[bullwhip]

Background: Had a Nikon D90 and sb600 remote wireless flash, which I had to sell. I could use the onboard flash and the sb600 remote together (on board straight on and sb600 wirelessly as side fill) or the remote used only from the side and it was "automatically" set (i-ttl?).
I now have a K-X (great camera, no regrets) and I would like to know the least expensive way to accomplish a similar setup with the K-X wirelessly (K-X onboard and a wirelessly triggered remote flash both used as flash, or only the remote used wirelessly as off camera flash). I'm pretty sure the Pentax 360 and Metz 48 can do this, but the $$ is out of my current range.
So is there a less expensive flash that will do this or is this even possible with the K-X?
Sorry for my confusion and thanks much for your assistance / advice.

[mattdm]

Background: Had a Nikon D90 and sb600 remote wireless flash, which I had to sell. I could use the onboard flash and the sb600 remote together (on board straight on and sb600 wirelessly as side fill) or the remote used only from the side and it was "automatically" set (i-ttl?).
I now have a K-X (great camera, no regrets) and I would like to know the least expensive way to accomplish a similar setup with the K-X wirelessly (K-X onboard and a wirelessly triggered remote flash both used as flash, or only the remote used wirelessly as off camera flash). I'm pretty sure the Pentax 360 and Metz 48 can do this, but the $$ is out of my current range.
So is there a less expensive flash that will do this or is this even possible with the K-X?
Sorry for my confusion and thanks much for your assistance / advice.

See: Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison: Wireless

In addition to the two you've listed, the Sigma EF-530 DG Super can as well (although I found it less reliable).

These are all in the same price range as the Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight.

Unfortunately, there's not a cheaper solution for wireless TTL. It's worth noting, though, that wireless control from the on-board flash is a feature Pentax offers even on the entry-level models like the K-x or K-m.

[bullwhip]

Mattdm,
If this is the one and the same Mattdm , I've been to your web writeup on p=ttl flashes and just wanted to let you know it was very helpful and greatly appreciated. I think I'll go the Metz 48 route, as it seems a little better than the Pentax 360 for about the same price. Are there any features that the Pentax 360 has that I would not have if I purchased the Metz 48?
Funny thing is, where I live, I can find used Nikon stuff all day long (got my sb600 used for $100!), but finding used Pentax gear is a rarity. I'm guessing due to not as many people having Pentax gear as Nikon AND once you have Pentax, you tend to keep it?!
I know it's against nearly everything I've read, but I truly like my K-X much better than the D90...what a great little camera...
Now, to find that flash....
Thanks again..

[Ira]

See: Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison: Wireless

In addition to the two you've listed, the Sigma EF-530 DG Super can as well (although I found it less reliable).

These are all in the same price range as the Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight.

Unfortunately, there's not a cheaper solution for wireless TTL. It's worth noting, though, that wireless control from the on-board flash is a feature Pentax offers even on the entry-level models like the K-x or K-m.

Sunday night. 8PM. ESPN2.

Be there.

[bullwhip]

Sunday night. 8PM. ESPN2.

Be there.

Why would you reply with this information?

[Ira]

Why would you reply with this information?

Are you unaware what happens when you get a Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees fan in the same room, with opening day coming up and they're playing each other?

Things can get ugly.

[bullwhip]

Ahhh, got it. I guess you get one winner and one loser. Now who is what, we'll soon see
Enjoy the game..

[Ira]

Ahhh, got it. I guess you get one winner and one loser. Now who is what, we'll soon see
Enjoy the game..

Hey, Bull. Join the Florida Pentaxians Group here:

PentaxForums.com - Florida Pentaxians

Once you do, at the bottom of the Forums page, you'll have a new heading/category for all of the groups you belong to, and this will be the first one. So it's easy to go there and connect with other Floridians.

Gonna make it a point from now on to get Floridians to join, so there's an easy to get to our forum for local info. With hurricane season coming up, this could be important!

I got HAMMERED by Hurricane Wilma here in Broward County.

[boosted03gti]

so how do you set the pentax k-x to use a AF360 as a wireless slave or controller? do you need any additional accessories, like a hotshoe adaptor to make the wireless connection. im a noob so please excuse my ignorance.

