Honestly, I’m getting pretty frustrated trying to find a decent flash for my GR IIIx. I’ve been scouring forums and most people just point to the Pentax AF201FG, but it’s honestly so pricey for what it is—and the lack of a swivel head is killing me. I tried a cheap generic manual trigger, but the sync speed is all over the place and I’m constantly missing shots while traveling. My style is mostly street portraits at night, and I just need something reliable that doesn't feel like a brick on top of such a tiny body. Is there anything compact that actually works well, or am I stuck with the Pentax? Also, does anyone know if the TTL actually behaves?
Adding my two cents—are you totally <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= opposed+to+a+sync+cable&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">opposed to a sync cable? If you want something tiny that actually packs a punch, try the Godox LUX Junior for a simple manual setup.
Rarely post but I saw this earlier and had to chime in. Regarding what #7 said about "Adding my two cents—are you totally <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= opposed+to+a+sync+cable&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">opposed to a sync cable?"—I tried the cable route for months and it’s a nightmare for street photography. You need a setup that stays on the camera. I eventually settled on these two for my GR IIIx: 1. Lightpix Labs FlashQ Q20II
- It has a detachable head for off-camera work and a built-in LED for video. It's tiny, but the plastic build feels a bit fragile.
- Godox TT350P TTL
- This is the best balance of size and power. It offers full TTL support, though it makes the camera front-heavy. Skip the overpriced Pentax options. The Godox TT350P TTL is the most reliable for street portraits where you can't afford to miss focus or exposure.
Oh man, I totally feel your pain. I spent months obsessing over sync speeds and testing every tiny unit I could find until my setup finally clicked. Check out the flash forums on DPReview...
I've been through three of these setups. Are you strictly needing TTL, or can you handle manual? Just look at small units from Godox, they usually get the job done.
Good to know!
bump
> I’m getting pretty frustrated trying to find a decent flash for my GR IIIx This comes up a lot. The Ricoh GR series uses a Pentax-compatible hot shoe, which is why people suggest the Pentax AF201FG Compact Flash. If you need a swivel head and TTL, look at the Lightpix Labs FlashQ Q20II. It is much smaller, has a tilting head, and the wireless trigger works reliably on the GR IIIx.
^ This. Also, what is your actual budget for this setup, and are you committed to using TTL or are you willing to learn manual flash settings for street work?
Building on the earlier suggestion, the TTL is honestly hit or miss on these tiny bodies. Just keep it manual if you want consistency at night.
- Sync issues usually come down to the trigger latency
- Practice your zone focusing instead Anyway, my neighbor just started keeping chickens in his backyard and the noise is driving me INSANE. Who gets chickens in a townhouse complex? but yeah.