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Flash for Pentax K-30?

Started Mar 25, 2019 | Discussions
OP Massao Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Flash for Pentax K-30?

Richard the picture man wrote:

Vivitar 285 can still be found second hand, it is nearly as old as the hills, is powerful, reliable and very controllable. BUT. make sure you get one with low trigger voltage otherwise you will fry your camera electronics.

Thanks for the tip Does it work with P-TTL on K-30?

Massao
--
First camera: Canon FTB; First autofocus SLR camera: Pentax; First Nikon: F601 (N6006); First digital camera: Sony DSC-W5; First DSLR: Nikon D70; First mirrorless ICL camera: Samsung nx11

 Massao's gear list:Massao's gear list
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Pentax K-r Samsung NX300 Samsung NX1100 A3000 +40 more
puttin
puttin Veteran Member • Posts: 7,958
Re: Flash for Pentax K-30?
1

Massao wrote:

Richard the picture man wrote:

Vivitar 285 can still be found second hand, it is nearly as old as the hills, is powerful, reliable and very controllable. BUT. make sure you get one with low trigger voltage otherwise you will fry your camera electronics.

Thanks for the tip Does it work with P-TTL on K-30?

Massao
--
First camera: Canon FTB; First autofocus SLR camera: Pentax; First Nikon: F601 (N6006); First digital camera: Sony DSC-W5; First DSLR: Nikon D70; First mirrorless ICL camera: Samsung nx11

I had one years ago and you have to set the flash manually plus your camera has to be set manually also. You set your aperture, shutter speed and ISO on your camera. The settings on the flash are simple to set once you learn. It's a big flash.

 puttin's gear list:puttin's gear list
Nikon Coolpix A Canon G9 X II Nikon D3 Sony Alpha NEX-7 Sony a7 II +25 more
Oiche Senior Member • Posts: 2,045
Re: Flash for Pentax K-30?

Massao wrote:

Richard the picture man wrote:

Vivitar 285 can still be found second hand, it is nearly as old as the hills, is powerful, reliable and very controllable. BUT. make sure you get one with low trigger voltage otherwise you will fry your camera electronics.

Thanks for the tip Does it work with P-TTL on K-30?

Massao
--
First camera: Canon FTB; First autofocus SLR camera: Pentax; First Nikon: F601 (N6006); First digital camera: Sony DSC-W5; First DSLR: Nikon D70; First mirrorless ICL camera: Samsung nx11

I'd give those old flashes a miss on a modern DSLR, as the guy says they may fry you camera. I do own several old manual adjust lenses, the Pentax ones are safe to use but I only use them on film cameras.

The Metz 50 AF-1 and other models read the focal length of your lens and automatically adjust (shape and zoom) the flash for the lens. Even with zoom lenses with focal length read-out it will adjust to the zoomed length. The Metz also has a built-in pull-out wide angle 12mm focal length diffuser and a reflector. This gives such a wide spread uniform illumination when using the DA15 f4.

You can pick Metz or other modern flashes on the used market for great prices and often in mint condition.

 Oiche's gear list:Oiche's gear list
Pentax K-70 Pentax smc DA* 60-250mm F4.0 ED (IF) SDM Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 Limited Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC HD Pentax DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited +1 more
Oiche Senior Member • Posts: 2,045
Re: Flash for Pentax K-30?

Massao wrote:

KPM2 wrote:

Hello Massao

Massao wrote:

Massao wrote:

Here, in Norway, I found these flashes for sale:

Sigma EF-610 DG Super

Sigma EF 530 DG Super

Metz 44 AF-1

With a Metz flash you can do that for yourself, when:

- the flash has a USB interface ( new Metz flash have it, but always check that)

I just bought the Metz 44 AF-1 (for Pentax) then. It has a USB interface (I have the same on my Samsung, so I checked:-)

I will update after I receive and try it on my K-30. Many thanks to everyone for their inputs.

Kind regards,

Massao

Aha, I never seen this until after writing another post advising to give the old flashes a miss.

You have made a great choice and looking forward to seeing your photos.

 Oiche's gear list:Oiche's gear list
Pentax K-70 Pentax smc DA* 60-250mm F4.0 ED (IF) SDM Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 Limited Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC HD Pentax DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited +1 more
Anders_Nilsson Contributing Member • Posts: 574
Re: Flash for Pentax K-30?

Oiche wrote:

Massao wrote:

Richard the picture man wrote:

Vivitar 285 can still be found second hand, it is nearly as old as the hills, is powerful, reliable and very controllable. BUT. make sure you get one with low trigger voltage otherwise you will fry your camera electronics.

Thanks for the tip Does it work with P-TTL on K-30?

Massao
--
First camera: Canon FTB; First autofocus SLR camera: Pentax; First Nikon: F601 (N6006); First digital camera: Sony DSC-W5; First DSLR: Nikon D70; First mirrorless ICL camera: Samsung nx11

I'd give those old flashes a miss on a modern DSLR, as the guy says they may fry you camera. I do own several old manual adjust lenses, the Pentax ones are safe to use but I only use them on film cameras.

The Metz 50 AF-1 and other models read the focal length of your lens and automatically adjust (shape and zoom) the flash for the lens. Even with zoom lenses with focal length read-out it will adjust to the zoomed length. The Metz also has a built-in pull-out wide angle 12mm focal length diffuser and a reflector. This gives such a wide spread uniform illumination when using the DA15 f4.

You can pick Metz or other modern flashes on the used market for great prices and often in mint condition.

Quite right, Oiche! Junk that garbage! Use modern flashes that support automation and don't fry your camera.

I bought a used Metz 50 AF-1 together with my K-3 and it works well.

Another good option is the Godox TT350P which supports P-TTL at least when mounted on the camera. Very cheap, very compact, very lightweight and runs off 2xAA. My favorite flash.

 Anders_Nilsson's gear list:Anders_Nilsson's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 Casio Exilim EX-10 Casio Exilim EX-100 Sony Alpha NEX-6 Sony Alpha a99 +16 more
OP Massao Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Flash for Pentax K-30?
1

Oiche wrote:

Massao wrote:

KPM2 wrote:

Hello Massao

Massao wrote:

Massao wrote:

Here, in Norway, I found these flashes for sale:

Sigma EF-610 DG Super

Sigma EF 530 DG Super

Metz 44 AF-1

With a Metz flash you can do that for yourself, when:

- the flash has a USB interface ( new Metz flash have it, but always check that)

I just bought the Metz 44 AF-1 (for Pentax) then. It has a USB interface (I have the same on my Samsung, so I checked:-)

I will update after I receive and try it on my K-30. Many thanks to everyone for their inputs.

Kind regards,

Massao

Aha, I never seen this until after writing another post advising to give the old flashes a miss.

You have made a great choice and looking forward to seeing your photos.

Got the Metz AF 44-1 for about a 100 USD and it works perfectly on my K-30 Thanks for all your inputs guys

-- hide signature --

First camera: Canon FTB; First autofocus SLR camera: Pentax; First Nikon: F601 (N6006); First digital camera: Sony DSC-W5; First DSLR: Nikon D70; First mirrorless ICL camera: Samsung nx11

 Massao's gear list:Massao's gear list
Sony Alpha NEX-3 Pentax K-r Samsung NX300 Samsung NX1100 A3000 +40 more
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