Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I'm a generalist shooter and use 2 of these (both purchased from Adorama) for everything from studio flash to fill flash at outdoor events to slow sync night shots. Hands down a fantastic flash. I use Cowboystudio RF flash triggers without a hitch. My only complaint is not being able to use manual flash mode with triggers (but that's probably a firmware issue with the Pentax camera(s)). Prior to RF triggers, I used them wirelessly with the camera's pop-up as control flash to trigger the 540s off-camera several feet away. The rotating head is especially useful here, as the head can be rotated while the flash can still "see" the pop from the control flash. I found the line-of-sight issue limiting, however, so went with RF. But wireless with pop-up is a good option for close, off-camera flash control. At full power, recycling time declines as batteries drain (of course), but I SELDOM use it at full power - so recycling time is not an issue until the AAs get low. I always use this with rechargeable AAs - never a power pack - and have great, reliable results. SB (spot beam) is handy for auto-focus assist with night shooting. Manual off-camera flash is great fun. Unless I'm shooting them through a soft box, I usually attach a Stofen Omni-Bounce for diffusion (use the one for a Metz 40 1i or 3i), and I typically have a Lee 1/2 CTO gel taped across the head to balance light temps. I use it as on-camera fill flash for event photography and dial the power back for natural looking fill flash. The wide and bounce cards stored in the head are handy when the flash is on-camera. I also like/use the auto-zoom feature often to shape the flash beam (wide card disables manual zoom function). I carry any extra one in a Think Tank Skin Strobe belt pouch when shooting events. So many creative possibilities with this flash. 2 thumbs up.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I like this flash, but I do not love it. It does everything OK, but it needs more power and faster recycling. The exposures are mostly right-on.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

This flash is great in every way, but don't buy the kit from Adorama that comes with rechargeable batteries. I spent more from Adorama than I could of on the flash somewhere else because this one also came with rechargeable batteries. However, those batteries are a bit bigger than others and DON'T FIT! Don't buy the kit unless this does not matter to you.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

We use this flash and the three other ones we own for weddings,outdoor portraits, and youth sports.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

As a wedding and event photographer I am usually shooting in poor lighting conditions and the ability to swivel and bounce the flash head allows me to use as a fill flash in large groups shot all the way up to getting up close and personal without washing out the shot with a bright flash. I can get 2 consecutive flash fired but never a 3rd so my only complaint would be the recycle time but I now own 2 of these flashes and I would highly reccomend it.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I use this flash mostly for general, everyday photography. The settings are easy to understand & it is easy to change settings quickly.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

This is my only flash so it gets used for about everything. It needs more power and control of the head, it turns on it's own and you find the flash head facing the floor. The cordless system needs some rethinking, if you turn off the camera to change cards you have to reprogram the flash and camera. That's ok for flowers but not so good at weddings atleast not for my style. I like the flash overall, the light is beautiful.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

This is THE flash for the Pentax K "family". Highly recommended.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I use the flash for just about everything, indoors, outdoors, has great colour tone, and works beautifully with my D10.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

Not being great with flash myself, I was able to get good results, especially with a diffuser. The flash pretty much runs itself, and I really like the off-camera wireless capability with my Pentax K20D.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

maybe too bulky, but nice finish

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I used this flash on my Pentax K200D to take pictures at a retirement party for the guests. This flash recycled fast, allowing me to continue and not lose any shots. The swivel and the bounce are equally matched for precision pictures, used with lumiquest diffusers. I have experienced no problems removing the flash as I have read in some of the reviews. This is a GREAT accompaniment for my camera and myself. Thank you Adorama for your reasonable pricing,extensive selection [...] I also am a nature hobbist and sometime this requires the flash as well

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

Great Match to the K20D!

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I'm just adding the Pentax dSLR lineup to my camera collection- I also shoot Canon.

Compared to the Canon 430EX, this 540FGZ is very large and takes up a lot room in your camera bag.

But on the other hand, it also has wireless capabilities that works off my K20D and I LOVE that!

