The red 'focus' indicator only shows which focus point is being used. It does not confirm correct focus. I keep mine set to the centre focus point.

It is the green hexagon in the bottom of the viewfinder that shows confirmation of correct focus.

I find the best way to set the dioptre correctly is to remove the lens and fit a translucent body cap, or no body cap. Point the camera at a bright light source (not the sun), then adjust the dioptre until the framing lines are sharp. Then refit the lens and you are good to go and can be confident that it is set correctly.

It's worth checking the dioptre adjustment occasionally too.

To get the best out of manual flash, and to help you initially, it might be worth investing in a light/flash meter.

It should help you enormously to achieve the right exposure, then tweak your camera settings to achieve the desired result.

Your AF500FTZ is one of the most versatile TTL flashes ever produced by Pentax, but it's not P-TTL compatible and will not work in TTL/P-TTL auto modes.

That's no reason to get rid of it though. Just get used to using it manually.

The AF500FTZ will work in TTL mode on the earlier Pentax DSLR's, namely the *istD and *istDS, possibly some others also.

The AF500FTZ is I think the only Pentax flash that can 'strobe' several flashes in sequence.

Shhhhhhh, don't let everybody know how good Pentax is compared to Canon or Nikon, they'll all want one.

Firmware updates often contain undocumented bug fixes. There is no reason at all not to upgrade.

Sounds interesting, what is it you are after? Do want to borrow a Pentax Macro lens, or do you just want images taken with one?

I have an SMCP-FA 50mm 1:2.8 and a D-FA 100mm 1:2.8 Macro lens. I have also owned (and have always regretted selling) a SMCP-FA 100mm 1:2.8 Macro lens. I have plenty of images from all of them except the 50mm which I don't use very much at all. I think I also have some images taken with a SMCP-F 100mm 1:2.8 lens but it's optically the same as the FA version.

I'll help if I can, but I won't send my lenses to Swindon, sorry. You are welcome to any images you want as long as you acknowledge their origin in your work.

What's yours? God's Country? . . . Never heard of it.

If you fit a Winder MEII to your ME Super you could use the contacts on it's cable release socket somehow.

Beg, steal, or borrow a Pentax flash, any Pentax flash, that you can try on your hot shoe to eliminate that as the problem. Actually, better not steal one.

I bought a PT-04 system, a transmitter with three receivers. Two receivers have died and I'm left with one Tx and one Rx.

I've now replaced them with a Seculine T2D TwinLink system which works very well.

This one is an older MF version with a max aperture of f2.8. The newer AF lenses are f3.5.

This MF version does up to 1:2 (half life size) whereas the AF models do 1:1 (full life size).

For macro work, MF is preferable anyway. Greater magnifications can be achieved using extension tubes or bellows.

DISCLAIMER: I have no connection to the seller or interest in this item.