Pentax AF540FGZ Flash for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras

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 have an early model Pentax DSLR (K2000), which has a built in flash, but it's rather anemic. After researching add-on flashes for the hot-shoe on the camera, it seemed to me that I would either need to buy some kind of after-market strobe, or cross my fingers and hope to find a decent used Pentax strobe I could afford. Pentax's AF540FGZ is their top-of-the-line strobe, and new they start at about $400 and go up. Through Amazon I located a very nice used strobe at a camera dealer, and picked it up for a little over $200. I wasn't sure what would arrive in the box, but what was delivered was a perfect AF540FGZ. I believe the dealer that the unit is used, but I can't see any evidence of it. It works perfectly with my K2000, takes great pictures and is really a very versatile strobe light. I have an original Pentax SF1, with the then top-of-the-line AF400 strobe, which in and of itself is an excellent flash. But it works by way of TTL (through the lens) metering, and digital SLR s today use P-TTL. The oldAF400, though in perfect shape, won't work with the K2000. Here's the good part about all of this: The AF540FGZ is so versatile it can do TTL metering, so I can use it on any of my Pentax s, old or new. Great flash unit, really good price, and excellent service from the dealer I purchased from. If you're interested in one of these flashes, go for it! Happy hunting.

I love it, but of course its an older model, and they are onsale now because Pentax just release the version ii, which I would love to get but it's still very expensive. I love this version because of the external battery port which you can attach for faster recycling.

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.

very good product. I recommend

Flash d'une qualité professionnel fonctionne très bien avec une Pentax K-3, l'éclairage est puissant et précis, le seul problème : sabot en plastique

Il s'agit du Flash le plus puissant de la gamme Pentax, avec tous les perfectionnements et automatismes possibles.Il ne lui manque que la tropicalisation disponible dans sa nouvelle version.

Kein Stromfresser aber trotzdem ein bischen teuer, wenn man was gutes von Pentax will muss man dafür zahlen.Homogene Ausleuchtung auch ohne Difusor, Streulinse raus, Blitz rauf oder Entfesselt, alles kein Thema für den besten Blitz von Pentax.MFG

brilliant flash