Pentax AF 500FTZ Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax

Perfect mate for ZX5/5N

The best reason to buy this flash is that you own a Pentax auto film camera such as the ZX5/5N. As such you can use this flash to enhance you flash photography. I don't think anyone can be totally happy with only the pop up flash. If you want to get away from hot spots in your photos the AF500FTZ is the way to go. Its simple and easy to operate. One does not have to go to manual operation of this flash unless you want to. Just set it to auto and that's all you really need to do. The new Pentax flash units did away with auto, so I think this unit could be easier to use than the newer ones, if you have a camera that will mate to it. I also own a K 50 and I can get beautiful photos with this flash. All buttons are laid out nicely and they are self explanatory to anyone who's owned a flash. The recycling time for this flash is a null point for me because I'm not a pro and don't need 3 seconds to fire my next shot. With good batteries recycle time is about 7-10 seconds. Also, I love the bounce and tilt functions of this flash. With this flash, your photos will make you forget the pop up flash is even there. Don't use mine anymore. Now, for the negative if there is one, this flash do make your camera very top heavy, so be careful when you lay it down. Please exercise care when installing the batteries and you'll not have any problems with the door. Mine works just fine. I hope this can help other Pentax lovers in their quest for better photography.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: robertscamera

Clarifications:

The flash is easy to use as a slave, and on a Pentax 645n. I can't comment on other configurations.

I have no way to easily measure output consistency, but these are well-regarded flashes. Works for TTL.

Recycle is normally about 8 seconds on its A-cells and about 2 seconds using a Quantum Turbo battery and appropriate cable to feed 330V directly to the flash capacitor.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: bummesasak_0

A flash to light up the room!

My new camera came with a built in FLASH, I find it is good for fill FLASH. This will be good for bounced flash. Since I rarely use a FLASH (particularly with a camera as fast as the Pentax K-70) it did not need to be a new one, just one for the rare cases when I have a need for it. Bounce flash gives a nice soft look to a picture. My last 2 SLRs were Film SLRs. I get 5,000 pictures to a digital roll, rather then 12-36 photos as with film!

So for my use, this is an excellent FLASH! Being used just makes it cheaper. It was designed for the 645, but works just as well with the k-70!Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: ripple

PENTAX AF500FTZ

I find this flash very useful to work with because it's quick and easy to use, has several power outputs, zoom positions, a swivelling head and above all it always stays on when used in "SLAVE" mode: an essential feature for a nature photographer as myself - many more modern flashes automatically turn themselves off after a few minutes, and there is no way of avoiding it!Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: skc125

great value for little money

Great TTL flash for film cameras, and it can be used as a slave flash. The only problems are the battery consumption and the long recycle time

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: tccamera

Pentax AF500 Flash

Very good buy for the money. Works great. Looking forward to using with FlashQ Triggers.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: robertscamera

Fine Auto Flash

The auto functions are great. Use it with a Pentax Nii film camera. Lots of capability that's easy to implement.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: fainan8741

Pentax quality

Great flash for most situations.

Pentax AF500TZ

The flash is excellent, I liked it! I recommend!

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: puni-puni_japan...

It did not work on automatic, just manual, so I returned it.

It did not work on automatic only manual. So I returned it.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: robertscamera