AF160FC Auto Macro Flash

[chirpy]

SRS in the UK today has this In Stock (confirmed with them) at £399:
http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/1845/Pentax-AF160FC-Auto-Macro-Flash.html

That's not cheap compared to the Sigma Ringflash at £250 and the Metz at £275.
--
Jonathan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/

 

[Dave istDS]

I was thinking about getting one. If it had been around £300 then I would of but £400 I think I will give it a miss!

Dave.

 

[chirpy]

I just saw the US Amazon price of $471 (also In Stock):
http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-AF160FC-Macro-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001GAPHS8

I too was hoping it would be £300. Bah!, I ordered it anyway and I should have it tomorrow ;-)
--
Jonathan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/

 

[chirpy]

WooHoo! It arrived yesterday.

Initial impressions:

1. Very well built with a sturdy construction and quality connections and parts

2. Heavy, but has a very good balance on the K20D

3. Works without any vignetting on the DFA 100mm Macro and the Sigma 180mm Macro - the latter needs an additional 67-72mm step-up ring which I purchase on fleabay for £3

4. From my limited testing to date - exposure is spot on. For 1:1 macro work at f/16 I did need to dial in the provided +0.5 power on the dial

5. Slower recharge rate compared to me Metz 48 AF-1

6. Cable might be unwieldy for some, but fine for me

7. Although composed of two flash lights, they almost completely encircle the flash (semi-circular in design) giving a much better (IMHO) reflection that the Sigma or Metz macro flashes (small straight strip flashes) that produce distinct separate bars which (again IMHO) don't look as attractive in 1:1 macro

8. Having 5 settings for full, full-left full-right left and right flash are excellent and allow you to play with different shadow effects

9. Excellent service from SRS as always

Here are a couple of quick and dirty photo's I took this morning in the garden. K20D, ISO100, F/16, 1/180s, Sigma 180mm Macro:

Succulent plant (note the "ring" reflection in the water on the plant - the other light reflections are from the sun):
http://flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/3275721045/



A Springtail at 1:1
http://flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/3276541942/



So far I'm happy and can't wait from spring
--
Jonathan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/

 

[Stig Vidar Hovland]

Thanks for your post. Do you know if its possible to mount it on this lens, http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/tele/FA200f4-Macro.html , with 67mm filter diameter?
--

Stig Vidar Hovland

 

[chirpy]

Thanks for your post. Do you know if its possible to mount it on this
lens,
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/tele/FA200f4-Macro.html ,
with 67mm filter diameter?

The flash manual lists Pentax lenses that it may have problems with (vignetting or front-moving element) and the FA* 200mm Macro is not listed, so would suggest that you wouldn't have any problems using the AF160FC with that lens.

--
Jonathan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/

 

[Stig Vidar Hovland]

Thanks for your post. Do you know if its possible to mount it on this
lens,
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/tele/FA200f4-Macro.html ,
with 67mm filter diameter?

The flash manual lists Pentax lenses that it may have problems with
(vignetting or front-moving element) and the FA* 200mm Macro is not
listed, so would suggest that you wouldn't have any problems using
the AF160FC with that lens.

Thanks. But does it have a 67mm filter ring adapter. There was some questions about this some months ago because Pentax didn't mentioned 67mm in their press release, but Ned Bunnell did in his blog.

 

[chirpy]

Yes, it has a 67mm adapter.
--
Jonathan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/