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P-TTL is Pentax's preflash-based through-the-lens flash metering system. It's used by all current and recent Pentax digital SLR cameras to automatically obtain correct exposure for both camera-mounted flashes and wireless slave units. If you're interested in buying a Pentax-compatible flash, there are a lot of options to choose from. This site provides a comprehensive look at the different flash models available and explains in detail how they differ from one another.

There is a lot of information available here. Use the menu bar above or the side panel to get to specific information quickly, or just start reading right here.

Site Notes

March 2012: Chinese gear company Aokatec has announced a Pentax P-TTL compatible radio trigger system. It should be available at the end of the month; I plan to add details and a brief review to the accessories section of this site (which could use a revamp overall anyway).

March 2012: I'm working on a revamp of the Tumax sections, and of the Metz lower-end models.

Overview of Current Models

There are currently three hot shoe flashes made by Pentax which work with the P-TTL flash metering system, plus several from Metz, one from Sigma in two variations, five from Promaster, and several generic Chinese-made models marketed under many different names in several variants. And then there's some obsolete models still readily obtainable. That's a lot of choices! (And this site doesn't even cover generic non-P-TTL options.)

Official Pentax Models

Pentax currently makes three hot shoe flash models:

• AF200FG — a basic model with no advanced features; offers a little over three times the power of the built-in flash on the K10D or K2000/K-m, and about double that on the K20D, K200D, or new K-7. In the US, this flash is bundled in a kit with the K2000.

• AF360FGZ — a much nicer flash available at a good price. Many advanced features; the most notable lack is a swivel head for bouncing from the ceiling in portrait orientation.

• AF540FGZ — Pentax's top of the line model. Big and powerful, with the ability to connect an external power source for faster refresh times.

Pentax also makes a P-TTL ring flash for close-up work, the AF160FC. This is worth mentioning as part of the Pentax system, but since it's a specialty item it isn't covered on this site.

Samsung Rebadged Models

Samsung used to sell the Pentax AF360FGZ and the AF540FGZ as the SEF-36PZF and SEF-54PFZ. They are presumed to be functionally identical to their Pentax twins.

Pentax-compatible Samsung flashes were never sold in US stores, and since Samsung has dropped their partnership with Pentax, their newer hotshoe flashes for the NX series of cameras are not compatible with Pentax P-TTL.

Metz Dedicated P-TTL and SCA Models

German flash maker Metz historically used a system of interchangeable modules to provide compatibility with various camera systems, including Pentax's P-TTL. They still make some models that use that system, but they now have dedicated P-TTL flashes as well.

• 44 AF-1 — in some ways an upgrade from Pentax's AF360FGZ, with about 30% more power, a tilt/swivel head, and some advanced functionality. But, no HSS or rear-curtain sync. And, while the 44 AF-1 can function as an off-camera wireless slave it cannot act as a camera-mounted controller for other slaves.

• 50 AF-1 — effectively a small upgrade from Pentax's AF360FGZ, with about 60% more power, a tilt/swivel head, and equivalent advanced functionality (plus a few unique features). Like the 44 AF-1, the 50 AF-1 can function as an off-camera wireless slave but it cannot act as a camera-mounted controller for other slaves. This model improves on and replaces the popular 48 AF-1.

• 58 AF-2 — another completely-dedicated model, with top-tier power and the longest list of features of any Pentax-compatible flash. This is a minor upgrade from the previous 58 AF-1.

These flashes are available in versions specific to many different camera systems — Pentax P-TTL, Nikon CLS, Canon E-TTL, Olympus/Panasonic Micro Four Thirds, and Sony ADI. The physical differences are minor, but the flash units are dedicated, and can't be adapted or updated to work with a different system. Make sure to get the Pentax/P-TTL model.

Metz also offers the 24 AF-1 and 36 AF-5 (and previously the 36 AF-4). These flashes are made for Metz by Icorp/Tumax in China, but contain a Metz-developed firmware: Metz says they are "equipped with a special electronic technology which has been developed by Metz in Germany". These flashes basically correspond to the DSL28 Series and DSL88 Series Tumax flashes, respectively. (Currently these models are represented separately throughout this guide, but in a future update I plan to combine them.)

