Cactus has a new remote trigger that seems like magic. <http://www.cactus-image.com/v6.html> At $60 it's hard to believe, but the reviews are good.
I have Nikon and Pentax flashes and it would be a nice backup to be able to use them all together. When I get some time I may order a couple and try them out. gs George Sinos -------------------- www.GeorgesPhotos.net www.GeorgeSinos.com On Fri, Aug 1, 2014 at 7:33 AM, Bruce Walker <bruce.wal...@gmail.com> wrote: > I dunno about Larry but in my case I use my two $400+ AF540's as dumb > slaves because back when I was flush with disposable income I thought > that wireless P-TTL was the awesomest concept ever and I bought two of > them. > > Now I'm older and much wiser and realize that I should have bought > cheap stupid flashes and used radio triggers, and invested the extra > money in Apple stock. But at least I can get good use out of them as > powerful light sources. > > I do like having one P-TTL flash for on-camera inside event work. They > are built like brick sh*t houses and after a couple of repairs are > pushing 6 years of service. Not a total waste. > > > On Fri, Aug 1, 2014 at 12:15 AM, Darren Addy <pixelsmi...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Crikey, Larry. Why use a $400 flash as a dumb optically triggered >> slave? You can get old Vivitar 283/285s for that purpose and they are >> a dime a dozen these days. Add a Vivitar Vari-Power Module (admittedly >> getting harder to find) and you've got oodles of flexibility on an >> optically fired slave. >> >> On Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 8:55 PM, Larry Colen <l...@red4est.com> wrote: >>> When my AF 540 died, I replaced it with a metz 58-2. >>> >>> For just basic flash operations, it works a lot better. My AF-540 was an >>> unreliable piece of crap. Unreliable in that it kept breaking and >>> unreliable in that I could never rely on it to do what I told it to. >>> >>> The UI of the Metz is not very good. The other problem with the Metz is >>> that I cannot figure out how to use it as a dumb optically triggered >>> strobe. It’ll work with the fancy ttl controls, at least in theory, I >>> haven’t had much luck, but when I want it on a stand, triggered off my >>> studio lights, I seem to be SOL and just need to get an external optical >>> trigger. >>> >>> I’ve been looking at the yongnuo and the Midwest photo strobes lately. >>> >>> >>> On Jul 31, 2014, at 2:15 PM, Igor Roshchin <s...@komkon.org> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Dan, >>>> >>>> I've been heavily relying on flash in what I photograph: >>>> quick dances in a dark room, fill-in flash for my child indoors and >>>> outdoors photos, some candid portraits in dynamic settings. >>>> >>>> While I have only tried Pentax AF540 with K-7, I didn't like it, >>>> and bought Metz 58 (not "2" yet), that I've been happily using ever >>>> since, with both K-7 and K-5IIs. >>>> IMHO, it works much better (but not universally perfectly, - so you have >>>> to use it smartly). >>>> I've been using it in two modes: either in "A", where the flash decides >>>> when to cut itself off, or in PTTL. >>>> In most cases, I find that "A" mode works better, especially when >>>> I turn the main flash up, and have the front fill-in sub-flash enabled. >>>> I use PTTL often for forward-facing (typically longer-distance) shots. >>>> >>>> Also, PTTL seems to work somewhat better at the very close range (1-3 >>>> feet), >>>> maybe because camera's CPU is faster to cut off this powerhouse. >>>> >>>> I agree, however, that the buttons of Pentax AF540 are more convenient >>>> than the menues of Metz 58. Those menues are frustrating. >>>> But I choose a better functionality. >>>> >>>> Also, there were some problems (and I don't remember all the details), >>>> that Pentax AF540 didn't not keep its settings upon power-cycling, and >>>> it might not allow a manual mode. (Larry might still remember this part, >>>> - he complained about that more recently.) >>>> >>>> It looks like Metz 58-2 might have a better hotshoe mount, which is >>>> welcome, as the one in Metz 58 is becoming a bit "loose" after a lot of >>>> use, and may require occasional adjustment after insertion. >>>> >>>> See my earlier response about Metz 58 in this thread: >>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/pdml@pdml.net/msg656989.html >>>> >>>> HTH, >>>> >>>> Igor >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thu Jul 31 16:36:09 EDT 2014 >>>> Paul pentax1941 at gmail.com wrote: >>>> >>>> I have both the Metz 58 and the Pentax AF540 and would pretty much >>>> concur with the Amazon review from Darren's link. Both will tilt and >>>> swivel, features that I prefer for better lighting. >>>> >>>> The Pentax is a little quicker to use since you can make most changes >>>> via buttons rather than spending time in menus. The secondary flash on >>>> the Metz is very useful for a fill light and the Metz is upgradeable via >>>> a USB cable. >>>> >>>> Either one will serve you well. The Pentax *is* pricier by about $50. >>>> >>>> -p >>>> >>>> On 7/31/2014 1:19 PM, Darren Addy wrote: >>>>> I've never owned a modern Pentax flash. When it came time to get one, >>>>> I looked at the power and features and went with the Metz 58 AF-1. I >>>>> think that has been supplanted by the AF-2 now, but it still gets very >>>>> decent reviews: >>>>> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744545-REG/Metz_MZ_58327PS_mecablitz_58_AF_2_TTL.html >>>>> >>>>> If you don't need that much power: >>>>> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Metz+52+AF-1+pentax&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= >>>>> >>>>> That being said, the first review on this page is worth reading: >>>>> http://www.amazon.com/Metz-mecablitz-Digital-Pentax-Cameras/product-reviews/B004DUMU8I/ref=pd_sxp_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 >>>>> >>>>> Hope this helps. >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 1:12 PM, Daniel J. Matyola <danmatyola at >>>>> gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> I have been extremely pleased with my new K-5IIs. Recently, however, >>>>>> my hotshoe mounted flash has be acting up, and I am thinking of >>>>>> replacing it. >>>>>> >>>>>> Which flash unit would you recommend for use with the K-5IIs? >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks in advance for your advice. >>>>>> >>>>>> Dan Matyola >>>>>> http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola >>>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> PDML@pdml.net >>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>>> follow the directions. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> PDML@pdml.net >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >>> follow the directions. >> >> >> >> -- >> Photographers must learn not to be ashamed to have their photographs >> look like photographs. >> ~ Alfred Stieglitz >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> PDML@pdml.net >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > > > -- > -bmw > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
