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11-19-2009, 01:16 PM   #1
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Amazing cheap flash for K7

I was having problems trying to decide which tilt/swivel flash to get for my K7.

I decided to wait and started purchasing stuff for a small mobile light weight strobist studio instead. This lead me to buy the Nikon SB-28 flash for off-shoe usage.

It arrived today and I was amazed at how fantastic this flash is in auto-mode on the K7 shoe. Great exposure and so easy to use. Relatively compact with a lot of power.

With this is my back, I am not sure I will need a p-ttl flash after all !!

My first test shot 2 minutes after it arrived:


I paid approx. $90 for it and it is worth much more than that to me

SB-28 is hereby highly recommended for use on Pentax cameras...


Last edited by Henrik Kristensen; 11-19-2009 at 01:59 PM.
11-19-2009, 02:42 PM   #2
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After problems with my AF540, I decided I was going with 2 SB24's (& Cactus V4 triggers for wireless) and either keep my AF360 or get a Metz 48. The Nikons are cheap and very effective, and the AF360 or Metz can still do PTTL when needed/wanted. I will say that PTTL is much improved on the K-7 over other Penax bodies I've had.

Good luck with the Nikon, for the price, they are a good value.
11-19-2009, 07:53 PM   #3
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Henrik, this is one truly amazing portrait shot!
I will probably get the K7 soon (I already have the K10 and K20D) and I have yet to get a flash unit! I don't even know how the things work anyway ... hard to believe but true!
So, is this a shoe-mountable flash? Can it be used along with the built-in K7 flash as a slave? Do you know if this SB24 can be used on a K20D as well?
Sorry about all those questions but I am a real rookie at this flash thing.
Great shot!
JP
11-19-2009, 08:22 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by jpzk Quote
Henrik, this is one truly amazing portrait shot!
I will probably get the K7 soon (I already have the K10 and K20D) and I have yet to get a flash unit! I don't even know how the things work anyway ... hard to believe but true!
So, is this a shoe-mountable flash? Can it be used along with the built-in K7 flash as a slave? Do you know if this SB24 can be used on a K20D as well?
Sorry about all those questions but I am a real rookie at this flash thing.
Great shot!
JP
Hope the OP doesn't mind me chiming in here. The SB24 would work fine in auto mode with your K20D (set the aperture and ISO, and let the flash do the rest). The SB24 and SB25 were essentially the same with the SB25 capable of going a little wider - I think 20mm instead of 24mm. The SB26 added the slave capability. If you want to use it as a slave, you need at least the SB26 (or higher).

You can use the onboard flash to trigger a SB26+ as a slave, though the onboard flash could contribute to the exposure. If you're going to go off camera with the Nikon SB's, you'd probably be better off doing it with some type of wireless triggers (there are many choices right now).

11-20-2009, 12:18 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by jpzk Quote
Henrik, this is one truly amazing portrait shot!
Thank you very much... really just the first snapshot with the SB-28 mounted and bounced...


QuoteOriginally posted by jpzk Quote
I will probably get the K7 soon (I already have the K10 and K20D) and I have yet to get a flash unit! I don't even know how the things work anyway ... hard to believe but true!
So, is this a shoe-mountable flash? Can it be used along with the built-in K7 flash as a slave? Do you know if this SB24 can be used on a K20D as well?
Sorry about all those questions but I am a real rookie at this flash thing.
Great shot!
JP
I can see that someone already answered your questions (which is great).

I've heard that if you want to trigger the external flash unit with the built-in flash you should look into the Nikon SB-26.
11-23-2009, 10:12 AM   #6
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Thanks for the tip! I was shopping inexpensive flashes and wouldn't have even thought about Nikon before your post. Picked one up off Ebay for about $80 shipped w/cashback. Nice!
11-23-2009, 10:45 AM   #7
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Hi.

Happy to help.

I am no expert on voltage and stuff, so depending on which SB-model you got and which DSLR, check first that the combination is fine before frying anything (it probably is, but better safe than sorry)

11-23-2009, 10:47 AM   #8
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I got the same unit, the SB-28. If it didn't fry your K7, hopefully it won't fry my Kx!
11-26-2009, 04:29 AM   #9
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A beautiful shot! What was the unit mounted on if it wasn't on the camera?

What about my K100D? Will it work?

I'm just trying to understand the tradeoffs of using this one versus using a flash like the Sigma 530 Super ($220 on Amazon) or Pentax 360.
11-26-2009, 05:36 AM   #10
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It was mounted on the camera... and bounced.

Don't know about the K100
11-26-2009, 05:36 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by chicagonyc Quote
A beautiful shot! What was the unit mounted on if it wasn't on the camera?

What about my K100D? Will it work?

I'm just trying to understand the tradeoffs of using this one versus using a flash like the Sigma 530 Super ($220 on Amazon) or Pentax 360.
I use an SB24 with my K100D all the time. Mostly I use it off-camera triggered with Cybersyncs but I occasionally use it on-camera. I've never tried it in auto mode, though, only manual mode.
11-26-2009, 11:32 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Henrik Kristensen Quote
My first test shot 2 minutes after it arrived:
Great shot!
Doesn't look like flash at all. Are you sure it fired?

Bouncing it made the shot and it appears the auto exposure worked very well to not overexpose the shot.

In case anyone wonders: The mentioned Nikon flashes all have low trigger voltages and are safe to use on Pentax cameras.
04-16-2011, 04:55 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by joeyc Quote
You can use the onboard flash to trigger a SB26+ as a slave, though the onboard flash could contribute to the exposure.
I ran into this old thread.

I just want to make it clear: unless you use the onboard flash in NON p-TTL mode, the Nikon SB26 in slave mode (either immediate or delay) is triggered by the preflash strobe. In other words, it doesn't work.

The only way to use the onboard flash in NON p-TTL mode is to use a manual lens (or an A lens but with the aperture ring NOT set at A). In this case, the onboard flash fires one strobe (no preflash) at full power.
04-18-2011, 07:39 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by SOldBear Quote
I ran into this old thread.

I just want to make it clear: unless you use the onboard flash in NON p-TTL mode, the Nikon SB26 in slave mode (either immediate or delay) is triggered by the preflash strobe. In other words, it doesn't work.

The only way to use the onboard flash in NON p-TTL mode is to use a manual lens (or an A lens but with the aperture ring NOT set at A). In this case, the onboard flash fires one strobe (no preflash) at full power.
For what it's worth I've had no problems using the delay mode to trigger an SB-26 with a k100d and the built in flash (in pttl mode). The delay worked fine for me. At least until I broke my SB-26, now it doesn't work. But it did dang it. Now I'm sad thinking about it.


Also note not all "higher" SB models have this optical slave mode, the SB-28 doesn't, so if you're after this do your research before purchase (someone above mentioned they did).
04-25-2011, 11:27 AM   #15
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This is a cool trick. I will need to get my hands on a SB-26.
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