The Metz-branded versions of these flashes tend to be more expensive than shell-company brands like Vivitar (which is now just a name, unrelated to the original company). In exchange for that, you get Metz's support channels and whatever advantages their firmware offers; this may not be a bad deal at all.

The higher-end flashes, from the 44 AF-1 up, are made by Metz in Germany.

In addition to these "system-dedicated" models, there's the 54 MZ-4i. This flash is discontinued but some new stock is still available as of early 2012. This model requires the SCA 3702 adapter module with firmware M2 or later. With that module, the 54 MZ-4i has features roughly equivalent to the 58 AF-1, but slightly less flash power. It also can't do Pentax's P-TTL wireless, but can act as part of Metz's own wireless auto flash system. There is a slightly older version of the 54 MZ-4i without the i — the 54 MZ-4. The differences between the two primarily apply to Nikon and Olympus; for Pentax, they're interchangeable. This guide uses the name 54 MZ-4i simply because it's newer.

Additionally, there are two module-based Pentax-compatible models not covered here: the 45 CL-4 and the top-of-the-line 76 MZ-5. These are "hammerhead"-style flashes, designed to mount on a flash bracket and connect via a cable (included with the 76 MZ-5 but not the 45 CL-4) to the shoe-mounted SCA 3702 adapter.

Metz also makes a P-TTL ring flash, the Mecablitz 15 MS-1, which operates as a wireless P-TTL slave (which would allow an on-camera controller to also control additional slaves).

The 44 AF-1 and all higher "AF" models feature a USB port for in-the-field firmware upgrades. The lower-end models may need to be sent for factory service for compatibility upgrades to match future Pentax cameras. The 54 MZ-4i is upgradable via factory updates to the SCA module.

Metz flashes used to be much more expensive than their Pentax counterparts in the US, but as the prices of Pentax's lineup have risen, that's no longer true. And in Europe, Metz models are often relatively much cheaper. The US distributor for Metz is Manfrotto Distribution (formerly named Bogen Imaging).

Sigma Dedicated P-TTL Flashes

Sigma makes two almost-identical flash units:

• EF-610 DG ST — relatively inexpensive, but very powerful and capable.

• EF-610 DG Super — keeps the same high power and adds wireless P-TTL, high-speed sync, better manual control, and a few more features.

These flash models offer a lot of bang for the buck, both in terms of raw output (which tops the charts for P-TTL compatible flashes, excepting the Metz "hammerhead" 76 MZ-5) and, for the Super version, in features.

Sigma's older EF-530 DG ST and EF-530 DG Super models are basically the same, but with about a quarter less power. There are older-still EF-500 DG models as well, and again, the power is the only significant difference. These older flashes flashes may need to be sent to Sigma for a free firmware upgrade for complete compatibility with current Pentax camera bodies. Without it, the EF-500 DG Super won't work in wireless mode with the K10D and newer. It's possible that the current Sigma flashes may need similar updates for future Pentax models, but they operate just fine out-of-the-box with the K-r and K-5.

Sigma makes a macro ring flash as well, the EM-140 DG, which can act as a wireless P-TTL controller.

Promaster Dedicated P-TTL and Module-based Models

Promaster makes a series of P-TTL compatible flashes, and also has a module-based line. The module-based models require the 5050DXR/PX digital flash module.

Warning: The 7500EDF flash is the only model that works with the Pentax K-7, K-x, or K-r camera bodies. You will need at least firmware release V3-310, which should be the default in all currently-shipping units. Without this update, it will just fire at full power in all conditions. If you have an earlier version, the update can be performed (for free) by Promaster Service — contact them for details. In August 2010, Promaster stated that they were working on an update for the 7200EDF and 7400EDF, but more than a year later, that has not happened. Promaster has not tested the 7500EDF with the K-5.

• 5250DX — a very simple module-based model with a tilt head and non-zooming reflector.
• 5550DX — still basic, but this module-based flash adds a tilt and swivel head. This model appears to be out of production.
• 5750DX — a more powerful module-based flash with a non-motorized zoom and a secondary reflector.

