Do Pentax users prefer flash or LEDs?

Barry Pearson wrote:

I'm old-school. I used to use flash when necessary for lighting purposes.
Both in a studio, and for (say) macro-work, etc.

Now I'm experimenting with LEDs instead. At least for macro-work.

What do others here use when natural light isn't enough?

I have 3 Vivitar 285HV flash units. (I also have a Pentax AF540fgz, but I don't use that much.)

Here's a few macro shots I took years ago with my Pentax K100d. Camera handheld and Vivitar 285HV handheld as well. LOL.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tacticdesigns/4697288479/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tacticdesigns/4697289547/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tacticdesigns/4697290897/

The first image shows a modular system . Each unit fits into a shoes and has a further three shoes. The shoes are for support, not control. Each unit is independently switched and dimmable.

(It is very unlikely that the structure below is useful! I'm just showing the flexibility).

How do you find the LEDs for the amount of light?

I know that I like flash because it provides so much light that I can dial in a small aperture and get really sharp images.

Here's one from my Nikon camera with a Nikon flash off camera.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tacticdesigns/22020300979/in/album-72157631300869284/

The second image below is a useful alternative to a Ring-Flash .
(I have the Pentax AF160C Ring Flash, but nowadays I rarely if ever use it).

I think I could even use this with my Ricoh GRIII. It simply screws into the filter-thread of the lens, and the step-up discs cover most filter sizes up to 67mm as standard. The filter size on Ricoh GRIII lens adapter is 49mm.

(It wouldn't fit the Pentax 150-450mm lens! Who would want it to?)

What about studio portraiture?
I've been using four Bowens Studio Flash units with all the extras.

+1

I don't own studio flashes.

But for some paid portrait sessions, I rent monolights.

I liked the Bowens. But the place I was renting closed down. The new place I rent has Elinchrom.

To get the look I want, I have to be far away from the subject. Which then kinda pushes the lighting back a bit.

I am finding I really want 500watt monolights to get the amount of light I want to shoot at f/8.

Are LEDs taking over for studio work?

What type of LED system would allow for this?

They have benefits for video, but they tend to be a strain on the eyes of the subject.
The pandemic has stopped my studio work.
If/when I start again, I may continue to use flash.

For my Pentax set-up, if I use flash, I mainly use my Vivitar 285HV flash units.

They are old. But so simple to set-up the way I want, especially for studio work.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tacticdesigns/7785576014/in/album-72157631300869284/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tacticdesigns/5487868316/in/album-72157631300869284/

If I want TTL, I use my Nikon set-up with a pair of Nikon SB-800 flash units.

Flash is so powerful that it really does make a lot of things easy.

For me, I picked up flash by watching The Strobist. And a lot of this gear I picked up long ago, and for less than full retail. LOL. But they have served me well.

Take care & Happy Shooting!