Any reason NOT to get the 360 as a first flash?

[GossCTP]

I've been thinking about getting a flash for awhile now for my K100d. Nearest I can tell the only thing the 540 has is a higher guide number and a swivel head. The swivel head would be nice for portrait bounce, but it isn't a high priority. Most people I know have 8ft white ceilings, so the power should be OK. Is there any other reason I shouldn't buy the smaller, half price unit as a first flash? It seems to me if I wanted a second flash later on I could always get a better unit and use the 360 in wireless.

--

Judging a photographer on the basis of equipment is like speculating one's physique from a gym pass.

 

[ManuH]

I've been thinking about getting a flash for awhile now for my K100d.
Nearest I can tell the only thing the 540 has is a higher guide
number and a swivel head. The swivel head would be nice for portrait
bounce, but it isn't a high priority. Most people I know have 8ft
white ceilings, so the power should be OK. Is there any other reason
I shouldn't buy the smaller, half price unit as a first flash? It
seems to me if I wanted a second flash later on I could always get a
better unit and use the 360 in wireless.

My feeling is that you don't save money in the long run going for the cheaper model if you realize later that you need the better model. So I did bite the bullet and just ordered the 540 because you don't know when you will need HSS or swiveling or the power, etc.

--
Manu



http://flickr.com/photos/10506176@N07/

 

[scrapsly]

I have to agree with the previous post. If at all possible, go ahead and get the 540. You will not be disapointed.

 

[GossCTP]

My feeling is that you don't save money in the long run going for the
cheaper model if you realize later that you need the better model. So
I did bite the bullet and just ordered the 540 because you don't know
when you will need HSS or swiveling or the power, etc.

The 360 has HHS.

I understand where you're coming from, but at the same time, the 540 costs more than double what the 360 does. I feel like even if the 360 turns out to be too little it would still be great as a secondary flash for off camera - say macro stuff to be used in conjunction with the 540.

Nearest I can tell the power and the swiveling are the only two differences. That and some kind of cable connection that I don't fully understand.

--

Judging a photographer on the basis of equipment is like speculating one's physique from a gym pass.

 

[aplucini]

The swivel head would be nice for portrait
bounce, but it isn't a high priority.

The first time you want to take a portrait shot of someone and you want to bounce the flash off the ceiling, you're going to wish you had a swivel head.

--
Allan in Colorado, USA

 

[Anastigmat]

Cost is one reason not to get the 360. There are third party flash makers that make better flashes than the 360 for less money.

I've been thinking about getting a flash for awhile now for my K100d.
Nearest I can tell the only thing the 540 has is a higher guide
number and a swivel head. The swivel head would be nice for portrait
bounce, but it isn't a high priority. Most people I know have 8ft
white ceilings, so the power should be OK. Is there any other reason
I shouldn't buy the smaller, half price unit as a first flash? It
seems to me if I wanted a second flash later on I could always get a
better unit and use the 360 in wireless.

--
Judging a photographer on the basis of equipment is like speculating
one's physique from a gym pass.

 

[steephill]

I have the 360. The 540 hadn't been invented when I got mine but I am still happy with the 360 for general flash use. I use it with my *istD and have used it in TTL as well as P-TTL modes. It is about as big a flash as I would be comfortable with on the hotshoe - the 540 is just a bit too big. Maybe it balances better on the bigger K10D though.

At half the price of the 540 it gives you a lot more than half the performance which makes it a bargain!

--
Steve

http://www.pbase.com/steephill

 

[GossCTP]

Cost is one reason not to get the 360. There are third party flash
makers that make better flashes than the 360 for less money.

I know there are third party solutions out there, but every time somebody raved about one of them I would look up the unit and it would only be partially compatible. They would either lack P-TTL, HHS, wireless, rear-curtain sync or something else. The 360 is $155 after rebate over at Adorama right now. What trumps it on features and price?

--

Judging a photographer on the basis of equipment is like speculating one's physique from a gym pass.

 

[Russell Evans]

The first time you want to take a portrait shot of someone and you
want to bounce the flash off the ceiling, you're going to wish you
had a swivel head.

I often wonder about this, if you need the swivel, why not take the flash off the camera and use the wireless mode?

Thank you
Russell

 

[hcoley]

Im very happy with my 360. I'd love to have a 540. The 540 did not exist when I got it. The only thing missing is more power and swivel. Swivel is really nice for bouncing off the ceiling in vertical orientation. I bounce my 360 a lot and have enough power most of the time.

At the current after rebate price I would not hesitate to get the 360, but if it were the full price I paid 4 years ago I'd go the extra and get the 540 instead.

--

'I got a Pentax camera. I love to take a photograph, so mama don't take my Photoshop away.'

