014, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by Pentax Bob

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will answer all your questions shortly. Right now I am overwhelmed with weather related issues. Yes, my B&H flash is a Tumex brand flash that is not more than 2 years old.

What model is it? Wonder if it'd work with the k-5ii?

jup · 02-06-2014, 02:11 AM

Originally posted by gosman

I wonder what the firmware updates will be for the K-3? I suspect that the engineers at Pentax control their firmware updates within the camera to accommodate the Pentax flash systems. Rather than the other way around that Metz has to do!

See the thing is Metz flashes work better with K-3 then with my K-30 out of the box. P-TTL, HSS, wireless... No issue at all. I don't know how, but Pentax did something to their flash system that made it better. Now, if they just fixed the damned delay...

Pentax Bob · 02-06-2014, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

Have you read this website on Pentax and P-TTL flashes?

Yes I have checked it out several times. It is due for an update to include K-3 and newer model flashes.

**Papa Lazarou** · 02-06-2014, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by eaglem

i have the metz 58 af2 and that has pttl and works like a charm on the k-3.

+1.

stevebrot · 02-06-2014, 10:35 AM

Any help or advise yet for the OP who currently owns a Bell & Howell flash?

To the OP...have you confirmed that the flash engages all of the pins of the hot shoe?

Steve

Pentax Bob · 02-06-2014, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Any help or advise yet for the OP who currently owns a Bell & Howell flash?

To the OP...have you confirmed that the flash engages all of the pins of the hot shoe?

Steve

Stevebrot,
Yes, it is making contact with all the pins of the hot shoe. I just rechecked the B&H on my K-x and it works fine except for the slave mode that fires on the pre flash. Won't self adjust at all on the K-3. It can only function in full manual.

Pentax Bob

reverenddude · 02-07-2014, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by eaglem

I have the Metz 58 AF2 and that has PTTL and works like a charm on the K-3.

eaglem, do you have to dial the power back on your 58af2 at all? I have one as well and when using it, I seem to always have to keep it -1ev to get (what I feel is) optimally exposed photos.

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02-05-2014, 08:23 AM	#16
Pentax Bob Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Maryland Photos: Albums Posts: 119 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will answer all your questions shortly. Right now I am overwhelmed with weather related issues. Yes, my B&H flash is a Tumex brand flash that is not more than 2 years old.

02-05-2014, 08:38 AM	#17
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	Another Metz 52 here and works perfect. I'm interested why anyone would NEED a WR flash?

02-05-2014, 08:48 AM	#18
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263	The camera body is WR, many lenses are WR, why not a flash that is WR?

02-05-2014, 08:59 AM	#19
awaldram Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 732	Originally posted by gosman The camera body is WR, many lenses are WR, why not a flash that is WR? two reasons 1 Cost 2 however WR a flash would be I'd feel exposed shooting with 25,000V two inches from my nose in the wet

02-05-2014, 04:34 PM	#20
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	Originally posted by gosman The camera body is WR, many lenses are WR, why not a flash that is WR? But I'm trying to think of a time when you would actually use it in wet weather? Or is it just a transport/piece of mind thing? If that is the case I'm sure a 1 cent zip lock bag could do just as good a job.

02-05-2014, 05:05 PM	#21
jup Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 103	I like weather resistance of Pentax flashes, and if I was in the market for flash now, I might get one. That said, pretty unique feature of Metz flashes is that their firmware is user updatable. I don't think this is common for flashes and Metz actually does release upates with new features from time to time. See for example here: http://www.metz.de/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=fileadmin/fm-dam/Do...9532bbd6f8ca30

02-05-2014, 05:36 PM	#22
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263	I wonder what the firmware updates will be for the K-3? I suspect that the engineers at Pentax control their firmware updates within the camera to accommodate the Pentax flash systems. Rather than the other way around that Metz has to do!

02-05-2014, 08:12 PM	#23
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by dcBear78 Another Metz 52 here and works perfect. I'm interested why anyone would NEED a WR flash? Macro and long birding with a flash extender. Non WR makes it unusable most of the time.

02-05-2014, 08:39 PM	#24
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	Originally posted by Pentax Bob Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will answer all your questions shortly. Right now I am overwhelmed with weather related issues. Yes, my B&H flash is a Tumex brand flash that is not more than 2 years old. What model is it? Wonder if it'd work with the k-5ii?

02-06-2014, 02:11 AM	#25
jup Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 103	Originally posted by gosman I wonder what the firmware updates will be for the K-3? I suspect that the engineers at Pentax control their firmware updates within the camera to accommodate the Pentax flash systems. Rather than the other way around that Metz has to do! See the thing is Metz flashes work better with K-3 then with my K-30 out of the box. P-TTL, HSS, wireless... No issue at all. I don't know how, but Pentax did something to their flash system that made it better. Now, if they just fixed the damned delay...

02-06-2014, 07:16 AM	#26
Pentax Bob Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Maryland Photos: Albums Posts: 119 Original Poster	Originally posted by RobA_Oz Have you read this website on Pentax and P-TTL flashes? Yes I have checked it out several times. It is due for an update to include K-3 and newer model flashes.

02-06-2014, 09:31 AM	#27
Papa Lazarou Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK Posts: 340	Originally posted by eaglem i have the metz 58 af2 and that has pttl and works like a charm on the k-3. +1.

02-06-2014, 10:35 AM	#28
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Any help or advise yet for the OP who currently owns a Bell & Howell flash? To the OP...have you confirmed that the flash engages all of the pins of the hot shoe? Steve

02-06-2014, 07:05 PM	#29
Pentax Bob Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Maryland Photos: Albums Posts: 119 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Any help or advise yet for the OP who currently owns a Bell & Howell flash? To the OP...have you confirmed that the flash engages all of the pins of the hot shoe? Steve Stevebrot, Yes, it is making contact with all the pins of the hot shoe. I just rechecked the B&H on my K-x and it works fine except for the slave mode that fires on the pre flash. Won't self adjust at all on the K-3. It can only function in full manual. Pentax Bob

02-07-2014, 11:28 AM	#30
reverenddude Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 34	Originally posted by eaglem I have the Metz 58 AF2 and that has PTTL and works like a charm on the K-3. eaglem, do you have to dial the power back on your 58af2 at all? I have one as well and when using it, I seem to always have to keep it -1ev to get (what I feel is) optimally exposed photos.