Another K-30 flash compatibility question

My cameras:
MX, MZ5, *istD, K-30
My flashes:
AF280T, AF400FTZ flash

My problem: everything worked fine until I bought the K-30! Can't get my flashes to work with it.

My diagnosis: neither of my flashes are P-TTL and the K-30 only does P-TTL (not olde TTL). Strange as the *istD worked fine but there you go.

My questions:
1. What new flashes are there which can do both P-TTL AND thyristor auto. Research suggests the 2 Pentax models (360 and 540) and the Metz 58 AF2 only. Am I missing something? Not that I'm fixated on auto, it's just I'd prefer not to give it up and always rely on P-TTL.
2. (and I'm sure this has been asked before) - any news on whether the Metz 58 has been tested with the K-30 (and presumably K-5II) - current Metz compatibility sheet implies they're still working on it.

Many thanks in advance for any tips!
Mike

I am no expert and do not use flash a great deal. However, I have not noticed any problems with the two older flashes I own af200T and af280t with the k30.

Also I believe that the *istD had TTL as well as P-TTL, was this the mode you were using?

Both your flashes should work on the K30 without problem. Set camera to Manual and select a shutter speed of 1/180 or longer and set the aperture according to the power selected on the flash Auto setting. I.E. let the flash control the exposure.

You are correct in your diagnosis but apparently P-TTL is far more reliable than it was at first.P-TTL and TTL were on the bodies up to the *Ist DS and DL and then TTL disappeared.

Thanks for the advice, I will try going for auto for now. With the *istD I had no idea which -TTL mode I was using it in, will now try to find out!

With the D it was TTL

Thanks again gartmore, I've just fired up the 280t in auto mode with the K30 on manual and of course you are absolutely right! I don't know if I'd ever have though of trying that. Now I just need to decide whether to spend £99 for a Sigma 610 or £250 for the Metz 58 just to me to play at switching between auto and p-total one the same flash. I think it's not really worth it.

Ps any idea whether the flashes are clever to read the aperture setting when auto mode, I read that the later digital models do this but perhaps not earlier models?