Flash for a Pentax KM??

[shoot_me]

guys and gals im looking for a flash for my dslr pentax km but i only have £150. please could you give me some direction on what to look for.
chris

[chris-p]

Hi Chris

I can find a couple of options - you'll have to be looking at either used or third party for £150 though.

The Metz 36 AF-4 comes in Pentax fit and only costs £60-£70. Then there is the slightly more expensive Metz 48 AF-1 which is £175 which is over the budget.

Sigma do make a flash to fit but it's £200 (for info it's the EF 530 DG).

I don't know how much you know about flash (if you're like me then not a huge amount and want to have a go!) but comparing the Metz 36 AF-4 with the cheapest new Pentax own flash (the AF 360 FGZ) there isn't much in it. They both have the same guide number so the Metz is just as powerful as the Pentax. The Metz supports P-TTL (the pre-flash based TTL metering that all modern Pentax's use) and there isn't much difference as far as I can see.

If you want some more info, a useful Pentax P-TTL flash comparison article is here and if (like me) you get confused between A-TTL, P-TTL, i-TTL etc then have a read of this forum post at DPReview.

[shoot_me]

what difference do you get in a flash??

[chris-p]

What do you mean? There isn't much difference on paper between the Metz 36 and the Pentax AF 360.

[shoot_me]

sorry chris what i mean what is the difference between a £75 flash and £200 flash. im pretty new to this so not clued up. just thought a flash was a flash lol

[chris-p]

Ah, OK. Well I don't know a huge amount about flashes either but one thing you're definitely paying for is the name. A Pentax flash costs more because it's a Pentax flash. Third party makers are pretty much always cheaper.

As I said above, I can't see much difference between the Metz 36 and the Pentax AF 360. One of the most important things is power which is measured by the guide number and both these flashes have the same GN.

The one thing you will always get with a own brand flash is complete compatibility but the Metz also supports P-TTL so you get all the fully automatic modes (just like you would with the Pentax one).

Looks like a bargain to me...