AF 540 zoom seems noisy

Waymar · 01-10-2008, 09:01 AM

I just received my 540 flash a couple days ago and am still learning about all the features. I have a question about the sound it is making when it zooms. When it zooms out there is a small whirring sound. But when it zooms back the noise is louder and it almost sounds like it is grinding. This is my first auto zoom, so is this a normal sound or do I have a defective flash. I thought it would be nice to get some users feedback before I phoned Pentax. Thanks for your help.

wlachan · 01-10-2008, 05:29 PM

I wonder why. Yes my 540FGZ had noisy zoom too, but the decade old Metz 40MZ-2 is rather quiet. Sure it can be done.

stewart_photo · 01-10-2008, 07:36 PM

I have three of them and they're all pretty noisy. However, my older Minolta flash units were about the same and they worked just fine for several years (until I sold them), so maybe that's just typical of hard plastic body construction with little or no sound absorbing materials.

stewart

Waymar · 01-11-2008, 07:59 AM

thank you for your answer. by the looks of the owners manual, which looks rather skimpy for such a feature filled flash. its going to take me quite a while to learn everything that I can do with the unit. I just want to make sure I am starting off with a unit that is not defective.

stewart_photo · 01-11-2008, 10:05 AM

Of course, since I haven't actually heard your flash to determine if it physically sounds the same as mine, there is obviously no way for me to say for certain nothing is wrong. However, the noise you describe sounds, just from the description, very much the same as mine. By the way, don't forget that about half of the info you'll need for your flash is covered in the camera's owners manual. You should have both manuals open when trying to figure things out. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

stewart

01-10-2008, 09:01 AM	#1
Waymar New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 3	AF 540 zoom seems noisy I just received my 540 flash a couple days ago and am still learning about all the features. I have a question about the sound it is making when it zooms. When it zooms out there is a small whirring sound. But when it zooms back the noise is louder and it almost sounds like it is grinding. This is my first auto zoom, so is this a normal sound or do I have a defective flash. I thought it would be nice to get some users feedback before I phoned Pentax. Thanks for your help.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Two new Pentax 540 flashes and one used 540 made in Japan (Worldwide)	Albert Siegel	Sold Items	8	10-07-2010 02:47 PM
AF is noisy	ruggiex	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	9	06-25-2010 04:43 PM
why so noisy??	odgc8	Pentax DSLR Discussion	1	07-05-2009 05:09 PM
*ist DS too noisy	subimagery	Pentax DSLR Discussion	10	01-31-2009 04:31 PM
Hi all, too noisy over their	McBrian	Welcomes and Introductions	5	11-29-2006 12:19 PM

01-10-2008, 05:29 PM	#2
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	I wonder why. Yes my 540FGZ had noisy zoom too, but the decade old Metz 40MZ-2 is rather quiet. Sure it can be done.

01-10-2008, 07:36 PM	#3
stewart_photo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 1,864	I have three of them and they're all pretty noisy. However, my older Minolta flash units were about the same and they worked just fine for several years (until I sold them), so maybe that's just typical of hard plastic body construction with little or no sound absorbing materials. stewart

01-11-2008, 07:59 AM	#4
Waymar New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 3 Original Poster	thank you for your answer. by the looks of the owners manual, which looks rather skimpy for such a feature filled flash. its going to take me quite a while to learn everything that I can do with the unit. I just want to make sure I am starting off with a unit that is not defective.

01-11-2008, 10:05 AM	#5
stewart_photo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 1,864	Of course, since I haven't actually heard your flash to determine if it physically sounds the same as mine, there is obviously no way for me to say for certain nothing is wrong. However, the noise you describe sounds, just from the description, very much the same as mine. By the way, don't forget that about half of the info you'll need for your flash is covered in the camera's owners manual. You should have both manuals open when trying to figure things out. Good luck and welcome to the forum. stewart