Looking for a flash with an iluminated set up screen

Hi,
I'm looking for a flash which has an illuminated rear screen showing the set-up configuration.

It will be mounted on a remote tripod about 25 or more meters from the camera and the basic requirements as I see them are
Auto mode
Abt 30GN
Ability to disable the standby mode.

I'll use an optical trigger tripped by my AF540FGZ to fire the flash, the Pentax AF360FGZ's standby mode can not be disabled

Any suggestions please.

Greg

The obvious answer is to use another AF540FGZ. It's standby mode can be disabled.

It's wireless capability is only really reliable up to about 4 metres though so a radio trigger might be required. 25 metres is a big ask for any optical trigger.

I know, I was trying to avoid that $$$$$

I have a Yongnuo RF-602TX wireless trigger which I use as a very long range remote release, I have not yet tried it's flash controller functions but may well have to use it at those distances.

No cheaper alternatives?

Greg

There are others, made by Sigma and Metz but I've no personal experience of them.

Of the non-Pentax products, Metz seems to receive good reviews from owners here. The Sigma is often criticised for it's complicated menu system.

What are you actually using them for, and why do you need an illuminated screen?

Just wondering if a basic manual flash and a torch might be just as useful, and a lot cheaper?

Dan

The Metz flashes have an awkward (comparatively) menu system, but has possibly the best price/features ratio IMHO.

Metz do 3 Pentax compatible Flashes, and all have a reputation for reliability, and have an Illuminated screen, PTTL, Optical Wireless (IIRC), and plenty of power.

On the Sigma flashes, you can't disable the auto stand-by mode.

I want to set-up the flash very near a waterhole and then wait in the car, which can be 30-40m away, for the game/birds to come and drink. I would prefer a LCD with LARGE letters as my eyesight is marginal and the action takes place at dawn. A torch and eyeglasses would work, I was looking for a more convenient set-up.

Disabling the standby is an essential requirement, and I don't need any fancy compatibility modes.

Thanks
Greg

Are you going to use it as slave with its built in optical slave function? If you are then you do not need to worry about it because the sigma EF530 Super will not go into standby mode if you set it up as slave.
I know it goes into standby if its used as master, but I have never tried to turn it off but as pentaxian450 has mentioned he must have tried it so I guess in that function you can't turn it off.

And I would guess that any flash that has the slave function would not go into standby as far as I know, but this is just my assumption as the ones I have used they all remain always on

Standby on the Metz can be turned off

[quote="Metz"]Standby/Auto Off after 10 minutes of inactivity (can be set to 1 minute or disabled) [/quote]

Well I've run a test with my AF- 540FGZ mounted on the Yongnuo receiver and the transmitter on the camera, the flash fires at my test distance of 60M, not line of sight. With the 540 set to Slave 2 and PH2 and auto mode, it has not yet gone into standby, I'm Still waiting to see what happens.

Thanks for all the help, you've made me rethink the whole process and for the first few times I'll try this set-up, hold thumbs that the monkeys or baboons don't take off with my flash

Greg

You will be lucky if those monkeys leave your flash alone Greg .
I have lived ther and the sorrounding areas all the way till Mozambique for many years and if there is one thing I have learnt is that monkeys there love to grab anything that capture their attention and that is strange to their sorroundings . If I were you I would tie a rope or something to keep it secured to a nearby tree that I am sure there won't be any shortage of. failing a tree find a heavy stone and tie it in there.

What part of South Africa are you in?

I live in Pretoria.

This issue is becoming more and more complex I do have a very high voltage portable electric fence which I made and we sometimes string it around the camp site, particularly when camping in Botswana, the hyenas are a pain.

I can see the set-up time becoming longer and longer.

Greg

I know this is a stupid question but if I don't ask I'll never know for sure.

The flash will be set to auto, so it will expose for the distance it's from the subject using the ISO and f stop I've selected, but my camera will be say 30M from the flash and subject, must I take into account the fact that the light falls off at the square of the distance from the subject to the camera.

In other words must I make the flash overexpose to compensate for the distance?

Greg

I would think not, but then, I may be wrong. It would be like taking a bright torch, and having your mate shine it on a subject from 30 metres, and then shining it from 6 metres, while you stay in the same place.

The subject will appear washed out to you at 6m, but at 30m should look ok.

*Edit*

I expect there's some kind of formula for it, but... I don't know it!