AF 500 FTZ and Super A

I Have an AF 500 FTZ flash from my MZ 5 N.
I have also a Super A and would like to know if I could use the two together ?

Many thanks from France (and excuse my bad English)

Hi,
As long as you use the flashgun in it's manual mode, there is no reason why it shouls not work with the Super A. The AF400FTZ certainly does and the manual says that you must use Mmanual mode with non KAF/KAF2 mount (ie Ka) cameras. It would certainly be safe to try.

Regards
Kim

Do you think I can put the speed on 1/125 and the apperture on 5,6 8 or 11 and the flash unit gives the good light ?

Merci

I badly expressed myself: think that the flash will automatically proportion the quantity of light in connection with the selected aperture?

Best regards

According to this site: http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/bodies/A/super.html
The Super A can do TTL flash
So just put the AF500FTZ on the camera, manually set the zoom, and leave it in TTL mode

Matt

OK many thanks Matt !

Hi Jean,
I am not sure if the 500FTZ will work in TTL flash mode with the Super A. The Super A does have TTL flash and it does work with the 400FTZ. However, the 400FTZ has a manual zoom on the flash head so you can run it in Auto with no problems. I haven't tried the 500FTZ so I may be wrong but as far as I understand it from the instructions, you have to set the 500FTZ to "manal" to set the zoom and I think this would also turn off the rest of the automatics including TTL flash. It would still work using the Auto range though. If you could try it and let us know it would be useful in case the question comes up again.

Regards
Kim

Kim,
According to the AF500FTZ manual (page , you can adjust the zoom with the "Zoom" button. Just manually set the zoom. This doesn't affect the exposure/meter mode.
(It's a similar interface to the AF360FTZ which allows zoom setting independantly of the mode.)
Matt

Hi Matt,
On page 10 of the manual it says "When mounted on a non KAF2 or KAF mount camera, the AF500FTZ works only in manual mode and dedicated/TTL operation is not possible." From this I would expect that it will not work TTL with the Super A. Unfortunately it does not explain why and I thought it might be something to do with the zoom head. From what you say, I don't know what the reason is and maybe you can get it to work which is why I asked the question if someone had tried it.

Regards
Kim

I stand corrected, Kim
I should've read on...

Will be interesting to know what the outcome is.
Matt

There are two different forms of TTL command protocol for Pentax Cameras. The Manual focus bodies (LX, Super A) use an analogue comand protocol. The AF cameras use a digital protocol, but can also use the analogue protocol.

Flashes designed for the manual bodies (without an F after the number) use the analogue protocol (e.g. AF280T, AF400T) offer TTL on all TTL bodies (including 645 and the 67II). Digital flashes do not have an analogue command mode (such as the AF400FTZ) will only offer TTL on AF bodies (including the AF 645. Not sure about the 67II but I suspect it has the digital protocol)

This makes the AF280T quite a useful acquisition and at c. £50 secondhand quite a bargain. And unlike the otherwise excellent AF360FGZ it has a swivel head.

Agreed; the 280 is an excellent flash. The AF240Z is good if you're really on a budget.

G

Hello,

Some time ago I had evoked here on the PDML, the question of compatibility between flash AF 500 FTZ and the cases old generation mainly Super A and Program A. Not having had a precise opinion, on the PDML several people made it clear that signal TTL was different on the recent cases type MZ from that of "A", I decided to make a series of tests.
1) With Super A and one 85 mm I put the flash in TTL and I took 5 pictures with 4 - 5,6 - 8 - 11 and 16 on a subject placed at 1,5 of the flash :

ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PERFECTLY EXPOSED!

2) Still under the same conditions I put the flash in manual mode at aperture 1:8 and I took 6 pictures at power 1/1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 and 1/32 :

ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PERFECTLY EXPOSED!

Incredible not? Still the proof that at Pentax they are really the kings of the upward compatibility and downward!

(Please excuse my bad and poor English)

Jean Francois