Budget Flash gun

Pentaxboy · 07-13-2009, 10:23 AM

Hello all! I'm new to the thread and also the forums. I own a Pentax K10D which I bought recently. I have decided to buy a flash gun but it seems that I'm still a student and I only plan to buy a good budget flash gun because I have some kind of financial problem. There are some good flash guns but it seems that they are more than I can afford. Do you guys know any good ones? Thanks in advance.

Charlie
Sabah, Malaysia

Damn Brit · 07-13-2009, 11:13 AM

Charlie, I would suggest you buy an old film era flash and something like like the Cactus V4 triggers and use it off camera,that would be your cheapest option. You will need the triggers because the voltage on old flashguns is too powerful for your K10 and will fry the electronics.
I believe the people who make the Cactus v4's actually sell a reasonably priced flash to go with the triggers.

SOldBear · 07-13-2009, 12:11 PM

I suggest a used unit of one of these. These are the ones I have direct experience with. They have trigger voltage safe of K10D.

- Pentax AF280T
- Pentax AF200T
- Nikon SB-24
- Nikon SB-25
- Nikon SB-26
- Nikon SB-28
- Vivitar 285HV
- Sunpak 433
- Sunpak 555
- Vivitar 3500

Set the flash in A mode, the K10D in X mode (or M mode with speed equal to or lower then 1/180 sec), match the ISO setting and the aperture setting on the flash and on the K10D.

Of course you can always use the flash in manual mode.

If you can get a Safe-Sync or a Cactus as in above post, you even have more choices:

- Vivitar 283
- Vivitar 285
- Sunpak 522, 544, 611, 522
- Any of the Metz 45 series
....

Mike Cash · 07-13-2009, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

I suggest a used unit of one of these. These are the one I have direct experience with. They have trigger voltage safe of K10D.

- Pentax AF280T

I would recommend that one to him even if he had lots of money.

kent · 07-13-2009, 12:29 PM

there are some chinese production on ebay. It would be interesting to try one of these

GerryL · 07-13-2009, 02:15 PM

If you let ou know your intended budget for the flash then maybe we could better suggest good ones for the price of the budget.
Who knows, your budget might not be that low as you think (or we might have thought) and it might even buy you the newer flashes.

Pentaxboy · 07-13-2009, 08:26 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. My intended budget is around USD 150. I don't have a clue on what brand of flashguns that are compatible with the K10D. Some of the flashguns that I view are higher that USD 200 so I'm looking for a good budget flashgun which I can use it off camera or on camera.

Mike Cash · 07-14-2009, 06:46 AM

Buy an AF280T for $30 and put the other $120 back in your pocket.

GerryL · 07-14-2009, 08:02 AM

For non-dedicated flash, you can get the Vivitar 285HV.
You can get them new at around $89.
You can also bid on them on Eekbay if you want to take a chance on bidding.
For dedicated flash,
you have the opton of the Vivitar DF 383 Amazon.com: Vivitar DF383 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Power Zoom /Swivel /Bounce Auto-Focus Flash for Pentax TTL, Guide Number 45m (147'): Camera & Photo
Here's a review of it here by a forum member. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/camera-studio-accessories/65812-pentax-df-383-review.html
You can ask him questions if you would like to go this route.
There is also a lesser version of it the Vivitar DF 283 VIVDF283PEN Vivitar DF283 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Bounce / Zoom / Swivel Auto-Focus Flash for Pentax TTL, Guide Number 42m (137').
No reviews for this yet.
Pentax AF 360 GFZ Amazon.com: Pentax AF 360 FGZ Flash for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras (w/ case): Camera & Photo.
If you are patient enough, you can get them used for about $150.
I'll update you of the other dedicated flash units from third party providers but we have no reviews of them here as far as I know.
There are other manual non-dedicated flash which are a lot-lot cheaper.
Hope this helps.

GerryL · 07-14-2009, 08:06 AM

Here's a review from our forum's very own mattdm.. Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison: The Definitive Guide
He does have links and prices for the flash.
These are the comparison and available dedicated flashes for the Pentax DSLR's.
Good luck!

Pentaxboy · 07-15-2009, 01:04 AM

Thank you guys for those suggestions. I will try to find what's good for me. Has anyone tried the Vivitar DF 4000MZ P-TTL Flash? Is it a good flash for the K10D?

