Customer Reviews

Pentax AF540FGZ Flash for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras (Includes Case)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have been recently forced by Pentax to buy this flash to complement my new K10D.

I already had AF500FTZ and a few other Pentax TTL flashes which worked perfectly well with my *istDs, but for some reason Pentax decided not to support plain TTL any more in the new K10D body.

My AF540FGZ broke almost immediately - when I turned it on the zoom was stuck in manual mode @ 16 mm. A brand new flash! If you look in the Internet, you will find out that it is not just a single isolated case, but a well-known bug. I would consider this to be a design/manufacturing issue.

The door of the battery compartment is not easy to open. Moreover, its locks are somewhere in the middle part of the door, the door is rather long and the material it is made of is not strong enough. When you put batteries in, the edges of the battery compartment door are pushed out. Not a critical issue, but product engineering should have considered this.

I own plenty of Pentax stuff which I am really happy with. Pentax quality used to be outstanding. So, this is my first bad experience. VERY dissapointed.

From the positive side, I liked the wireless functionality and the fact that 540 can be operated by the built-in flash of my K10D (no additional master flash is required).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATE: Pentax USA have sent me the International Warranty Card for this flash - very good customer support.

UPDATE 2: I have received my flash unit back, repaired. It took almost two months: it was sent out to Pentax on July 31 (received by Pentax on August 7), and I got it back from repair on September 28. Even if the return shipping from repair took a few days, this is still much longer than stated on Pentax web site (15 - 20 working days). Just FYI.

I've owned this unit since March 07 and have used it sparingly. The performance to date is as advertised and impressive for a camera mounted flash unit. However, the mounting arrangement incorporates a metal spring loaded 'lock pin' which fits into a receptor hole in the camera hot-shoe. The metal pin is pushed into the flash base by a cam on the tightening ring acting on a very small diameter plastic pin. If this plastic plunger pin breaks off, and it did, the flash unit stays locked to the camera hot-shoe. A very flimsy arrangement that can cause a lot of grief, inconvenience and possible hot-shoe damage. Disappointing Pentax.

I am a part-time wedding/event photographer who uses Pentax system (as of summer 2008 I have a K20D, K10D and an *ist DS). I own two Pentax AF540 FGZ units and my experience with both of them is decidedly mixed. The new Pentax K20D is one of the best cameras avaialable today for any price. The Pentax 540 FGZ flash, on the other hand, is old, badly designed and badly built. It's not worthy to sit atop the K20D.

I've encountered three problems with these units. If you search the Internet you will discover that these complaints are not uncommon.

First, I've had problems with build quality on both of my units. I purchased my first 540 FGZ in 2007. After only one or two events, the auto-zoom motor stuck. Flash had to be sent back to Pentax repair in Colorado, which kept it for a full month.

While the first unit was being repaired, I purchased a second unit. (NOTE: I needed this anyway so I don't complain about the second purchase.) After only a few events, the new unit got stuck on my K20D and could not be removed normally. Like the problem with the auto-zoom motor, this problem (with the flash getting stuck) is well known. Armed with info from the 'net, I was able to take the flash apart while it was still attached to the camera, take out the locking pin that is the cause of the problem, and remove the unit from my camera. If you visit pentaxforums.com you will be able to find the post in which I describe this process in detail. I have left the locking pin off the camera. The flash works without the locking pin although it becomes necessary for me to think while I'm shooting to make sure the unit remains firmly mounted in the hot shoe.

Finally, my first unit - which had been behaving itself for many months - also got stuck in my camera, and I had to do the same thing.

I hasten to add that I handle my camera equipment VERY carefully. THe K10D/K20D bodies are very well built. The 540FGZ simply is not, and there seem to be design flaws in the hardware as well.

Then there is the whole problem of P-TTL, Pentax's proprietary flash exposure system. These problems are harder to describe but they're worth mentioning. The preflash that P-TTL uses to measure exposure seems to have a marked tendency to cause subjects to blink. Equally bad, the exposure results are inconsistent. Without flash (using available light) I know my K20D so well I am confident of getting a good exposure nearly every time. Shooting with the flash, however, this isn't the case. If you practice a lot with the flash, you can get it to work pretty well most of the time. But the things I've read about Nikon's best flash units make me jealous.

