Pentax AF-540FGZ

A few weeks ago I looked closely at the Pentax AF-540FGZ and marked it as a future purchase.

Well on Christmas Day while taking pictures of my grandchildren the battery cover on my 360FGZ popped open. Turns out that the catches on the cover lock have worn and, when the batteries are in, the spring pressure is too great for the cover to stay closed. I took it back to the dealer - guess what, I've had it 13 months with a 12 month warranty. The store has sent it back to Pentax Canada to be repaired.

I ended up trading my Pentax 500FTZ against the new AF-540FGZ. The 500FTZ which used to work fine on my previous *istDS2 will not work on the K100D. I had called Pentax Canada when I first looked at the new flash and confirmed that my 500FTZ was not compatible with any of the "K" series cameras.

Hopefully the cost of the repair won't be too expensive and I took an extended warranty on the new one.

Mike

bad luck with the 360, that really sucks!

hope the 540 works out better for you

still a battery compartment catch can't be too expencive a repair can it?

Mongoose,

Did some test shots in the store with the display model AF-540FGZ on my K100D and I was impressed with the coverage and power. I have just ordered the Stofen Omni-Bounce for the 540 - the old one from the 500 is too small. I had good success with that and the one I have for the 360.

Problem with the 360 is that the worn catches are actually on the main flash body and not on the hinged door itself. I will have to wait until they tell me how much.

I need a flash this weekend when I go out of town to one of my daughter's for a complete family Christmas dinner (only day I can get four daughters and spouses all together). So, having already looked at the 540 out came the plastic.

Mike

The battery compartment cover is the one gripe I have with the AF360FGZ, I think its flimsy and also prone to coming open.

Mike;
Have you considered a strong elastic band for holding the cover on?

Impotentspider,

Yes I did, but after it left today for Pentax - my brain is getting old and slow - I'll wait to see what Pentax say - it's actually the plastic "lugs" on the case not the door. The 540 has extra "lugs".

Mike

Pentax Canada decided that although the AF 360FGZ was out of warranty they would absorb half the labour costs if I paid for the parts. Henry's also agreed to waive any out of warranty service and shipping charges. The flash was returned at the end of February having received a new door and rear case assembly.

I tested the flash on the K100D and all exposures were 1 - 1.5 stops under exposed. Comparison shots with the AF-540FGZ were perfect.

I called Pentax Canada and they agreed that although there was no logical reason for the change in perfomance they would repair it under warranty.

The flash came back on Friday having been "cleaned and calibrated" and the exposures are perfect. Infact my daughter used it all Saturday on her K110D and everything was fine.

Given that the flash was out of warranty I am very happy with the Pentax Canada response. Now to try some wireless with both flashes.

Mike

Sounds like good service to me Mike - not that you'd have hoped for any different a response!

good to hear Mike, and THAT is the one reason I will always buy Pentax over Samsung wherever possible.

i have a k10 d and i am currently using the 500 ftz....works fine on mine ?

i do want to get the 540 for the wireless capability....whether i would use it is a different matter ?

kev

Just about any old flash (Pentax fitting) will work with the K10D . . . in manual mode. TTL flash is not supported.

good for your mike...hope it stays as well for 2009!

As this thread has raised its head agian I may as well remind everyone of my own solution to the 360s battery door problem;

link

edit; link error corrected