GerryL · 07-15-2009, 09:24 AM

From how it looks, it's looks the same as the Vivitar "DF 383".
The DF 383 might be its generic name and the "DF 4000MZ" might be specifically to denote for Pentax.
Take a look at the review and photos of res3567 above as I posted, they might be the same banana.

GerryL · 07-15-2009, 09:32 AM

There's a Pentax AF 360 GFZ for sale on the marketplace for $150. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographers-marketplace/66503-sale-k20d...nses-more.html
It lacks the swivel though and only bounce flash.

drogheda99 · 07-28-2009, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

I suggest a used unit of one of these. These are the ones I have direct experience with. They have trigger voltage safe of K10D.

- Pentax AF280T
- Pentax AF200T
- Nikon SB-24
- Nikon SB-25
- Nikon SB-26
- Nikon SB-28
- Vivitar 285HV
- Sunpak 433
- Sunpak 555
- Vivitar 3500

Set the flash in A mode, the K10D in X mode (or M mode with speed equal to or lower then 1/180 sec), match the ISO setting and the aperture setting on the flash and on the K10D.

Of course you can always use the flash in manual mode.

If you can get a Safe-Sync or a Cactus as in above post, you even have more choices:

- Vivitar 283
- Vivitar 285
- Sunpak 522, 544, 611, 522
- Any of the Metz 45 series
....

Hi SOldbear
Do you think thses flsh guns would also work with a K200D

RickB · 08-06-2009, 05:08 PM

I'm also curious if specifically the SB-28 will work with the K20. I need to get an affordable (under $100) flash that has bounce and swivel soon so my wife and I can practice with it. Silly her went and agreed to shoot a wedding even though all her experience is mall studio style. I've got a chance to get the SB-28 locally for $65 so if it will work it'll give me about a month to learn and then another month to teach her.

Thanks for answers anyone may have.

07-13-2009, 10:23 AM	#1
Pentaxboy New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Photos: Gallery Posts: 11	Budget Flash gun Hello all! I'm new to the thread and also the forums. I own a Pentax K10D which I bought recently. I have decided to buy a flash gun but it seems that I'm still a student and I only plan to buy a good budget flash gun because I have some kind of financial problem. There are some good flash guns but it seems that they are more than I can afford. Do you guys know any good ones? Thanks in advance. Charlie Sabah, Malaysia

07-13-2009, 11:13 AM	#2
Damn Brit Guest	Charlie, I would suggest you buy an old film era flash and something like like the Cactus V4 triggers and use it off camera,that would be your cheapest option. You will need the triggers because the voltage on old flashguns is too powerful for your K10 and will fry the electronics. I believe the people who make the Cactus v4's actually sell a reasonably priced flash to go with the triggers. Last edited by Damn Brit; 07-13-2009 at 11:54 AM.

07-13-2009, 12:11 PM	#3
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	I suggest a used unit of one of these. These are the ones I have direct experience with. They have trigger voltage safe of K10D. - Pentax AF280T - Pentax AF200T - Nikon SB-24 - Nikon SB-25 - Nikon SB-26 - Nikon SB-28 - Vivitar 285HV - Sunpak 433 - Sunpak 555 - Vivitar 3500 Set the flash in A mode, the K10D in X mode (or M mode with speed equal to or lower then 1/180 sec), match the ISO setting and the aperture setting on the flash and on the K10D. Of course you can always use the flash in manual mode. If you can get a Safe-Sync or a Cactus as in above post, you even have more choices: - Vivitar 283 - Vivitar 285 - Sunpak 522, 544, 611, 522 - Any of the Metz 45 series .... Last edited by SOldBear; 07-13-2009 at 12:30 PM.

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07-13-2009, 12:25 PM	#4
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by SOldBear I suggest a used unit of one of these. These are the one I have direct experience with. They have trigger voltage safe of K10D. - Pentax AF280T I would recommend that one to him even if he had lots of money.

07-13-2009, 12:29 PM	#5
kent Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 344	there are some chinese production on ebay. It would be interesting to try one of these

07-13-2009, 02:15 PM	#6
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	If you let ou know your intended budget for the flash then maybe we could better suggest good ones for the price of the budget. Who knows, your budget might not be that low as you think (or we might have thought) and it might even buy you the newer flashes.

