After checking the weather in NYC for the next couple days (endless rain), it was clear that I was going to be stuck indoors for a little while.What am I to do, I wanna take photographs?!

This weather recently has really been putting a dent in my outdoor street photography schedule. Well, I had been considering purchasing a flash for a little while now to add to my kit for some good reasons.

1. I went to concert a while back and took about 100 photographs, none of them turned out.
2. I went to a loft party a couple weeks ago and took about 100 photographs, none of them turned out.
3. There are photographs in fashion and photography magazines that I see that I would be unable to attempt without a flash.
4. I have been reading tutorials about flash photography for the past month, and some of the effects you can do are amazing.
5. This time of year the weather often forces me indoors and my apartment is too dark to take photos in.
6. and finally. A flash makes light, and a photograph is captured light.

I borrowed one from a friend a while back, and absolutely loved taking flash photographs. I needed to get one, but which? Well, i have been really satisfied with all my Pentax gear so far, so I decided to stick with the brand. I look at equipment as an investment, and I want to make a good investment. Pentax makes three different flashes, the AF200FG, the AF360FGZ, and the AF540FGZ. After reading hundreds of reviews and testimonials this is what I concluded.

AF200FG

• The same as the built in flash, just more powerful (about 2 times more power than the k-x flash, from what I read)
• No advanced features
• About $150
• Not what I am looking for as a crucial part of my kit

AF360FGZ

• About 2x the power of the AF200FG
• Advanced features like auto zoom, meaning it is going to actually understand how my camera is set
• Adjustable head for bouncing the flash (to me a necessary feature)
• About $340
• Missing a swivel feature to use bounce flash in portrait mode (aww man, what a deal breaker!)

AF540FGZ

• Roughly 3x the power of the AF200FG
• Advanced features like auto zoom, meaning it is going to actually understand how my camera is set
• Adjustable head and swivel head for bouncing flash
• About $480
• Expensive, but as an investment, I want the best I can afford

Although I always sweat bullets when making a large purchase, I decided to purchase the AF540FGZ. It has advanced features, and is an exceptional flash. I would rather invest in a top of the line product, than purchase an adequate unit and have to eventually upgrade. I also noticed that for the past week or so it has been on sale at B&H and Adorama for $385. I set out to go pick one up, but B&H was sold out. Darn! I walked down to Adorama and they had 2 left in stock, one new, one demo model. I picked up the demo model for $360 and walked out a happy camper (even though I still sweat bullets). Now I have something to learn and play with during all this rain!

I’ll be posting some test shots soon to show the basic differences you can achieve, just by using a hotshoe flash.

Related posts:

1. Adjust your flash strength
2. Experimenting with a flash
3. Relative size of the AF-540FGZ
4. Looking for a new lens on a budget?
5. Tip: The Golden Hour