I still use my 430EX via a PC cord to my K20D and use the 540FGZ in wireless mode.. and I'm loving the combo.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I have used it at 2 jobs (a party and a wedding)
and it performed very well. Fast recycle
and it handles the big group photos perfectly.
Bounce flash is some of the best I have taken.
Swivel flash head is perfect for all conditions.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

Haven't used it much yet; but so far exposures seem just about perfect on my K10D. I'm glad I went with the 540 instead of the 360, because of the extra features which I plan to use in the future. This flash is professional grade.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

At first, I was contemplating to just get the 360FGZ but the tilt & swivel function of this unit is worth the extra premium.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I have formerly used a simple lamp for analog (film) camera and after buying K20 I decided to have something matching the camera. I've gone too far. This lamp is far much more I expected. Took already a couple of photos but it works amazingly. And it's built superb. The head woks great 135 left and 180 right swing!
I am happy I have bought it!

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

INCREDIBLE PRODUCT... FANTASTIC

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

best flash

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

My first flash ever. Glad i bought this over the 360fgz since it has both tilt and swivel, which is very handy when taking portraits.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

Pentax is slowly getting back into pro level gear.The 540 flash is simply incredible.I regret not buying one much sooner.I also bought the Pentax TR PowerPack III(for with this flash). Not tried it out yet.[...] this flash is about [$]. If this flash was [$]I wouldconsider it a very good value. At [$] it's a bargain.Also check out the other Pentax pro level lenses such as the 31mm/43mm/77mm.What's next? Pentax digital 18-31mp 645? I hope!

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

Wished I had purchased this before the 360GZ

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

We bought the AF540FGZ flash unit to add to our new K10D kit. We needed a powerful flash to aid us in getting excellent exposures indoors during weddings. This flash unit has certainly delivered, we get consistently great results from it every time. The head swivels a total of 180 degrees side to side and just over 90 degrees up and down, this makes for great creative potential with flash bounce and diffusion. The PTTL system works excellently and the flash has a huge power output, making it ideal for those times when you can't get right up on your subject and need to shoot from a distance. We've used it to shoot little league soccer, portraits, and weddings and it hasn't let us down. It only strengthens our belief in the superior quality of Pentax made products.

One of the greatest features of this flash is it's ability to be controlled wirelessly by the camera. The other flash units we looked at when making our purchase required the use of at least two flashguns in order to be used wirelessly. One had to be mounted on the camera in order to trigger the ones that were off camera. Pentax has released a firmware update for the K10D that allows the built in flash on the camera to trigger the AF540FGZ, meaning that you can use the flash off camera even of you only own one unit. That's what finally tipped the scales in the Pentax's favor, and we're very glad we chose this product.

Very highly reccomended.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

This is a much better flash than it's little brother the 360 if only for two reasons... it's more powerful & it has a twist head! It works perfectly in wireless mode, as well as all the high speed, rear curtain, and other modes. It is also capable of contrast control mode, which I have never used but would really like to try! (requires the use of the flash extension cord and either another flash or the camera's built in flash) This flash can use the optional C powered battery pack, I find however, that you can get the same or better performance though with Energizer Li-ion AA's... there's no other battery to even consider! (this coming from a die-hard duracell man!) There's also a port to plug in the flash extention for contrast control using multiple flashes or to connect the camera to the flash for use on a bracket. Recharge time can be a little slow when full output is needed... as long as 3-4 seconds on new Li-ions after full output. A good cheat if you're taking snapshots is just to increase your ISO. The other complaint of Pentax DSLR P-TTL and TTL flashes would be consistant underexposure. This can be a problem under dark conditions, but is usually easily corrected by simply dialing in +1.0 flash compensation.
I would also suggest a 'STO-FEN' omni bounce flash diffuser for more flattering light. I also have a Gary Fong lightsphere that I like, it works wonders in small spaces, but in large open areas it dosen't have the power be used any way but pointing at the subject, and then the effect is the same as the omni bounce, and it's much more cumbersome.
If you're looking at a flash for your Pentax DSLR go for the 540! It's much more flash for the money! Whatever you do... have fun and be proud to shoot Pentax!!

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

Only this Flash is in taking a picture of the bounce.
There are enough quantities of light, too.
If it is this flash, it satisfies it without fail.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I am a hobby photog with a Pentax DS and I love the flash. It is exactly what I need and wanted.

Comments about Pentax Pentax AF-540FGZ Dedicated Shoe Mount Zoom Flash, Guide Number 148 at ISO 100.:

I use this flash for photographing fire damage under what can be described as less than ideal lighting conditions. Flash works perfectly, is easy to use and makes my job a lot easier