Metz or Pentax

After just under two years of service my metz 58 af 2 is caput, the repair cost out ways a new one
was wondering if the pentax 540F gz would be any more robust AND does it equal the metz in performance?

Don I personally think Metz provides more for your money and I think the build quality is better. however, the new Pentax flash due out this year may change my mind though?

Although I have owned manufacturer specific flashes over time - where the price or a particular feature was compelling, my general starting position is always Metz.

I believe their general build quality and feature set are a pretty compelling proposition - and they actually deliver the stated power.

Having said that, I have previously owned a Pentax AF360 and it was a first rate piece of kit.

I doubt the Pentax would be more robust - but it wouldn't be any less. I'd buy on the basis of features and price.

I will be seeking a Metz 44 AF1 to go with my new K-30

Thanks guys.The local importers have offered me a good price for a new Metz so I might be tempted with that

Out of curiosity, what went wrong with the Metz?

I've been reading up a bit on shooting with manual flash, but the writer of one book I've got uses Nikon so all the examples are of a Nikon unit. In Manual it does provide a clear distance figure when you input aperture and iso, so you can try and get the subject the right distance away.

I am in the market for a flash - those who have used both Pentax and Metz - do you know if these both also provide this distance information on the display?

The metz with LCD screen measure and tell you how far away the subject is along with the focal length of your zoom.

Thanks cabstar - I'm guessing that would be part of the full P-TTL compatability with DA lenses?

So I'm guessing that if in manual mode on the flash, when you set the iso and aperture, then the flash would provide the correct distance to be from the subject? I was hoping to start using this kind of technique to get better exposures in situations where the TTL system might be inaccurate.

The Nikon unit I've seen used in the book I'm reading also has a power setting that automatically updates the required distance as you dial in a different power setting. I'd love to be able to do this on a Pentax or Metz unit - seems very useful and reliable.

I generally use my flash in manual mode and the focus distances are still shown.

If you use manual mode on camera and pttl on the flash e flash should sort out e correct flash exposure, however in real life I found it erratic and tended to make the images dark so some compensation was needed. I found it far to erratic for me and just learnt to use fully manual and adjust the flash output as required myself.

Thats the approach that this book takes - 'Understanding Flash Photography' by Bryan Peterson. Very readable with clearly illustrated examples. Sounds like I'll get this full manual functionality on a Metz unit.

I see they have a new one out - 52 AF with a touchscreen. Looks tempting!

I've been looking at the 52 but not sure if I will find the touch screen helpful in increasing decreasing flash power, on my metz 48 I know by feel which buttons to press and not often I look at the rear of the flash.

Good point - I chose the K7 because it provides a number of key settings controls with actual physical levers & buttons rather than menu items. The tactile aspects are important , and I imagine this is the case with the flashgun settings as well.

Then there's the 50AF, which still has actual buttons I think. Maybe some of those will be going for a good price.

The metz screen was showing "BATTERY PACK" nothing I could do would alter it, the repairers said it needs a new mother board, cost with labour out-ways it's worth. ??????