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lastdodobird · 02-10-2009, 02:00 AM

I've been shooting for a year or so but have never owned a flash. I might be in the market for one soon.

So I was just wondering... Considering the concept of diminishing returns, what flash would you say gives the best bang for the buck?

I own a K100D, a Sigma 10-20 & Pentax 40/2.8... Might see if I can buy a good walkaround lens soon that will give me flexibility with the focal length.

What would you guys reckon are my candidates?

mattdm · 02-10-2009, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by lastdodobird

So I was just wondering... Considering the concept of diminishing returns, what flash would you say gives the best bang for the buck?

How do you define "bang"? Are advanced features important? Manual control? How about reliability (if it only bangs once or twice before breaking, that could considerably reduce the bang/buck ratio...)?

The Sigma EF-530 DG ST (not Super) is a pretty good candidate. Lots of power, decent features, and available for around $150.

cupic · 02-10-2009, 05:55 AM

Wont compete with the price of the sigma but I like the metz 48

cheers

AndrewShirley · 02-10-2009, 06:08 AM

I've had a Sigma Super 500 for a year and a half with absolutely no problems. I was worried about the build quality but its holding up fine. I leave it on the bottom of my bag with my camera on top too!

- Andrew

Mike Cash · 02-10-2009, 06:28 AM

Scrape together about $30 and find yourself an AF280T.

ghost · 02-10-2009, 06:50 AM

Listen to Matt...

YJD · 02-10-2009, 07:29 AM

I'll second Mike, I have a AF280T and it has a lot of power. Someone was selling it for $35 in this forum at one point. I bought mine for $50. Really cheap and really good.

Gooshin · 02-10-2009, 07:48 AM

after you finish eating an orange or clementine or whatever, take the peels, and position it in in between your thumb and index finger, ready to bend in half

take a lighter, or a match, light it, and squeeze the peel hard, the citric acid combined with the flame makes for a neat little firework.

best bang for your buck flash, hands down.

AndrewShirley · 02-10-2009, 11:42 AM

LMAO! But you still have to pay for the oranges.

- Andrew

Vormulac · 02-10-2009, 01:58 PM

If one hand is squeezing the orange peel and the other is lighting the flame... is... is someone else *gasp* touching your camera??

And what WB would you use when illuminating a scene with exploding oranges?

Gooshin · 02-10-2009, 02:01 PM

tungsten, no question.

and all pro photographers have 3 arms, didnt u get the memo?

marcdsgn · 02-10-2009, 03:28 PM

Cheap flash-bracket + eBay wireless remote trigger + any second-hand bounce flash under $15 (plenty on eBay) + basic knowledge of manual controls.

This is all I use, and the total cost still comes way under any new Pentax-dedicated flash.

AndrewShirley · 02-10-2009, 04:34 PM

I can get oranges for $4.99 a box.

- Andrew

**rparmar** · 02-10-2009, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by AndrewShirley

I can get oranges for $4.99 a box.

Mine are $10 each, but they're f/1.2.

**rparmar** · 02-10-2009, 05:08 PM

Oh, sorry? Flash?

The Metz 48 AF-1 has tilt and swivel and does full TTL or P-TTL (depending on what the camera supports). It has a built-in reflector card and does all that second curtain HSS stuff I don't understand. Way cheaper than the Pentax flashes and better built than Sigma (I hear). Full wireless support.

The Metz 58 AF-1 upgrades this with a built-in sensor to support "A" mode, plus a built-in infill flash.

Neither are orange.

02-10-2009, 02:00 AM	#1
lastdodobird Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 128	Best "bang-for-the-buck" flash? I've been shooting for a year or so but have never owned a flash. I might be in the market for one soon. So I was just wondering... Considering the concept of diminishing returns, what flash would you say gives the best bang for the buck? I own a K100D, a Sigma 10-20 & Pentax 40/2.8... Might see if I can buy a good walkaround lens soon that will give me flexibility with the focal length. What would you guys reckon are my candidates?

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02-10-2009, 05:53 AM	#2
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by lastdodobird So I was just wondering... Considering the concept of diminishing returns, what flash would you say gives the best bang for the buck? How do you define "bang"? Are advanced features important? Manual control? How about reliability (if it only bangs once or twice before breaking, that could considerably reduce the bang/buck ratio...)? The Sigma EF-530 DG ST (not Super) is a pretty good candidate. Lots of power, decent features, and available for around $150.

02-10-2009, 05:55 AM	#3
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,824	Wont compete with the price of the sigma but I like the metz 48 cheers

02-10-2009, 06:08 AM	#4
AndrewShirley Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 421	I've had a Sigma Super 500 for a year and a half with absolutely no problems. I was worried about the build quality but its holding up fine. I leave it on the bottom of my bag with my camera on top too! - Andrew

02-10-2009, 06:28 AM	#5
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Scrape together about $30 and find yourself an AF280T.

02-10-2009, 06:50 AM	#6
ghost Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barrie, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 174	Listen to Matt...

02-10-2009, 07:29 AM	#7
YJD Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Monte Vista, CO Posts: 529	I'll second Mike, I have a AF280T and it has a lot of power. Someone was selling it for $35 in this forum at one point. I bought mine for $50. Really cheap and really good.

02-10-2009, 07:48 AM	#8
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	after you finish eating an orange or clementine or whatever, take the peels, and position it in in between your thumb and index finger, ready to bend in half take a lighter, or a match, light it, and squeeze the peel hard, the citric acid combined with the flame makes for a neat little firework. best bang for your buck flash, hands down.

02-10-2009, 11:42 AM	#9
AndrewShirley Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 421	LMAO! But you still have to pay for the oranges. - Andrew

02-10-2009, 01:58 PM	#10
Vormulac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 219	If one hand is squeezing the orange peel and the other is lighting the flame... is... is someone else gasp touching your camera?? And what WB would you use when illuminating a scene with exploding oranges?

02-10-2009, 02:01 PM	#11
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	tungsten, no question. and all pro photographers have 3 arms, didnt u get the memo?

02-10-2009, 03:28 PM	#12
marcdsgn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery Posts: 265	Cheap flash-bracket + eBay wireless remote trigger + any second-hand bounce flash under $15 (plenty on eBay) + basic knowledge of manual controls. This is all I use, and the total cost still comes way under any new Pentax-dedicated flash.

02-10-2009, 04:34 PM	#13
AndrewShirley Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 421	I can get oranges for $4.99 a box. - Andrew

02-10-2009, 05:05 PM	#14
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	Originally posted by AndrewShirley I can get oranges for $4.99 a box. Mine are $10 each, but they're f/1.2.

02-10-2009, 05:08 PM	#15
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	Oh, sorry? Flash? The Metz 48 AF-1 has tilt and swivel and does full TTL or P-TTL (depending on what the camera supports). It has a built-in reflector card and does all that second curtain HSS stuff I don't understand. Way cheaper than the Pentax flashes and better built than Sigma (I hear). Full wireless support. The Metz 58 AF-1 upgrades this with a built-in sensor to support "A" mode, plus a built-in infill flash. Neither are orange.

Best "bang-for-the-buck" flash?

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