WTD - Powerfull flash

Need an upgrade to my AF360 as I want it to rotate for portrait shots. Ideally AF540 but would need to be keen price. Other makes considered.

If it's just for portraits, then why not get a cheap Pentax 5P extension cable from eBay?

Or a piece of white "Funky Foam" cut to shape and held with an elastic band as a reflector (so the AF360 points straight up).

Or, if you have a body with wireless control on the pop-up (e.g. K5/7/20D/10D, etc) then use the AF360 in wireless mode?


Having said that, I do have a huge Metz 50MZ5 that I'm willing to sell on. It's big and heavy, with plenty of light, but you'll get just "A" and "M" modes.

Matt

Let me second that proposal - the 360 works very well in wireless mode. Certainly worth trying before investing in a new flash.

Up and coming wedding shoot. Was going to use a modifier, biggest issue with this is it will not rotate for portrait and bouncing with a GN36 is going to be limited. Worst case I will use it off camera with a cord but dont like shooting like this as I mainly shoot zooms and like having left hand for zooming and helping keep the camera steady. Was going down the flash bracket route but think they are too heavy and awkward.

Wired or wireless, if off camera then I dont have my left hand anymore. Unless I just shoot everything in landscape

Take a look at my setup in this thread, it works very well for weddings and the grip rotates in the bracket for portrait shots.

link

Best take up Matt on his offer to sell his MZ5 then!

Aha! I forgot Ken's configuration. I use that too
(You have to do a slight modification on the hotshoe of the grip extension, but it certainly works a treat.)

TBH, I found the 50MZ5 too heavy for weddings. I've done two with it, and I just end up with arm ache! I use the AF540 (because I have it), but as far as power levels go, the AF360 is certainly up to the job

Whatever you choose to do, you're going to need a lot of practise with a new flash/camera combo! I'm used to all kinds of flash combos, but still fried a couple of images by using the 50MZ5 indoors, then moving outside too quickly and forgetting to stop down!!



One BIG failing of the Pentax flash system is that the camera just doesn't tell you if you are already overexposed!!! It's a real PITA, because all they needed to do was to flash the exposure reading in the viewfinder! The VF blinks if you are overexposed without flash, but as soon as you enable the flash it stops showing the error!

Have fun
Matt

Ken, what is that bracket ? The links in the linked post are dead. I had been considering a bracket but most of them are big and bulky. This looks interesting

Okay, found some info. Anyone got a PTTL ready one they want rid off

Dont discount flashes with an auto mode - i often find this more reliable than pttl.