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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
01-12-2008, 06:23 PM
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Suggest you go to the following site for excellent info on using flash with your camera:
Strobist: Lighting 101. It's a real treasure trove of information.
Whichever flash you choose (I have the AF360FGZ) my suggestion would be to purchase either a set of the Gadget Infinity radio triggers (see here: Gadget Infinity) or else an off camera TTL flash extension cord such as this: FITS PENTAX, OFF-CAMERA SHOE FLASH TTL EXT CORD - eBay (item 190188919669 end time Jan-15-08 11:20:46 PST). Either of these options will allow you to get the flash off camera for better photos. My understanding is that the "experts" don't prefer ring lights for macro photography for the same reason they don't like on-camera flash for taking portraits: the straight-on light lights everything facing the camera evenly, and therefore produces a very flat appearing image with no contrast and therefore no 3-dimensional effect. Most of the ringlights are either very high-priced or under-powered. When shooting macro you're generally going to need a very small aperture, say f/22, because of the extremely shallow depth of field, and this calls for a flash with plenty of oomph. Obviously either of the dedicated Pentax units is capable of providing that. The 540 has a larger guide number than the 360, and also has a swivel head which is lacking on the 360. As far as I am aware, these are the two main differences. I think either would serve your purposes quite well. Yours FWIW
CN
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