07-13-2009, 08:26 PM	#7
Pentaxboy New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Photos: Gallery Posts: 11 Original Poster	Thanks for the suggestions. My intended budget is around USD 150. I don't have a clue on what brand of flashguns that are compatible with the K10D. Some of the flashguns that I view are higher that USD 200 so I'm looking for a good budget flashgun which I can use it off camera or on camera.

07-14-2009, 06:46 AM	#8
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Buy an AF280T for $30 and put the other $120 back in your pocket.

07-14-2009, 08:02 AM	#9
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	For non-dedicated flash, you can get the Vivitar 285HV. You can get them new at around $89. You can also bid on them on Eekbay if you want to take a chance on bidding. For dedicated flash, you have the opton of the Vivitar DF 383 Amazon.com: Vivitar DF383 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Power Zoom /Swivel /Bounce Auto-Focus Flash for Pentax TTL, Guide Number 45m (147'): Camera & Photo Here's a review of it here by a forum member. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/camera-studio-accessories/65812-pentax-df-383-review.html You can ask him questions if you would like to go this route. There is also a lesser version of it the Vivitar DF 283 VIVDF283PEN Vivitar DF283 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Bounce / Zoom / Swivel Auto-Focus Flash for Pentax TTL, Guide Number 42m (137'). No reviews for this yet. Pentax AF 360 GFZ Amazon.com: Pentax AF 360 FGZ Flash for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras (w/ case): Camera & Photo. If you are patient enough, you can get them used for about $150. I'll update you of the other dedicated flash units from third party providers but we have no reviews of them here as far as I know. There are other manual non-dedicated flash which are a lot-lot cheaper. Hope this helps.

07-14-2009, 08:06 AM	#10
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Here's a review from our forum's very own mattdm.. Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison: The Definitive Guide He does have links and prices for the flash. These are the comparison and available dedicated flashes for the Pentax DSLR's. Good luck!

07-15-2009, 01:04 AM	#11
Pentaxboy New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Photos: Gallery Posts: 11 Original Poster	Thank you guys for those suggestions. I will try to find what's good for me. Has anyone tried the Vivitar DF 4000MZ P-TTL Flash? Is it a good flash for the K10D?

07-15-2009, 09:24 AM	#12
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	From how it looks, it's looks the same as the Vivitar "DF 383". The DF 383 might be its generic name and the "DF 4000MZ" might be specifically to denote for Pentax. Take a look at the review and photos of res3567 above as I posted, they might be the same banana.

07-15-2009, 09:32 AM	#13
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	There's a Pentax AF 360 GFZ for sale on the marketplace for $150. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographers-marketplace/66503-sale-k20d...nses-more.html It lacks the swivel though and only bounce flash.

07-28-2009, 02:48 PM	#14
drogheda99 New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada Posts: 19	Originally posted by SOldBear I suggest a used unit of one of these. These are the ones I have direct experience with. They have trigger voltage safe of K10D. - Pentax AF280T - Pentax AF200T - Nikon SB-24 - Nikon SB-25 - Nikon SB-26 - Nikon SB-28 - Vivitar 285HV - Sunpak 433 - Sunpak 555 - Vivitar 3500 Set the flash in A mode, the K10D in X mode (or M mode with speed equal to or lower then 1/180 sec), match the ISO setting and the aperture setting on the flash and on the K10D. Of course you can always use the flash in manual mode. If you can get a Safe-Sync or a Cactus as in above post, you even have more choices: - Vivitar 283 - Vivitar 285 - Sunpak 522, 544, 611, 522 - Any of the Metz 45 series .... Hi SOldbear Do you think thses flsh guns would also work with a K200D

08-06-2009, 05:08 PM	#15
RickB Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT Posts: 9	I'm also curious if specifically the SB-28 will work with the K20. I need to get an affordable (under $100) flash that has bounce and swivel soon so my wife and I can practice with it. Silly her went and agreed to shoot a wedding even though all her experience is mall studio style. I've got a chance to get the SB-28 locally for $65 so if it will work it'll give me about a month to learn and then another month to teach her. Thanks for answers anyone may have.