AF400FTZ or AF-360FGZ TTL with Pentax 645?

Anyone know if either the AF400FTZ or AF-360FGZ are compatible with TTL flash on the Pentax 645 (the original manual focus one)?

The 400 is. The 360 (doesn't have TTL, only P-TTL) isn't.

G

You must have had to much of gods water George, the 360 does indeed have TTL on a TTL body

The AF500FTZ would also be a good choice for the 645, take a peek at KEH, I just imported 2x for £150 including fast delivery, vat etc (only vat, no import duty applied by IR)

I do beg your pardon. Too much good cheer, methinks.

G
(In doghouse)

Thanks for the info, and from George. The reason I asked is that I already have both an AF400FTZ and an AF360FGZ so hoped I could use those.

I do have my eye on a few 645 lenses from KEH though!

You know, this is perhaps a bit more complicated. Recent 645 cameras can definitely use guns like the 400, but I am a bit worried that your 645 might be from the 4p era, not the 5p, in which case you could have a problem with cables if you want to mount the flash off the body.

But I am not sure when the 645 came out, and it might be that they are all 5p compatible.

G

I should have the camera soon so I'll find out then. I'm not too concerned about using the flash off-camera as I have studio lights anyway.

The 360FGZ seems to work fine in TTL with the 645 (I found an online manual that also states it should be compatible). I'll know for sure in a few days when I get the test film developed.

My 400FTZ doesn't seem to want to talk to the 645 though - that might be dirty contacts though.

To add to this... the AF360FGZ worked perfectly in TTL mode on the Z1 I had (my AF360 was one of the very early ones).

The AF360 and AF540 will determine the camera capabilities when connected. If the body only supports normal TTL then it'll do just that. For all the digital bodies it will use P-TTL only.

Matt

It works fine on my Z1p as well - with the flash mounted as switched it moved from P-TTL to TTL as soon as the shutter release button on the Z1p was pressed halfway.

The AF360FGZ is very good from a compatability point of view as it has TTL, P-TTL plus an auto mode - very useful e.g. when a K-mount lens is mounted on a K10D. The AF400FTZ on the other hand has only manual and TTL modes which limites its usefulness with the latest bodies. I thought it would make a good partner with the 645 though so I'll clean up the contacts and try it again.

I did one shot using TTL flash with the AF360FGZ on my first roll through the 645 and the combination worked well.

The manual foucus 645 is most definitely 4p, the recommended flash guns are the AF200Sa, AF200T, AF280T, AF080C and AF400T. It never occurred to me to try my AF400FTZ on it so I have just now.

The flash doesn't automatically change the shutter speed to 1/60th, there is no ready light in viewfinder or external display and no flash confirmation. Whether or not TTL works I cant say without running a roll of film through it but I suspect they just cant talk to one another.

The 'digital contact' (top right looking down on the hot shoe) is the one that communicates between later flashes and bodies transmitting information via a digital protocol. This of course is absent on the original 645.

I hope that helps.

Ken

That is useful Ken as that's exactly what I'm seeing on when my own AF400FTZ & 645 are connected.

I suppose it's fair enough given there is nothing in either the 400FTZ or 645 manuals to say they should work, however it does make it a little surprising that the later AF360FGZ works fine.

It is curious that the 360 seems to work, I'll be interested to hear how the pictures come out! Now, of course, I'm sitting at a table surrounded with bodies and flasguns trying out all sorts of combinations. My late 60s vintage Pentax flash works a treat with everything including the DS but I'd long forgotten, thankfully, the carry on about calculating exposures

I beg to differ

The AF360 connected on a 4P link will behave exactly like any other 4P flash gun. I've even used the AF360 on the *ist-D in TTL mode using a 4P link.

That said, if the AF360 has been previously used on a K10D (for example) the it will be "stuck" in P-TTL mode until it talks to a TTL only body (like an MZ10 etc). This may be the only sticking point when connecting onto a really old body that supports TTL only.

You only have to push the Mode button on the AF360... if you only get P-TTL then you have to "retrain" it on a body. If you get "TTL" as one of the modes then everything should be just fine and dandy

So, if the MF 645 supports TTL then I would say it will work with the AF360 and AF540.

Don't you just love Pentax compatibility!!
Matt