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pentax p-ttl automatic zoom flash
Strengths: p-ttl/af assist light/many functions/slave wireless/automatic zoom/convenient hinge/high speed sync
Weakness: NO SWIVEL
I'm mostly satisfied with what this little flash can do at this price. P-ttl is precise, though some people says it's not, but having too dark picture at f32 is not this flash's fault. It's GN is only 36 at 85mm. It's beyond this flash's ability to light up enough at f32. At f32, you better use it as fill up light.
It may take some time to get used to all the features of this flash, since this little flash has so many features. One thing I like most about this flash is wireless slave feature. I use pentax k10d and I needed to update firmware to above 1.10 (downloaded from pentax website). Once it is updated, the pop-up flash works as a signal transmitter and this flash works as slave in p-ttl mode. That's right, it controls the amount of light automatically at any angle. The pop-up flash do nothing but transmit exposure information in wireless mode. Clever, you don't need to buy an expensive extra wireless transmitter.
AF assistant light emits red grid pattern, helping camera to auto focus in low light condition. This flash can be used as a fill-in flash in daylight condition, since it support high speed sync. It works above x-sync (typically 1/180s in most Pentax DSLR). Combined with exposure compensation feature, when it is used as fill-in flash, you can get more natural filled-in photo.
Unfortunately, it does not swivel like af540fgz, so you cannot bounce the light in vertical position. It would have been really nice if it has swivel feature. Guide number is a bit small for this size of flash. GN 42 would have been really nice. Battery compartment cover seems flimsy as other noted, so I need to be gentle while replacing battery. I recommend eneloop Ni-MH battery from Sanyo for this flash. They are the best rechargeable batteries. Alkaline batteries recharge capacitor faster than Ni-MH batteries do, but they dry out very fast (Alikaline: less than 100 flashes vs. Eneloop: more than 400 flashes).
The general build quality is very good except battery compartment door hinge. One may note that the locking mechanism is different from general hot shoe flash, which just tighten up with the screw. When you rotate the lever, small metal pin protrudes from the flash to lock with hotshoe. It's very important to dismount flash after locking lever is completely in unlock position. It seems that the metal pin easily damage hotshoe or is easily breakable, if excess force is applied when the lever is still in locking position.
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