2x Flashgun lighting AF360FGZ

Hi guys I am hoping there is someone who has tried this. I am trying to create ligthing effects but I want to use to flash gun units and umbrellas, I have AF360FGZ which I use with my collectoion of umbrellas. I use it in wireless mode, am think of buying an AF540 FGZ on ebay. Can I use both wireless mode at the same time with the k10d? or do I need to get another AF360FGZ. And also how far (distance wise) can I use these wirelessy as the flash does not fire at about 40yards. please has anyone got any image they have tried with this technique? I have seen a few on you tube but I could do with the advice and an image if possible to know if its worth buying another flash gun.

thanks

Spacus!

let evething that has breath praise the Lord!!!!:lol:

No you can use them both and the P-TTL should balance them out, you can say both light 1/2 or one 1/3 and the other 2/3 and things like that.
If you're using manual mode the AF540 is twice as strong so if you set it half of what the 360 is set to it should give you the same flash output.

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

Thanks for that, but I often use it in P-TTL and set it to 0.1, and manual allows you to set up to 1/32 an not sure what that means but guess is somthing to do with power out put on the 360FGZ. Deos manual mode give more power? or P-TTL

Spacus

let evething that has breath praise the Lord!!!!

huh what do you mean with 0.1?

P-TTL is automatic mode the same as Av basically on your camera.
Av use EV composition the same way as with P-TTL for flash.

Manual mode does not give you more power, the same as you don't get a wider aperture when you use the camera in manual mode but you do have more control over it.

If you plan on using manual for your flash then I wouldn't buy an AF540 flash but I would get a cheap secondhand flash or a yungyou / lumopro or something like that, they don't have P-TTL only just manual mode but if that's all you use.
If you go that route it's best to get some cheap wireless triggers like the Cactus v4, with those you can even use Nikon or Canon flashes without a problem.

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

Thank Stefan, I was trying to avoid the wireless triggers and since the k10d works wirelessly so well with the AF360 it worked well so far I enjoy using it. I don want to spend too much on studio flash head at the moment as I want to master the flashguns first. Do you think getting another AF360 for now will be ok? since they will have the same power out put.
Please if there is a link on the kit you mentioned I will be glad to have a look

Thanks

let evething that has breath praise the Lord!!!!

But you can use a flashgun as a small studio flash, it's called strobist and that's the way to go I think unless you need the power of a studio flash or don't want to spend a lot of money because a flashgun is quite expensive.

If you want to keep using the P-TTL then you will need one of these flash link

If you're happy just to use manual flash mode then you can buy basicly every secondhand Pentax, Nikon or Canon flash.
The lumopro and the Yong Nuo are very cheap new flashes, you can find the Yong Yue YN460II on Ebay the Lumopro LP120 or LP160 are a bit harder to find but this are their websites.
http://www.lumopro.com/LP120.html http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=17379&cat=256&page=2

And I advice you to use trigers with those, cactus v4 set cost you only €40

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

Thats Great Stefan,

I will go for the P-TTL mode get another AF360 secondhand that way its uniformed .

you have been really helpful

let evething that has breath praise the Lord!!!!

also, spend a couple bucks on Mattmatic's pentax flash guide.
learn to use one, and adding a second comes real easy!

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Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.

Thanks will do!

Good luck, there is also a Samsung version of the AF360 called the Samsung SEF-36.
Also any P-TTL flash should give you uniformity regardless the flash power it has because the metering is done with the camera, it simply means a more powerful flash has more scope.

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

Oh thanks i will have a look at the SEF-36.Has it got the same features Wireless as the AF360? thanks

It's preciesly the same, it only says Samsung on the badge instead of Pentax

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Stefan


K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

You can use both the AF360FGZ and the AF540FGZ wirelessly and manual at the same time. Wireless provides the trigger, manual settings facilitate the creative control.

The maximum reliable distance of the Pentax wireless system is about 4 metres from wireless controller to slave. Radio triggers (Cactus V4) allow for a much greater range.

You can also use some of the Metz flashes which are compatible with the Pentax wireless system.

If you were to go the totally manual route, all you need is a flash of the power output you need and has an optical (dumb) slave setting. To control all your flashes in manual by wireless, you put a cheap non-p-ttl flash on the camera that has a tilt-able head, and point it at the ceiling to avoid it contributing very much light to the scene. Set your other AF360FGZ's to dumb slave mode and practice.

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Peter E Smith

My flickr Photostream

My rule of thumb - if you have complete control over the lighting then always, always, always use fully manual

As Mannesty says, you can either use the wireless (light) triggered flash gun approach, or use the simple "dumb" approach. The Pentax and Samsung flashes support both approaches.

If you have a subject that tends to blink on the preflash then use the "dumb" approach (or the Cactus triggers) as you'll get a single flash.

(Start with one flashgun and reflectors, and add a second or third as you get comfortable with the techniques)

...Oh yes, and lots of practice!

Matt

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http://www.mattmatic.co.uk
(For gallery, tips and links)