• 7200EDF — a basic P-TTL-dedicated model, roughly comparable to the Pentax AF360FGZ in power.
• 7400EDF — another dedicated model, this one with a motorized zoom.
• 7500EDF — Promaster's top P-TTL-dedicated model which adds more power and features, including a swivel head and a secondary reflector.

As with the Sigma flashes, firmware upgrades (if available) must be performed at the factory.

And Promaster also has a macro ring flash, the MacroLume TTL Digital. This is module-based, and uses the same modules as the 5000-series flashes. Promaster informs me that modules and flash units shipped from the warehouse after August 2008 have the proper codes to communicate with then-current Pentax dSLRs, but that earlier copies may need to be sent in for an update. And see the note above: the K-7/K-x and newer don't work at all, although one can use the manual-control module instead.

Tumax and Look-Alikes, Under Many Names

There are a number of very similar "generic" flashes made in China and sold in the US under a number of different brands, including Sakar, Digital Concepts, Vivitar (all three brands of the same company); also Bell and Howell, Bower, Practika, and Cactus. If you find a flash not listed in this guide, odds are good it's actually one of these.

The current P-TTL-compatible models are:

• DSL28 Series — a small, entry level flash with a slightly-odd tilting reflector, for bounce but no swivel. DSL283AF, DSL286AF, and DSL288AF are alternative front designs, and it's also available as the Vivitar DF-183 and with slight variation as the Metz 24 AF-1.

• DSL88 Series — a very basic flash with a manual zoom reflector, with power equivalent to the Pentax AF360FGZ for half the price. Primarily famous as the Metz 36 AF-5 (with some differences from the Tumax-branded model). This model tilts for bounce but does not swivel side to side; the very-similar DSL98 Series, sold as the Vivitar DF-283, adds that (and a bit more power).

• DPT3 Series — this model (and variations) has been around the longest and is probably the most common. DPT383AFZ, DPT386AFZ, and DPT388AFZ are variations — or Vivitar DF-383 and Cactus AF45. The feature list is pretty good, with bounce and swivel, rear curtain sync, and some level of manual control.

• DPT5 Series — a very interesting new entrant, because it adds wireless P-TTL and a USB port for potential firmware updates for compatibility. Variants are the DPT586AFZ and DPT588AFZ, and it's sold as Vivitar DF-483 (they'd already used up 5xx for a ring flash) and Cactus AF50.

It appears that the maker of all of these units, regardless of label, is Icorp Enterprises of Hong Kong. The familiar appearance and specifications can be found on the page of products carrying Icorp's own "Tumax" brand, and the corporate web page says:

In addition to producing our own merchandise, we also offer customized design service and the manufacture of private label products to suit the needs of our clients. OEM and ODM customers are welcome.

This is confusing, but I've attempted to sort out the models in a table of OEM models.

Recently, Hong Kong company Harvest One has begun selling these flashes under their Cactus brand through their Gadget Infinity store. In general, I try to keep this guide neutral, but the plain fact is that the Cactus and Metz customer service people are, by a huge margin, the most helpful and responsive of any reseller of these flashes, and since these flashes do sometimes have quality issues, that's very valuable. (Be aware, though, that if you get a bad unit, the Gadget Infinity policy is for you to pay for return shipping to Hong Kong, a risk which obviously decreases the value proposition.)

Cactus is also straightforward with what they are doing; other companies, like Sakar and Bluestar, are effectively brand-management shell companies which bought out classic names like Vivitar and Bell and Howell as marketing gimmicks. Metz was more coy but eventually admitted the connection. However, they strongly emphasize that they develop a custom firmware ("equipped with a special electronic technology which has been developed by Metz in Germany"), and I generally trust Metz as a company.

Note: There's at are reports of incompatibility with the Pentax K-5 and of incompatibility with the Pentax K-r. Following previous patterns, newer models which works with newer cameras have silently made it to market — with no announcement or easy way to distinguish between compatible and non-working models. Make sure you double check before purchase, and buy from somewhere with a good returns policy, in case you happen to get an older unit.

Very old models of the DPT3-series flash don't even have P-TTL support, instead using the older Pentax TTL protocol. I am not aware of a good way to tell which it will be without testing.

Detailed Information

Continue on to read about features, flash power, or other flash details.