k100D & K20D - flash gun wanted - approx £200 max budget..

Hi all
I'm sure this is has been asked but I've become confused as I really don't know anything about flash guns!

I currently have a k100D but I do want to update to a K20D in the next 6/12 months (depending on money - I'm now a mature student so money is a bit thin on the ground!) but I know that it would be better to buy a flash gun that is compatible with both of these cameras.

so far I've looked at

Pentax AF 360 FGZ Flash (£200)

Metz 48 AF-1 Flashgun (£150)

METZ 58 AF-1 Digital (this one is about £250 which is really stretching my budget so it might be best to not look at this one, lol!!!!)

I'm trying to figure which is best but frankly the specs are confusing to me - I've never really bothered with flash before and only have a very cheap manual one that I brought about 20 years ago and used twice! lol.
I've tried it with the K100D and I couldn't get it to work at all.

I keep hearing that there is no 'auto' for these flashes but isn't that what a dedicated flash is?

I guess I'm looking for something that will last a few years and is fairly flexible in it's usage - it's hard to know what I want in a flash gun as I've not used one much so hopefully you guys will be able to advice me on this.

sometimes it's helpful to hear from others of their experiences so that I can decide a little easier.

Thanks for your help

just spotted this one:
Sigma EF 530 DG SUPER Price: £189.99 | SAVE: £ 60 | RRP: £ 249.99
http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?prod_code=PON07H000053&Prod_nam...

any good - reduced down from 250 to 190!

the guide number is only slightly lower than the metz 58.

Why not take Don's advice in the other current flash thread and get an older Vivitar at much lower cost and put the savings towards the K20D?

I have a 283 which is very useful. Most of all it gets used off the camera.

Mike

Have you considered getting a second hand one? I have just got Sigma EF530 DG ST flashgun in mint condition from www.ffordes.com for £79 they rrp at about £169. It didn't come in a box or with a manual but I have downloaded the manual from the Sigma website. Just an idea.

Hi...

I bought a Metz 38 for my K200D but then was given a Pentax 360 by my wife so I have this Metz 38 available. Used it once or twice before I got the Pentax ... really good and easy to use .. an excellent beginner flash ... so if you want it, boxed with manual .. not looking for much actually.

All you need to know link

All in all not much between them but the interface and handling are different. For the handling I would go for Metz over a Sigma but that's personal.

The Metz 48 is a great beginners flash with quite some options but if you can stretch it the Metz 58 won't disappoint you either.

About the guide numbers it doesn't say absolutely which is more powerful.
The Pentax AF540 is for example more powerful over his range then the Metz 58, it's because of the extra zoom step or else it would have been called the Metz 52

thanks for the advice guys!
will have a look at the flash guide too.
will let you know which I go for.

I've found very little wrong with a Metz hammerhead flash, other than the size. The flash auto setting gives good results in just about every circumstance, and with a CT60 you can always use it to weld up minor car repairs.

If you're going new and can stretch to it, then the Metz 58 is definately the one I would go for! We did, twice!

got the Metz 58 today )))

read the manual... now I'm confused! lol

does it do the flash bracketing with the K100D - couldn't get that to work but that's probably down to me!

any tips on taking photo's of babies and children? the bounce flash (the little card that pops up) looks like it has a nice effect.

will be looking into getting a soft box/diffuser type attachment to go with this gun.

The Flash gun looks smarter than my camera! actually cost pretty much the same too, lol (can't wait to update to the k20D now... but that will be awhile yet).

thanks for the advice everyone, was only going to spend £150 but have put my 200mm zoom lens up for sale so if that sells then it works out nearly that price - works out well all round then