Flashgun for a K110D

Hi,
I have a Pentax K110D which I use for amateur portrait photography. I'd like to buy a flashgun to use on the hot shoe and am not sure what to get.

My requirements are:
TTL mode (or p-TTL, not sure which I need but some kind of auto mode)
Able to swivel 90 degrees to the left or right and tilt 90 degrees upwards.
Manual mode with more than two modes (one flashgun I looked at could only do full power and 1/16th on manual mode.)
Preferably a reasonable maximum shutter speed

Basically beyond this I'd like it to be as good value as possible, but I appreciate that I am pretty clueless about flashguns for Pentax so any advice would be appreciated.

TTL wont work on your camera, only P-TTL, Auto and Manual will. Shutter speed is determined by the camera body not the flash and in Pentax case it is 180th second.

Thanks for your reply. Is there not a maximum sync speed on the flashgun?

The flash sync speed is a factor of the camera's shutter mechanism (it's a physical limitation) - it's the fastest shutter speed where both leading and trailing curtains are open (showing a complete sensor). Shutter speeds faster than that require HS mode on the flashgun - the flashgun 'peppers' the sensor with light as the shutter 'slit' moves over the frame.

If you are doing studio work then I would strongly recommend using fully manual Even when using the AF-540 I use manual

Using a flash with "A" will work a treat too - you just set the camera into fully manual and let the flash do the exposure.

With those two options you should be able to get yourself a half decent flash gun set up for almost no money

(Using fully manual for portraiture takes less than 2 minutes to set up and works every time from then on)

Matt

Thanks, I'm still not sure what to get though. Are you recommending the AF540?

I'm finding the Metz 50-AF 1 to be a very usefull tool, I can recommend it for your K110D mate.

If you are seriously talking about studio photography then a studio head from Bowens, Elinchrom or Calumet and so on is what you need but for more casual and versatile use then any of the current Pentax or Metz guns will do a good job.

I use a metz 48af1 on a 110d and it does the job just fine.

No and yes.
If you are doing studio portraiture, then what I'm saying is that an all-manual simple flash gun will do the job just as well as an expensive P-TTL flash - because you should be using manual.

If you are serious, then a studio lighting system is the way to go (and you use all manual for these) because they pack a greater punch than a pocket flash unit, and are much more flexible.

But, if you want to just get started and have a good go, then a £30 manual flash gun and some practise will be better than a £400 flash gun and hoping that it will magically light the way you imagine the shot

That's what I meant

Matt

Picking up on Matt's suggestion re '£30 manual', these 'guns appear to have a good following;

http://www.yongnuostore.com/topic-yongnuo-flash-for-pentax/

I don't have one myself, so can't speak for their quality,etc, but they're readily available from a raft of sources on a well known auction site.

Maybe choose one and Google for reviews, etc?

Two choices really

AF540 as been said, as has the tilt and angle you want.

Or, if you want to get into portrait photography I suggest the following:-
Interfit EXD200 kit with dual heads and comes with brolly and softbox.
Add the IRX infrared transmitter and you have wireless too.

Both cost about the same amount.

Mind you I do have both the AF540 flash and the interfits.

There is another option, especially if you shoot portraits outside, is to get a large reflector - you may be surprised at how good it will be.

Hope this helps.