Pentax AF-500 FTZ TTL & K100D

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me if the Pentax AF-500 FTZ TTL flashgun is fully compatible with the K100D and if £50 is a fair price second hand?

TIA

I think it would work as long as you can work the flash on fully manual.

Some old flashes can apparently fry your digital camera because of the voltage, but I'm not sure how true this is. I don't want to try it with the 20yr old Metz that is lying about.

It works fine fully manual, meaning you have to make the calculations & settings for correct exposure.

The K10D lacks any and all TTL compatibility with any Pentax flash. I think only the *istD was TTL savvy.

The newer AF360/540FGZ's use PTTL instead.

I'd say £50 is a fair price if it's in good condition. The AF500FTZ is the only flash in the Pentax lineup (AFAIK) that can strobe (multiple flashes).

The 540 can strobe but, it is 6x more than what he can get the 500 for.

Thanks for the speedy reply guys.

Not particularly au fait with newer flash technology, saw it on eBay and thought it might be worth a bid, but will probably be better putting the money towards a new one.

The 540 can do a Modeling test which causes quick flashes for a second. But it can not strobe. This is a very dim and non-settable sequence.

The 500 can, I believe, set a number of flashes at a specific frequency for an effect like multiple exposure but using a single long exposure on the camera. (Don't know what other uses one might have for such a feature.)

Gashley, sorry, I just noticed you refer to the K100D, which also lacks any TTL capability, only PTTL.

Tyr, by strobe, I mean the flash can be set to produce several flash bursts on one exposure. How exactly do you achieve that with the 540?

Edit: Amoringello answered it. The AF540FGZ can't be used for strobed exposures.

Ah, ok... My misunderstanding.

Just as a thought,

in a darkened environment, or with alens closed right down, you set the body to "B" and use the modelling light as a strobe (handheld).. it would be pretty hit and miss to get the exposure right, but it could work.. I may give it a go and see what happens.

Cheers

Liam