Complete Pentax Flash Guide

Forum member Nigel McGregor shares his complete Pentax Flash Guide with us.

Posted: 13/10/2015 - 15:34

Forum member Nigel McGregor shares his complete Pentax Flash Guide with us. This document, written by Nigel McGregor covers the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System, and explains the operation of Pentax's dedicated flash lighting system, including camera operation, built-in flash, Pentax flash guns, as well as dedicated third party flash units.

Topics covered in detail:

Flash and ambient exposure
Camera flash and exposure modes
Flashgun flash modes
Flash range
Flash head zoom
Custom settings
High speed sync (HSS)
Wireless (off-camera) flash
Flash modes
Pentax AF-360 / 540FGZ (II) WE Flashguns
Miscellaneous Features
Third party flash units

Download the Complete Pentax Flash Guide here (PDF, 10MB)

Members photos with related tags: Flash

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 14/10/2015 - 00:18 Link

Thanks to John Riley and the editorial team for bringing my guide right here to PU for members to see. It was really enjoyable preparing the material and I hope it will be helpful to all photographers interested in the Pentax Dedicated Flash system.

This is only a start, and I intend this to be an evolving project and an ongoing resource. Watch out for updates in time as the guide develops.

I am hosting a discussion thread in the flash forum about the guide contents, so please get involved and feedback with ideas, questions and suggestions. I hope you all find the guide an enjoyable and interesting read !

My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver

stub stub

1973 posts
14 years
Manchester

Posted 14/10/2015 - 20:45 Link

Thanks a lot Nigel. As someone who has always thought of Pentax's flash systems to be a great mystery. I will certainly follow your discussion group with interest.

K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 15/10/2015 - 10:15 Link

I hope you find some help in there with your settings questions! There's quite a lot of info on controlling and balancing ambient with flash lighting, and working with a combination of manual camera exposure mode and P-TTL flash mode .... That for me personally, is usually the most reliable and controllable configuration when the ambient light is fixed, like indoors.

richandfleur richandfleur

2069 posts
12 years
North Island - New Zealand

Posted 15/10/2015 - 22:35 Link

Top work sir, much appreciated.

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 16/10/2015 - 13:41 Link

Thanks Richard

jvs jvs

949 posts
14 years
Hudds,
West Yorks

Posted 20/10/2015 - 16:28 Link

Well done and thank you, Nigel!

As a total ignoramus regarding flash photography, I will get stuck into this with relish!

John

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 22/10/2015 - 05:26 Link

You're welcome! Get stuck in, I hope you find it helpful .... if you get stuck or there are any questions please raise them on the Guide Thread in the flash forum section.

Wildwood512 Wildwood512

11 posts
10 years
Illinois,
USA

Posted 02/12/2015 - 05:26 Link

Nigel, how awesome! Can't wait to dive into this flash tutorial. Thanks for all your efforts and for sharing your knowledge...it's much appreciated!

Donna 😄

Cheers...Donna 😊

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 27/12/2015 - 12:42 Link

Thanks! Glad you found it and I hope its helpful. Please raise any questions or feedback in the flash forum where more are likely to see it

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 21/03/2016 - 15:13 Link

You're welcome, and glad you saw the Guide ....

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 05/04/2016 - 03:47 Link

2nd Edition Now Available ....

My Guide to Pentax Flash has been updated, bringing plenty more information and new images....

This new 2nd Edition brings the following improvements and additions ....

- Improved information surrounding P-TTL functioning with differing lens types
-Expanded feature listings for Dedicated System flashes and Radio Triggered alternatives
- Addition of X-Sync Mode within the Camera Exposure Modes section
- New images of the AF-540FGZ II WR Flash, including control panel and displays
- Expanded coverage of the new features with the AF 540FGZ II WR
- Side by Side Coverage of the older & newer flagship Pentax Flashes
- Expanded Wireless Operations section including new discussion on multi-flash exposure control using the Lighting Ratio Control and Flash Compensation options
- New look and font plus Page Numbers added

Its a significant update to the original Guide, and I invite all interested Pentaxians to grab a copy from the forum article, linked here ...... link

As always, I welcome feedback, further questions and any Pentax flash related discussion

Edited by McGregNi: 05/04/2016 - 03:47

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 29/08/2016 - 08:05 Link

Thanks Elizabeth, glad you found it!

Edited by McGregNi: 29/08/2016 - 08:06

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 05/11/2016 - 17:45 Link

Thanks ! .... Well, clearly the next edition will have to be re-named 'The INSANE' Guide to Pentax Flash' !!

pschlute pschlute

5133 posts
18 years
Surrey

Posted 23/12/2016 - 09:41 Link

Thanks Nigel, very useful guide.

Peter
My Flickr page

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 09/02/2017 - 21:25 Link

pschlute wrote:
Thanks Nigel, very useful guide.

You're welcome Peter, please feel free to post on the flash forum if you have any feedback or further questions ....

McGregNi McGregNi

5986 posts
13 years
Surrey,
England

Posted 23/07/2017 - 12:44 Link

"Supplement to the 2nd Edition of the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System "

And now I am pleased to tell you that my 'Flash Guide' has been updated again, this time with a new "Supplement" PDF.....

This Supplement contains 40 more pages of Pentax flash related material ...... Here are the key new sections :

1) New Camera Models (K1, K3ii, K70, KP) Flash Features and New Choices
2) The AF 160FC ('Circular Ringflash') & AF 201FG
3) Automatic Flash Photography Technques, AE Modes/AutoISO
4) Off-Camera Control Technologies (Optical / Wireless / Radio / TTL & Manual Systems)
5) Pentax Optical Slave Modes
6) Extension Cord (Wired Off-Camera) Operations

I hope this new material will prove helpful and useful for members! This Guide resource is on ongoing project, and with this update I am bringing things up to date and adding more coverage to areas that were not dealt with previously, with the aim of making this Guide resource an accurate and detailed account of working with flash and our Pentax cameras. As always I value all feedback, comment, corrections and ideas for improvements or additions! I depend on the input and enthusiasm of forum members committed to flash

The new "Supplement" PDF is available for download now from this direct link ....
..... link

Enjoy the Supplement, and please feedback here or on the related Forum thread within the Flash Photography Section.

Nigel