 

[DLBlack]

I have both flashes. I got the 360 before the 540 was released. It is nice to have two flashes that work together. There are numerous times that I will use the 360 on the hotshoe instead of using the pop-up flash to act as a master to trigger the 540. I can get a little better light contrast this way.

Anyhow, the 540 is a lot better flash and if I just had one it would have to be the 540. In fact another 540 is on my list of camera things to buy.

Dave

 

[maynard001]

I hate to confuse you even more...

I have a 360. It's OK....but I wouldn't buy it again. I've been extremely disappointed in the exposure I get using P-ttl. You can search this forum for P-ttl threads...I'm not the only one...lots and lots of people are complaining about Pentax's implementation of TTL. Others don't seem to have any problems...but there's definitely an issue there.

I seem to get the best results on my 360 when it's in M mode. It takes a bit more trial/error to get the exposure right...but all in all the shots look a lot better iin my opinion than they do in P-ttl mode.

With all that being said...if I had to do it all over again, I'd probably just buy a $30 auto flash and learn how to use it in M mode. P-ttl is highly overrated in my opinion.

-jason

 

[colesf]

The swivel bounce thing is way overrated. Most of the time you may not have a wall at the right distance or angle anyway. It's a difficult thing to control or count on. And if you're really serious about the quality of your flash photos, you use a bracket and can angle it anyway. I use a lumiquest bouncer and it works beautifully.

 

[aplucini]

That'll work fine if you have the time to do a planned posed shot and the time to place the wireless flash at some ideal strategic location. But if it is a candid spontaneous shot to capture the moment or unexpected opportunity then you don't have the time to detach the external wireless flash. Or if you're in the middle of a crowded room full of people or in the middle of a dance floor... where do yo put the wireless flash?

The first time you want to take a portrait shot of someone and you
want to bounce the flash off the ceiling, you're going to wish you
had a swivel head.

I often wonder about this, if you need the swivel, why not take the
flash off the camera and use the wireless mode?

--
Allan in Colorado, USA

 

[Darren M]

The swivel bounce thing is way overrated. Most of the time you may
not have a wall at the right distance or angle anyway. It's a
difficult thing to control or count on. And if you're really serious
about the quality of your flash photos, you use a bracket and can
angle it anyway. I use a lumiquest bouncer and it works beautifully.

This is not my experience whatsoever. I am not a huge flash user, but now that my daughter is born I am using it a lot more. Well over half of my flash shots now are shot in portrait orientation using the swivel for bounce. No way I would go back.

--



http://www.trekearth.com/members/Darren/photos/
http://www.darrenmelrose.com
http://dailysomeone.blogspot.com

My name is Darren, I shoot people.
Have camera, will travel

 

[OniFactor]

strobe on a rope. keep it in one hand, shoot with the other. it still gets it off axis, and you can point it where ever!

That'll work fine if you have the time to do a planned posed shot and
the time to place the wireless flash at some ideal strategic
location. But if it is a candid spontaneous shot to capture the
moment or unexpected opportunity then you don't have the time to
detach the external wireless flash. Or if you're in the middle of a
crowded room full of people or in the middle of a dance floor...
where do yo put the wireless flash?

 

[Darren M]

The Sigma EF 500DG Super has all those things; just make sure you have one that has been rechipped. Even if it is an old one, Sigma does rechip for free. I have the Sigma and have to say that it has been fine for me. I do have a feeling that the Pentax 540 would work more smoothly, but it is a lot more.

SIgma also has a 530 model now, although I really don't know what it offers over the 500.

--



http://www.trekearth.com/members/Darren/photos/
http://www.darrenmelrose.com
http://dailysomeone.blogspot.com

My name is Darren, I shoot people.
Have camera, will travel

 

[DLBlack]

That'll work fine if you have the time to do a planned posed shot and
the time to place the wireless flash at some ideal strategic
location. But if it is a candid spontaneous shot to capture the
moment or unexpected opportunity then you don't have the time to
detach the external wireless flash. Or if you're in the middle of a
crowded room full of people or in the middle of a dance floor...
where do yo put the wireless flash?

My 540 is very rarely used in the hotshoe. It is usually in my hand and the 360 or pop-up flash will trigger it. If I am in a crowded room and not taking a photo I will slide the flash into the open pocket of my kit bag. Even back in the late 70's when I had the Olympus OM cameras I would use two flashes. The results are much better wth two flahses so one learns to adapt to handing the gear.

Dave

 

[ekelly]

I have been having the same trouble deciding myself. Why not look into the new Metz 48 AF-1. It has all the features you are looking for with a bit more power than the 360, all for around 200 bucks. It will be out very soon.

Eric

 

[tc333]

I have the 360 and at first was cursing myself as i could not bounce it from ceiling when camera is in portrait orientation. Tried a Stofen Omnibounce on it as the light is softer and spread over a wider area and i no longer have any misgivings. I prefer the smaller size and price too
--
Tony