AF540FGZ - ANY UPDATE ON AVAILABILITY??
Posted 10/11/2005 - 15:14
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Hi again, I have called pentax and after the fourth person finally got the part number for this flash gun, which is 30425.
The very helpful lady is also waiting for a press release which should contain the long awaited answers to everyones questions. Will post back when I get it.
Anna
The very helpful lady is also waiting for a press release which should contain the long awaited answers to everyones questions. Will post back when I get it.
Anna
Posted 10/11/2005 - 21:33
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Posted 10/11/2005 - 21:48
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Many Many Thanks - Anna
Posted 21/11/2005 - 15:32
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What about a price tag in US dollars. Anyone found it anywhere? I can't deciede if I should wait or get the 360 or Sigma 500
Posted 21/11/2005 - 22:44
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Pixmania's prices are generally high. It'll probably be the same price in dollars as Pixmania are charging in pounds, if not less.
G
G
Keywords: Charming, polite, and generally agreeable.
Posted 04/12/2005 - 19:15
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And the date for availability keeps rolling on and on and on and on. I may have to go elsewhere ie metz as I cannot wait much longer. Anyone know anything else?
anna
anna
Posted 05/12/2005 - 09:36
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No update on AF540.
However, what camera do you have? I have a Metz 50MZ5, which is a hunking piece of flash, but even with the latest SCA adaptor I don't get all the modes For instance, P-TTL isn't supported.
The AF360 beats the Metz for flexibility, but the Metz wins for sheer brute force power and recycling time.
Send me a private message if you need any more details.
It is a big shame that Pentax's release dates are more than a little vague, and seem to slip!!
Matt
However, what camera do you have? I have a Metz 50MZ5, which is a hunking piece of flash, but even with the latest SCA adaptor I don't get all the modes For instance, P-TTL isn't supported.
The AF360 beats the Metz for flexibility, but the Metz wins for sheer brute force power and recycling time.
Send me a private message if you need any more details.
It is a big shame that Pentax's release dates are more than a little vague, and seem to slip!!
Matt
Posted 07/12/2005 - 10:57
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Hi Anna, I am the person that gave you the release date and price, Now i'm sorry to have to give you some bad news.
http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2005/i0526.html
Dave
http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2005/i0526.html
Dave
Posted 08/12/2005 - 22:29
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Some information and thoughts on Pentax vs Metz etc:
Anna (and all),
Ok, here's my experience:
* The AF360FGZ is an excellent flashgun. Very versatile, very portable, wireless flash, high speed daylight fill in. Absolutely great with a Stofen Omnibounce (which I use all the time). Uses AA batteries.
* The Metz 50MZ5 (forerunner to the 70MZ). Extremely heavy. I have a couple of weddings to do, and this is the kit, but I'm going to need biceps, especially with the *ist-D battery grip. Very clean, bright light. I also use the Lumiquest bounce (Metz badged) which gives a very soft light for closeups and portraiture. Cost is a real problem with this gun. It uses custom NiMH or Nicad batteries (you're talking in the region of £75 for a spare charger + battery). Recycle times are very fast. They can be faster with a Quantum battery pack (mega bucks though). There's no P-TTL flash, no high speed sync. You basically get TTL, the option of rear curtain sync, and that's about it. One nice feature for really, really close work like macros is you can wind down the power down to 1/256 output. That's really nice.
However, in practise I find the following:
* If it's a function like theatre, plays, etc - I never use flash. Kills the atmosphere completely. I've used a 50mm f1.7, and now a beautiful old SMC-A 50mm f1.4 which is sublime. Awesome natural light shots that retain the original feeling. And completely discrete
* If you have to have flash, then I generally find the AF360 has plenty of beef. Especially when you consider that the *ist-D starts at ISO200, and boosting the ISO effectively increases the flash power. So, ISO800 gives you loads and loads of head room. Coupled with the wireless flash option of the AF360 that's a very flexible system.
* I've taken portraits in very very low light with the SMC-F 50mm/f1.7 and AF360 in wireless, hand holding the AF360 at arms' length and achieved very natural looking portraits.
* The AF360 wireless mode gives the ability to do macro work easily too.
Not sure what camera you have. It's only the *ist-D, MZ-S, and some other film bodies that gives you the wireless flash option from the built in popup flash But if you have an *ist-D then it's
You can always run several AF360s and control the contrast between them. I understand you can do that too with the Metz equipment. In fact, one of the other members had an AF360, had problems (because the old *ist-D firmware wasn't great on P-TTL exposure), sold it, bought a Metz 50MZ5 and a smaller Metz... then when the P-TTL issues were fixed he sold both Metz's (to save his biceps) and bought two AF360's. So that says something!!
Maybe you could elaborate on your requirements for flash, and which camera you have, and maybe we can advise further
Matt
Anna (and all),
Ok, here's my experience:
* The AF360FGZ is an excellent flashgun. Very versatile, very portable, wireless flash, high speed daylight fill in. Absolutely great with a Stofen Omnibounce (which I use all the time). Uses AA batteries.
* The Metz 50MZ5 (forerunner to the 70MZ). Extremely heavy. I have a couple of weddings to do, and this is the kit, but I'm going to need biceps, especially with the *ist-D battery grip. Very clean, bright light. I also use the Lumiquest bounce (Metz badged) which gives a very soft light for closeups and portraiture. Cost is a real problem with this gun. It uses custom NiMH or Nicad batteries (you're talking in the region of £75 for a spare charger + battery). Recycle times are very fast. They can be faster with a Quantum battery pack (mega bucks though). There's no P-TTL flash, no high speed sync. You basically get TTL, the option of rear curtain sync, and that's about it. One nice feature for really, really close work like macros is you can wind down the power down to 1/256 output. That's really nice.
However, in practise I find the following:
* If it's a function like theatre, plays, etc - I never use flash. Kills the atmosphere completely. I've used a 50mm f1.7, and now a beautiful old SMC-A 50mm f1.4 which is sublime. Awesome natural light shots that retain the original feeling. And completely discrete
* If you have to have flash, then I generally find the AF360 has plenty of beef. Especially when you consider that the *ist-D starts at ISO200, and boosting the ISO effectively increases the flash power. So, ISO800 gives you loads and loads of head room. Coupled with the wireless flash option of the AF360 that's a very flexible system.
* I've taken portraits in very very low light with the SMC-F 50mm/f1.7 and AF360 in wireless, hand holding the AF360 at arms' length and achieved very natural looking portraits.
* The AF360 wireless mode gives the ability to do macro work easily too.
Not sure what camera you have. It's only the *ist-D, MZ-S, and some other film bodies that gives you the wireless flash option from the built in popup flash But if you have an *ist-D then it's
You can always run several AF360s and control the contrast between them. I understand you can do that too with the Metz equipment. In fact, one of the other members had an AF360, had problems (because the old *ist-D firmware wasn't great on P-TTL exposure), sold it, bought a Metz 50MZ5 and a smaller Metz... then when the P-TTL issues were fixed he sold both Metz's (to save his biceps) and bought two AF360's. So that says something!!
Maybe you could elaborate on your requirements for flash, and which camera you have, and maybe we can advise further
Matt
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