Silly question time

I don't own a flash gun, but recently have been considering buying one.
My current use of the built-in flash is limited to taking portrait type images in bright/daytime situations.

My aim with this thread is to ask how could a flash gun expand my photographic experience (bounce flash, off camera etc).

From what I've read, the Metz 48 seems to offer the best value for money.
I would aim to off-load my Tamron 18-250 if I decided to go with a flash, as I never use this nowadays.

Thanks
Adrian

It depends whether flash photography suits your style. Personally I prefer available light, wherever possible. Flash can be harsh.

However, fill-in flash in daylight portraits and studio flash definitely have their place. There is huge creative potential for those who want to involve themselves in major use of flash.

There are avrious strobist sites on the web, and it may be worth your while to browse and see what people are doing.

I regreted spending money on a new flash, as I didn't really use it that much, and I certainly didn't use its 'advanced features'. I sold it and got a cheap manual (safe) flash for indoor bounce flash shots, and am pleased I did as it's perfectly adequate. I have a couple of Pentax Xtra flashes to supplement it for those ebay product shots

I must be flash junkie, I think I have nine! I prefer using them in manual mode but I was impressed by my Samsung 36PZF in sports halls with the available light being very toppy. I set the 'gun in P-TTL mode to underexpose by two stops just to give some fill onto people's faces and it worked really well but I should say that I was using it on a bracket. Using it in domestic situations in bounce mode the pull-out catchlight panel works well too.

If you want a big, beefy off-camera flash then look for a Metz 45CL-1. You'll need to use your camera in manual mode but the flash is able to offer some automation - basically it will vary its output to get a good exposure assuming that you've set aperture and shutter speed to what it expects.

If you want something smaller then look for an AF200T, AF280T or AF240Z. All of these will work with the Program mode on Pentax DSLRs to give some automation, or you can use them manually.

The old AF160 is actually pretty handy for such a tiny flash - I bought one for my ME Super but it worked perfectly on my K-m, although it's nothing like as powerful as the other units mentioned.

Presume attaching any of the old Metz hammer heads directly to the hotshoe will fry the camera

I was building a custom flash trigger project some while ago and I looked into the flash interface on my K10D and discovered that it used a thyristor device as the actual switching device inside the camera. (Same on the k20D also)

These semiconductor devices are usually used for mains power control and it is hard to find one rated at less than 300 volts, most are rated higher than this.

Since then I have used my old Vivitar 283 flashguns with a terminal voltage of 271 volts on the K10D without any problems or damage. I think that in the case of Pentax that it is a myth that ultra low voltage flashes must be used; I have seen no rating of the hot shoe connector, but equally I have seen no warning in the manual that an old flash will damage it.

Perhaps you should measure the voltage at the terminals of the Metz and see if you wish to chance it yourself.....

I will buy a flah at some time John, but for now will use my 400FTZ in manual mode. I was just adding a note of caution to the post from Dangermouse, just in case the OP went out and bought an old Metz ignorant of potential issues

cheers

Alan

Short answer: It depends on the Metz hammerhead.

The earlier Metz 45CT-1 has a high trigger voltage, the later version of the 45CT-1 and the 45CL-1 which followed it are safe (around 6v on mine). Multimeters are cheap and simple - just set it to measure DC volts, turn the flash on, and when the ready light comes on touch the positive probe to the centre contact of the foot and the negative probe to the side contact. This will give a reading of the trigger voltage.

Weirdly, the only two flashes I have which definitely aren't safe for digital are a couple of cheap old ones powered by a pair of AA batteries each.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Regards
Adrian