Pentax 1stDL & Flash question

You could buy used and save a bit, whats wrong with the 360? Only $199 at
B&H.


<dtong22 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1134050420.246946.227580@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Is there any worthwhile alternative to the Pentax 360 flash?
> I look at Digi-slave and other Vititar/Sigma alternative. None of them
> had positive review.
> Any guru in here can enlighten me .
> I shall be using the flash as for fill-in purpose.
>
> Daniel
>
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

dtong22 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Is there any worthwhile alternative to the Pentax 360 flash?
>> I look at Digi-slave and other Vititar/Sigma alternative. None of them
>> had positive review.

I have the Sigma EX500 DG Super. I have nothing but positive things to
say about it when used with my ist-D. The owner's manual could be
written a bit more clearly, but if you sit down with it and do some
experimentation with the flash and camera (no need to waste film with
digital) it all comes together. It seems like an excellent unit to me,
both in terms of construction and performance.
I'm curious, what negative have you seen written about it?


--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

dtong22.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:

>>> I look at Digi-slave and other Vititar/Sigma alternative. None of
>>> them had positive review
>
>> I'm curious, what negative have you seen written about it?
>I said none of them had positive review. None of the review ended up
>saying that it is functioning as predicted.

Not functioning as predicted? Mine functions perfectly well and this
flash is quite popular with DSLR users on the Pentax list. Never heard
of a problem with it, in fact.

>In principle, a $50-80
>non-dedicated flash that serves the fill-in (or as a slave )purpose
>has a big advantage over the dedicated unit in the sense that it also
>fits all digicam. That may not materialise in real world though. And
>that is why I raised it. Apparently Peter of above did not even think
>other non-dedicated flash is worth the while.
>BTW Sigma ex500 is in the same price bracket as Pentax 360.

True. I bought the Sigma because it offers a lot more for the money
(more powerful, swivel as well as tilt and a few other things).


--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

Hi Peter,

>Of course other flashes are perfectly okay, so is the 360. Don't read into
>my post things that I did not say.

You are the expert. Can you name a couple of other flashes (under $100)
that would do a slightly better job than the built-in one of 1stDL
(mainly for fill-in or slave)?

I know we get what we pay for. But this is what I need for now.

Daniel
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

<dtong22.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1134072035.109478.24180@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >> I look at Digi-slave and other Vititar/Sigma alternative. None of
> them
>>> had positive review
>
>> I'm curious, what negative have you seen written about it?
>
>
> Mark ,
> I said none of them had positive review. None of the review ended up
> saying that it is functioning as predicted. In principle, a $50-80
> non-dedicated flash that serves the fill-in (or as a slave )purpose
> has a big advantage over the dedicated unit in the sense that it also
> fits all digicam. That may not materialise in real world though. And
> that is why I raised it. Apparently Peter of above did not even think
> other non-dedicated flash is worth the while.
> BTW Sigma ex500 is in the same price bracket as Pentax 360.
>
> Daniel

Of course other flashes are perfectly okay, so is the 360. Don't read into
my post things that I did not say.
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

"Mark Roberts" <mark RemoveThis @robertstech.com> wrote in message
news:dnak190eff@news2.newsguy.com...
> dtong22 RemoveThis @yahoo.com wrote:
>
>>>> I look at Digi-slave and other Vititar/Sigma alternative. None of
>>>> them had positive review
>>
>>> I'm curious, what negative have you seen written about it?
>>I said none of them had positive review. None of the review ended up
>>saying that it is functioning as predicted.
>
> Not functioning as predicted? Mine functions perfectly well and this
> flash is quite popular with DSLR users on the Pentax list. Never heard
> of a problem with it, in fact.
>
>>In principle, a $50-80
>>non-dedicated flash that serves the fill-in (or as a slave )purpose
>>has a big advantage over the dedicated unit in the sense that it also
>>fits all digicam. That may not materialise in real world though. And
>>that is why I raised it. Apparently Peter of above did not even think
>>other non-dedicated flash is worth the while.
>>BTW Sigma ex500 is in the same price bracket as Pentax 360.
>
> True. I bought the Sigma because it offers a lot more for the money
> (more powerful, swivel as well as tilt and a few other things).
>
>
> --
> Mark Roberts
> Photography and writing
> www.robertstech.com

Hi Mark, are you using the wireless feature?

Thanks.

Pete
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

"Pete D" <no DeleteThis @email.com> wrote:

>"Mark Roberts" <mark DeleteThis @robertstech.com> wrote:
>> True. I bought the Sigma because it offers a lot more for the money
>> (more powerful, swivel as well as tilt and a few other things).
>>
>Hi Mark, are you using the wireless feature?

It's not a feature I find myself needing much but I've used it a few
times. Seems to work very well. It's certainly a lot of fun to have the
flash fire when it's not physically connected to the camera. You'd be
surprised how many *photographers* are surprised by this!


--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

dtong22 RemoveThis @yahoo.com wrote:

>>Of course other flashes are perfectly okay, so is the 360. Don't read into
>>my post things that I did not say.
>
>You are the expert. Can you name a couple of other flashes (under $100)
>that would do a slightly better job than the built-in one of 1stDL
>(mainly for fill-in or slave)?
>
>I know we get what we pay for. But this is what I need for now.

Keep an eye out for a second hand Pentax AF280T. It's older-style analog
TTL, but the Pentax DSLR's are backward compatible with it and work
reasonably well with standard TTL flash. You should be able to find one
under $100.


--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

>Keep an eye out for a second hand Pentax AF280T. It's older-style analog
>TTL, but the Pentax DSLR's are backward compatible with it and work
>reasonably well with standard TTL flash. You should be able to find one
>under $100.

Mark,

You had better be right. Just purchased through ebay af280t at around
$85. I hope it is not that antiquated compared with my pentax dslr.

Daniel



--
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

dtong22 DeleteThis @yahoo.com wrote:

>>Keep an eye out for a second hand Pentax AF280T. It's older-style analog
>>TTL, but the Pentax DSLR's are backward compatible with it and work
>>reasonably well with standard TTL flash. You should be able to find one
>>under $100.
>
>You had better be right. Just purchased through ebay af280t at around
>$85. I hope it is not that antiquated compared with my pentax dslr.

I've used my AF280T with my ist-D several times. It doesn't work as well
as the latest flashes with P-TTL but it's usually pretty good. Tends to
work best when the camera's set at ISO 400 and gets flakier at other
settings. Still under/over exposes in some situations with digital, as
do all TTL flashes: That's why they invented P-TTL.


--
Mark Roberts
Photography and writing
www.robertstech.com
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

>I've used my AF280T with my ist-D several times. It doesn't work as well
>as the latest flashes with P-TTL but it's usually pretty good. Tends to
>work best when the camera's set at ISO 400 and gets flakier at other
>settings. Still under/over exposes in some situations with digital, as
>do all TTL flashes: That's why they invented P-TTL.

you are right and the flash is a very solidly made one
i bought that as it is still on sale at B&H at over $150 (after 25
yrs!!)
I have to do a lot of trial with it too
overall i now appreciate how good my dl (with p-ttl ) is
the only complaint is that it is quite underpower which can be
counteracted with longer exposure or higher iso (each with its own
drawback)
i may have to use it only for bounce purpose which diminishes the risk
of overexposure
anyway
thanks a lot Mark
your site is quite informative indeed for a pentax newbie like me

Daniel
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question 

I use the AF200T on my DS.
Modest power but TTL and a practical size.

Collin
 >> Stay informed about: Pentax 1stDL & Flash question