MacRand

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5,
6 votes

Price Paid:  $299.00 from Adorama

Summary:
Pentax 500ftx is the ONLY flash to get if you have a Pentax camera, especially the *istD or DS, which work flawlessly together. The 500ftx also plays nice with my Pentax 645 and 35mm systems, so I get a lot of use. Recommend buying the Remote F, the short 1.5 and long 10' cables up front. Enjoy. Over exposure is no problem - just use Photoshop CS - Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight tool to balance any highlight or shadow, use it all the time. Be sure to download latest Pentax *istD firmware update http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/show_firmware?firmId=3 which permits use of 4GB+ CompactFlash or Microdrive memory, and speeds up photo procession, then download Remote Assistant, and update RAW, Browser & Laboratory software too. http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/show_software?softId=1

Strengths:
Quality, quality, quality. Typical for Pentax equipment. Great for architectural photography, inside and out, rooms small and large. DIGITAL yes! - don't miss film! Works well with my Mac iBook, including Pentax free Remote Assistant software that lets you control camera & flash from your laptop PC or Mac through the USB wire included with *istD. Instead of using cable for download into iBook, I remove the 2GB Microdrive (fast) and insert it into a Lexar firewire reader, which quickly dumps photos onto desktop.

Weaknesses:
Sucks juice, sucks juice, sucks juice! Yes, it is a battery hog. Have to have the Pentax external battery pack for good cycle and life, especially for weddings, sports, fashion shows or beauty pagents. Get ntax TR Power Pack II for AF-500FTZ Flash for about $130. If anyone finds better price than B&H, I need another 500. http://shopping.msn.com/eshopframe.aspx?merchId=2871&catId=368&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2fbnh%2fcontroller%2fhome%3fO%3dproductlist%26A%3ddetails%26Q%3d%26sku%3d41632%26is%3dREG%26kw%3dPETRPP2%26BI%3d143

Similar Products Used:
Pentax, Sunpak, & Quantum battery Suggest strongly using only Pentax flash with Pentax digital cameras, any money savings is not worth it.

Customer Service:
None in 40 years. Started with a Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic in 1965. USMC took me to Japan so I went nuts buying lenses (17mm fish to 300mm tele) and accessories (bellows).

pixdude

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $300.00 from In Japan

Summary:
My unit is a FIF-500 FTZ. But based on the specs and the other reviews, I think it is the exact same thing as its more recent incarnation (AF/500 FTZ) This is a very powerful Flash with guide number 50 (meters) at 85mm. It is also very well designed from a mechanical point of vue. The main problem I see is with fill-in control. Other vendors (Canon, Nikon) offer flashes that let you specify the fill-in ratio, which you usually set to about -1 stop or -1.3 stops. Can't do that with any Pentax Flashes and I think this is a drag. There's a work-around explained here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/af500ftz.shtml Also, it is true that it tends to overexpose on short distances. I usually bounce it off ceilings, which its great strength make adequate, so I don't often encounter the close overexposure problem.

Strengths:
Very strong. Well built.

Weaknesses:
Tends to overexpose on short distances Fill-in ratio only available through work-around.

Similar Products Used:
Minolta cobra Flash (Used in Manual mode with my Pentax camera).

Customer Service:
Owned it of about 13 years. Never had to have it serviced.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $249.00 from Vistek Toronto Canad

Summary:
Not that cheap but well made, rather light for it''s size. I need more range over the ViVitar 285 or Pentax AF330FTZ and after looking at the other flashes grabbed the Pentax, no regrets and the flash seems more powerful than the specs. I use the contrast control mode often and the built in slave is a plus as is the 5p socket and external battery option. Seems to over expose just a little. I''m giving it a 4 for value since a stand should have been incuded for slave use but features vs others this flash is equal to any major brands flash at the same price so overall a 5. All the otehr powerful shoe flashes seem to be battery eaters and this one is no different.

Strengths:
Good range, tilt and swivel, excellent compatability. I''ve shot over 100 rolls with this flash so far and after 7 months it''s going strong, the built in slave is great for side lighting and thr built in 5p socket is good for off camera "WIRED" use.

Weaknesses:
Battery muncher you must use NIMH rechargables and bring spares with you. No remote wireless TTL, no modeling lamp. Pentax should have included a stand for wireless use.

Similar Products Used:
Vivitar 285, Canon speedlights, Pentax AF330ftz

Customer Service:
not needed

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $284.00 from B&H

Summary:
The best Pentax flash unit for the PZ1-p or ZX5n. High Guide Number. Focus assist beam(IR). NOT a battery "sucker" if you buy lithium AAs.

Strengths:
Auto zoom. IR assist for low light focus. Powerful. Swivel head. Fast recycle with lithium AAs even after several rolls of film. Works great on PZ1-p with contrast control feature in conjunction with built-in flash. Easy to use. Handy backlit LCD control panel.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Pentax AF200T flash, ME Super, SuperProgram,ZX5n, PZ1-p,many fine Pentax lenses.

Customer Service:
Never needed except for literature requests. Always courteous and quick to respond.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
6 votes

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Some shop in Moscow

Summary:
Very good dedicated Pentax flash for serious indoor photography.

Strengths:
The best Pentax flash with all I need, especially rotating head and AF IR lamp.

Weaknesses:
None so far; I cannot say that it is battery-succer, maybe because I use rechargeable batteries.

Similar Products Used:
Nissin manual

Customer Service:
Never needed.