Is the Pentax a Pro System?

At last, a sensible response.

Any chance of hijacking this thread and starting a good old fashioned PF barney? It seems like ages since we had a good row.

All it takes is one bigoted posting....

Sorry for the assumption, from the last messages it looked like you had a deal.

Back to your question, why do you want to have a dictated wireless sync?
Any reason why the ones mentioned aren't good enough?
Here is a comparison between a Pocketwizard and the Seculine TwinLink link They both work with a Pentax camera (or any camera with a standard hotshoe) and they both can only just trigger a flash, their is no TTL communication between them.

Perhaps he just likes to light the blue touchpaper and retire...

Perhaps and I was applying that but lets not go down that route it will get us nowhere and will only make people unhappy.

Just be serious without getting things heated up, if it goes down that route I'll not look at this thread again since it would be pointless.

I have had a Pentax system since the purchase of my ME Super from new. Pentax cameras have never let me down and have done just about everything I have asked of them. Having had a system for so long, I have been fortunate enough to put together enough kit to do most jobs. A GREAT PLUS is the well known fact that all my hard won lenses are still useable with the most up to date Pentax DSLRs. A poor workman can always blame his/or her tools and it is well known that an expensive camera does not make a great photographer.

However, there are some areas of professional photography where maybe a Pentax is not up to the job. Just as with any range of tools, there maybe a need to go out and buy that specialist item for a particular specialist task

I think that I was a bit worried about a non-compatibility issue. Let me explain. I wanted something that was dedicated to Pentax as opposed to a trigger that could work on numerous systems ... I want to be able to fire a flash or two that is out of site and unable to receive an optical "signal". I spoke to SRS systems in the UK this PM and told me that the SECURE LINK was just fine ... Happened to speak to the Flash Centre but then passed me onto the distributors of Pocket Wizard. Apparently, a "basic" system is Pentax compatible .. but were going to confirm this ... Looked a CACTUS 4. and seems OK. Some other blogs I had read talked about the unreliability of the Cactus 4. and therefore needed to raise the issue again. I apologise for making everyone angry and 'suspicious' about my thread ... Thanks again. Rev Lewis Coward

There are pro photographers. There are amateur photographers. But equipment is just equipment.

Perhaps he just likes to light the blue touchpaper and retire...[/quote]Thank you gentlemen ... I just needed some help and confirmation regarding some of the previous answers and threads. But then .. you are quite adept in making a relative newbie to this board very unwelcome. I'll move off your board. Apologies. Rev Lewis Coward

perhaps the question was what has worn it's welcome out, as more often than not, whenever it rears it's ugly head, the person asking the question, already thinks they know the answer, and the whole point is to poke the hornets nest and see what happens.
So Now you know.
Wouldn't hurt to stick around though...

The cactus V4 works very well, my AF540FGZ flash just don't like them though but other flashes has fired 100% of the time.
The video you see on youtube is true but you've the problem with almost all of them when you lay them so close together because of interference.

The twinlink also use infrared beside radio and those should not have that problem.

And well the Catus V4 are just a tenth of what a pocketwizard cost so they are allowed to preform a not as good.

Just go to the shop and try them out, you might be surprised how well they work.

I am sorry that you have had a fairly hostile reaction. These fora are normally commended for the friendly welcome and pleasant atmosphere that prevails most of the time. The problem, I fear, was not in what you asked but in the manner in which you asked it. We all have had a good moan about aspects of Pentax at various times (just look for threads on price rises and service times) but the rather aggressive phrasing of your original questions provoked an equally annoyed set of responses which is unfortunate. A well known saying about specks and planks comes to mind.

If we could get past this unfortunate start, you would find this place a pretty friendly and helpful corner of the internet, and certainly much more welcoming than one or two other sites I used to visit.

Best wishes, Kris.

Hi All, well I'd very strongly echo Kris's comments. This forum has provided me with good advice and plenty of food for thought.

Its always seemed to me to be somewhere where you can ask any question. Sometimes we all have to make allowances for the mode of communication.

Sorry to read that Rev Coward has left us as an unhappy poster.

I'm not sure what the definition of a "pro system" would be. Full frame? People are able to make good money with a well-handled APS-C sensor DSLR. A good selection of lenses? Pentax's back catalogue extends from 1975 if you stick to K mount lenses.

As I've said before, I get the distinct impression that Pentax won't bother with a full frame DSLR but will instead go after the lower end of the medium format market with the 645D. They'd have to invest a lot into the tooling and the unit cost would be high, so I'm not convinced that sales would make it worthwhile. They're better off going after Hasselblad than trying to fight Sony/Canon/Nikon with a full frame DSLR as they're more likely to sell the product. Convincing all those pros with other gear to sell the lot and buy Pentax would not be easy, however persuading people who were about to buy a full frame camera that they should spend a little more and get a medium format one should be feasible. What matters is selling cameras, and if they do this by exploiting niches that nobody else seems interested in then more power to them.

Don't forget the LX, which was very definitely a pro-level 35mm camera. I don't know of any others that are as customisable as an LX (different viewfinders/grips/motor wind/databack/focussing screens and all can be fitted by the owner) or designed to operate for as long. In fact I'm slightly surprised that they don't still offer it on a made to order basis given the following and reputation it has.

I used my V4's quite often very close together and I have never had a problem with them. One with my Metz 58 and another with my AF360.

I did read somewhere and it is allso in one of the comments below the youtube video that there has been a problem with the earliest Cactus V4s. The tester refused to redo the test with a new set.

Just did my own reliability test with the Cactus V4s.
I placed the transmitter right between my two receivers.
I pressed the trigger button on the transmitter 150 times and the receivers triggered every single time.
I then placed the receivers at a distance of 5 meters and repeated the test with 50 triggers (was getting tired of pressing the button) and both receivers triggered every single time.
For the last test I placed the recievers in close proximity of both our DECT phone and my wireless router allthough they use different frequencies there is a lot of electromagentic interference close to them. Again I pressed the button 50 times and the receivers triggered every single time.

So either I am lucky with my set or there has indeed been a faulty batch when the V4's came out.