The Pentax 540 FGZ is also not as strong as some of the units available for Canon and Nikon cameras. There is only +1 EV available - possibly not enough power to take wedding formals in front of an altar where there's strong back lighting. I now use both units and get better results - but that should not be necessary.

My next flash will be a Metz unit and I hope it works better than the Pentax 540.

On the plus side - and to explain why I give the unit 2 stars rather than 1 - when it doesn't break, the 540 can be effective. The tilt-swivel head works really well. Although the users guide is very old (and unaware of either the K10D or the K20D) and very badly written, if you throw yourself at it, you can figure out how to get the flash to work well in wireless mode. Controls are easy to use once you've figured them out. And I have the optional battery pack which is indispensable if you're shooting an event and need to take hundreds of shots and want quickest recycle time.

Bottom line, as I said before: Pentax makes GREAT cameras, but this flash unit is mediocre.

Pentax AF540FGZ Flash for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras (Includes Case)
Out of the box, first use, it was stuck at 16mm zoom and cannot be adjusted, not even in manual, to different focal length. Called Pentax customer support, they could not help and suggested to send it back.
Wanted to remove the batteries, but the cover is stuck half way over the first battery. No way to open it any further.

All electronic features of this flash are excellent. I use most of them. The manual really does suck.
The wireless feature is awesome for macro work with my 90mm Tamron 1:1 macro lens. I can hold the flash in any position for sidelighting , etc.
The system has a tendency to under-expose flash shots with backlighted subjects (like windows with sunlight) unless care is take to select multi-segment exposure mode using PTTL. This is exactly when you want it to work perfectly to brighten the foreground. I love the -3 stop adjustment for delicate fills.
The one serious problem I have is with the shoe mount which became defective within a week. I use this flash a lot and haven't considered sending it back for repair because I can't do without it for 2 months. I have a hard time getting the flash out of the hot-shoe because of this. Weddings are hectic enough without fooling with the flash. I find my self using available light with reflectors more because I hesitiate to use the flash. I hate to cuss while at a wedding! The swivel head position stops aren't strong enough to hold my Gary Fong LightSphere in position either. I have to steady it constantly. I own the K10d and K20d for weddings and love the cameras and the many Pentax lenses I have for them. But I'm greatly disappointed by the build quality of the flash though. For $340 I expected much better quality. I haven't see a flash for Pentax that has a better feature list though.

The flash is everything I expected and more. The wireless mode works flawlessly in typical Pentax fashion. It's quite easy to use, easier than I expected it to be. Very powerful and the P-TTL system works very well. I'd recommend this flash to all Pentax camera owners whose camera uses the P-TTL exposure control system.

For an amateur like myself, this has been a blessing. Having never worked with an off camera flash or a camera mounted auxillary flash, the guide along with some online sources has really helped me to let this flash enlighten my gallery.

Very capable flash. Great value when compared with after market units for Pentax DSLR's. Features like auto zoom that matches the lens focal length, wireless remote operation and P-TTL auto flash with trailing curtain sync make this flash a bargain at twice the price.

I bought this flash here in the USA because it is twice as cheap as in Russia. But I might have made a wrong decision anyway. This flash might produce beneficial results and be great in use (I haven't yet tested it or used it). BUT the quality of the build itself has a great flaw.

When you insert batteries the battery compartment door won't close. When it's not closed the batteries are not fully pressed in there and, consequently, the flash won't start. You have to either always keep your fingers tightly pressing the door, or use lots of adhesive material to keep it shut, otherwise the flash is totally inoperable.

What do I do now? Even if I send it back and they take it, by the moment anything is repaired or exchanged I might be out of country for good. And I highly doubt that Pentax authorised dealers in Russia take it for repairs or exchange there, since it was bought in the USA.

I am very disappointed not even having started to use it.

Purchased AF-360FGZ after being assured it will work in P-TTL auto zoom with Pentax K100D Super. First unit stuck in P-TTL manual zoom straight out of box, and will not recognize 18-55mm kit lens in manual zoom. Dealer was excellent in replacing it after Pentax Customer Service believe unit was defective. Brand new replacement unit behaved in exacly same manner staight out from box. Reading two of your owners reviews, I am satisfied, I am not the only person to have the same problem. Would have given it 5 star if it worked properly, as it is feature packed.