beginner - what flash?

Hello,

I have been avoiding shooting with flash since I was born, I would like to start using one... but no idea where to start..

I have a AF 220T that I got with my first reflex 10 years ago, is it decent? otherwise there is a AF 400 on SRS for £35 or I was looking at the Metz 36...

Should I start with the one i have and see if it's worth upgrading or otherwise which one would you recommend?

Thanks!

The AF400FTZ on SRS does not do P-TTL. Nor does it have an Auto option, so I'd leave that one alone. Try the one you currently have, and see where and when you use it, and when you can't because of its limitations before spending money

The AF220T does not do P-TTL either, Does it have any manual controls or is it a dedicated AF flash.

You would be better off getting yourself a second hand AF360fgz or a Metz 48-1

The AF220T is TTL only and will not work with the Kx. It will fire full power only Alas, it doesn't look like it has manual controls at all.

The AF400FTZ can do full and quarter power only in fully manual, but has no "A" setting. So you'll only get limited usage (but for £35 that's pretty good!).


You don't need to be scared of flash, or avoid it
If you want to start out cheaply, then look for a 'generic' flash (like Sunpak, etc) that supports "A" mode and "M" mode with power adjustment (e.g. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 etc).

I have an old Metz 50MZ5 great hulk of a flashgun and use it in "A" or "M" mode for studio and event type photography. Lovely, not expensive, and tons of light.

The newer P-TTL flashes (AF360FGZ, AF540FGZ) are excellent though - they support all the modes you'd need - but will cost you a lot more.

(There's always my little ebook PDF on Pentax flash which may help to de-mystify flash usage!).

Hope that helps,
Matt

uh i have to say you've lost me already... what is P TTL?

the AF220T is the simplest thing ever, only has one button, probably enough for me for now!?

If using your AF220T then you'll need to set aperture and ISO manually to match its capabilitie. Here's the pdf http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/manual/AF220T_FLASH.pdf

You've already got it, so its only going to cost you a set of batteries to mess about. It will be very limited, but that in itself will help you to understand what flash is about Then you can make a more informed choice.

thanks for your messages - I think I might just give up!

The AF360fgz or a Metz 48-1 are probably great but way too expensive for me, I thought I'd find something around 30 quid second hand option, if the AP220T only party works (well as in full power only) then it's probably useless as well

I think I might just use the built-in flash, the only problem i have is that any "big" lens will be on the way -well it's the case of every single lens i have used so far except the kit lens - i'll have to use the kit lens i guess then.

Remember, with the K-x you have a camera that is very capable in using available light. Pump up the ISO and have a bit play without flash.

Look for an AF200T. The Red and Green Auto modes work on digital, at least on my K-m set to Program mode the aperture and shutter speed switch to the correct values when the flash is charged. The AF200T also has a switch to vary power output in manual mode which makes it useful as a slave flashgun if you decide to go further later on.

What I've found is that the K-m won't support TTL, but it does have support for the '80s vintage Program flash mode. The AF240Z works very well with mine in this way, if you set both camera and flash to P then change the ISO setting the aperture changes to suit.

The AF160 and AF200S will only work in manual mode, although providing you set the shutter speed and aperture to the values they expect they're pretty handy. I've used my AF160 a few times as it's tiny but slightly more powerful than the built in flash, providing you set the camera to what the flash expects the results are good. It also gives you a flash ready indicator in the viewfinder - what other brand would keep the same protocol to communicate that for over thirty years?

IMPORTANT - before you go plugging any old flashgun onto your K-x check the trigger voltage. Genuine Pentax units are fine but some generic flashes have high trigger voltages which will fry a DSLR's trigger circuits. Tiny, cheap flashes can be some of the worst offenders - I have an old Sunpak unit powered by a couple of AAs with a trigger voltage of 200v+ which I will never use.

fyi the AF220T looks like this http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae315/odestiny/Picture1253-1.jpg

there is a A button on it...? it seems this would adjust the power no?

Otherwise the AF160 costs £10... means for a tenner i have a small upgrade from my built in flash? i like this!! I actually think my dad has one of those so might wait to go visit him first

Thanks so much for your help!

The A button is most likely an indicator light rather than a button - it probably lights up when the exposure is correct if it's anything like other flashes.

The AF160 is quite low powered. I only tried it on my K-m after buying it for my ME Super (which has no built-in flash at all, so a pocket-sized flashgun to go with the pocket camera is great). I will be taking it on holiday with me for that reason, the fact that it will also fit and work with the K-m is a bonus.

There is an AF240Z here for £12.50, I'd buy that in preference to an AF160.

Thanks for the link to the AF240Z, looks like the best option!

There are loads of old flashguns around that will give great results. Despite Pentax's reputation for backward compatility they changed the flash protocol fairly recently which means that with your camera you need to use the current Pentax 'guns or ones from the 1980s.

In short, the current ones work with the camera to get the correct exposure and the older ones just get on with the job themselves!

The AF280t with bounce and swivel head is very good and quite sought after. It has a choice of two automatic settings as well as two manual outputs.

I was just about to put one on eBay, PM me if you are interested.

Apologies for jumping the thread, but hopefully this is a useful question. The markings on these old flashes, e.g. 35mm, 50mm etc. obviously referred to the focal length of the old film lens. Do we apply the crop factor when shooting on digital, e.g. set it at 35mm when we are using a focal length of 24mm?

Tony

In general, yes.

For a flash, it's all down to angle of view
Sometimes you might want to use a different flash zoom to the lens zoom for effect (e.g. use a wider flash angle for a softer light at close distance).

Matt