Originally posted by Kameraten Well, I was kind of more interested in a comparison between flashes, if somebody has made one, than between batteries and modes. I agree that better batteries are better – but is there a better flash gun?
Mathias,
The
Metz 54MZ-4 flash might be better than the Pentax AF 540 FGZ. I had one for just a couple of days at the start of last summer. Although it seems to have quite a few features and to be fairly powerful, I sent it back mainly because I discovered that it would not do P-TTL, but also because I found it a little too hard to figure out. In retrospect, I think I may have been too quick to send it back. I'm no longer very fond of P-TTL. Unfortunately, I didn't spend enough time with the Metz to be able to recommend it, just to mention it for your consideration. Metz has a terrific reputation in the flash biz.
I have been able to get good results from the Pentax 540 FGZ with careful use and a lot of practice and experience. The fact that it's made by Pentax guarantees compatibility, which is worth something. The flash does tilt and swivel nicely, something that I find essential. So you can get the job done with the Pentax flash, and it's undoubtedly the safest buy. But flash isn't a strength of the Pentax platform. Canon has better options and Nikon seems to have the best.
Will