[bullwhip]

I don't have one to try yet, but page 165 thru 168 of the manual:
By using two external flashes (AF540FGZ or AF360FGZ) or using the
built-in flash with one or more external flashes, you can shoot in P-TTL
flash mode without connecting the flash units with a cord.
First, set the channel for the external flash unit.
1 Set the channel for the external flash unit.
2 Remove the cover of the hot shoe and attach the external
flash.
3 Turn on the camera and the external flash, and press the
shutter release button halfway.
The built-in flash is set to the same channel as the external flash unit.
Using Flash in Wireless Mode
• Set the power switch of the external flash to WIRELESS.
• Two or more AF540FGZ/AF360FGZ external flashes are required to use
high-speed flash sync in the wireless mode. This function cannot be used in
combination with the built-in flash.
• Set the wireless mode of the external flash not directly connected to the
camera to SLAVE.
Setting the Channel for the External Flash
• When set to r mode, the channel currently set for the built-in flash is
displayed in the viewfinder for 10 seconds.
• Be sure to set all the flashes to the same channel. Refer to the manual of
AF540FGZ or AF360FGZ for details on how to set the channel on the
external flash.

Set the camera to wireless flash mode when using an external flash in
combination with the built-in flash.
1 Press the four-way controller (3).
The [Flash Mode] screen appears.
2 Select r and press the 4
button.
The camera is ready to take a picture.
Using the Built-in Flash in Wireless Mode
When the drive mode is set to i (Remote Control (3s delay)) or the lens
aperture is not set to the s position, r cannot be selected.
Flash Mode
Wireless Mode
MENU Cancel OK OK
0.0
Changing the Built-in Flash Discharge Method
You can change the built-in flash discharge method used in wireless
mode.
Set in [17. Flash in Wireless Mode] of the [A Custom Setting 3] menu
(p.82).
1 On Discharges the built-in flash as a master. (default setting)
2 Off Discharges the built-in flash as a control flash.
HSb (High-speed flash sync) is not available with the built-in flash.
Wireless Flash Control (P-TTL Flash Mode)
When using external flash units (AF540FGZ or AF360FGZ) for
wireless shooting, the following information is exchanged between
the flash units before the flash is discharged.
Press the shutter release button fully.
��
1 The flash directly connected to the camera emits a control flash
(relays the flash mode of the camera).
2 The wireless remote flash emits a test flash (relays confirmation
of subject).
3 The flash directly connected to the camera emits a control flash
(relays flash output to the wireless remote flash).
* The flash directly connected to the camera will emit a control flash one
more time after this to relay the flash duration time when HSb (Highspeed
sync) is set.
4 The wireless remote flash discharges at the same time as the
main flash.
When the wireless mode of the external flash directly connected to the
camera is set to [MASTER] or [17. Flash in Wireless Mode] (p.166) is set
to [On] for the built-in flash, all the flashes will discharge simultaneouslyWireless Flash Control (P-TTL Flash Mode)
When using external flash units (AF540FGZ or AF360FGZ) for
wireless shooting, the following information is exchanged between
the flash units before the flash is discharged.
Press the shutter release button fully.
��
1 The flash directly connected to the camera emits a control flash
(relays the flash mode of the camera).
2 The wireless remote flash emits a test flash (relays confirmation
of subject).
3 The flash directly connected to the camera emits a control flash
(relays flash output to the wireless remote flash).
* The flash directly connected to the camera will emit a control flash one
more time after this to relay the flash duration time when HSb (Highspeed
sync) is set.
4 The wireless remote flash discharges at the same time as the
main flash.
When the wireless mode of the external flash directly connected to the
camera is set to [MASTER] or [17. Flash in Wireless Mode] (p.166) is set
to [On] for the built-in flash, all the flashes will discharge simultaneously

[boosted03gti]

so yea, cant get my af360 to work in wireless mode. read the manual, set the came and flash to the same channel by attaching the flash and doing a half press, set external flash to slave, built in flash to master, set k-x to wireless mode, confirmed channel, popped up the built in flash, take a pic, and only the built in flash goes off. im guessing its user error. any tips.

ok, figured it out. camera has to be set to controller, not master.
so new question. what is the difference between master and controller and why would i pick one over the other.

tia

jorge

[bullwhip]

MASTER Sets the camera to discharge both the flash directly
connected to the camera and the wireless flash unit.
CONTROL Sets the camera to discharge the flash directly connected
to the camera as a control flash only, not as the main flash.

[cfkoh]

There is a bug in the firm ware of Pentax Kx.
Try this. Set the flash to channel 3 and the camera Kx to channel 1.
This setup worked for me and other people with Kx

[nextimelah]

hi, dun mind if I ask a n00b question on related k-x flash question.

I am getting a Pentax 360 flash, but my pop-up flash is busted (doesn't fire anymore ), although the hotshoe is confirmed still working.

Question is, if i want to use the Pentax 360 in controller wireless mode, do i still need the pop-up flash to pre-fire before I take a shot? can i keep the pop-up flash closed?

thanks!

[mattdm]

Question is, if i want to use the Pentax 360 in controller wireless mode, do i still need the pop-up flash to pre-fire before I take a shot? can i keep the pop-up flash closed?

Yeah. The wireless communication protocol is optical. You'll need two AF360FGZs.