Pentax 645z and leaf shutter lenses - any success?

salpardido · 11-25-2014, 04:58 PM

Has anybody here successfully used a leaf shutter lens with their 645z?
I just got a 75mm LS lens and can't get it to sync properly at the fast sync speeds. At 1/500 I only get a tiny sliver of the frame exposed at the bottom or a completely dark frame. At 1/250 about a third of the frame and at 1/125 about 2/3rds of the frame exposed (or completely dark). 1/60 works fine. The camera displays the LS symbol when I'm in leaf shutter mode, so it should be shooting at 1/8th of a second. I can't manually dial in a longer shutter speed, also no bulb mode. Seems like to me that the leaf shutter opens while the focal plane shutter is till moving. Wish I'd have another camera to test the lens with.
Looking forward to hear from anybody about their experience with this combo.

bull drinkwater · 12-04-2014, 05:27 AM

I too have the 75mm ls, I have been using it successfully on my 645d. i've shot up to 1/500 sec with and without A flash with no problems. just remember to cock the shutter. aperture determines camera to subject distance.

rob8888 · 12-06-2014, 02:19 PM

I've got both the 75mm LS and 135mm LS. Both seem to work fine on the 645z. My 135mm is a sharp little lens too.

-Linus- · 12-07-2014, 05:46 AM

With the 135LS & 645D no problems.
Have You tested the lens mechanical?
Take the lens only, set the aperture to f16, set the speed to 1/60, cock the shutter, watch through the lens from mount side an slowly press the aperture lever on the mount.
At beginning the aperture should be open.
While moving the lever the aperture should move to f16, the shutter should close, then open for 1/60 and stay closed until you cock it again.

-Linus-

Last edited by -Linus-; 12-07-2014 at 11:14 AM.

salpardido · 12-07-2014, 03:26 PM

Thanks for the feedback everybody. Good to hear that the LS lenses do work on the 645z. Thanks -Linus- for the lens testing advice. Looks like the leaf shutter is working and I may have Pentax take a look at the camera.

rob8888 · 12-08-2014, 12:29 AM

Did my 1st commercial outdoor portrait shoot today with the 135mm LS and 645z. Fantastic to have a 1/500th sync, esp with the bright sun.

Had expected the shutter re-cocking to be a hassle, but, I was shooting handheld and it became instinctive & quick after about 2mins with my focussing hand.

Overall very happy with technique and IQ. I think I'll use this in preference to the FA150mm for this type of work.

obsoquasi · 12-09-2014, 04:48 AM

Could you guys explain what exactly you mean by "cock or re-cock the shutter". How exactly does one have to proceed in order to profit from the LS lenses? Asking out of curiosity.

ndevlin · 12-09-2014, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by obsoquasi

Could you guys explain what exactly you mean by "cock or re-cock the shutter". How exactly does one have to proceed in order to profit from the LS lenses? Asking out of curiosity.

There is a ring around the front of the lens that physically cocks the leaf shutter by being turned about 90 degrees counter clockwise. You have to do it after every shot, which is a pain, as these are manual, not electronic leaf shutters.

My experience with the 135mm LS mirrors that described above -- it's razor sharp.

**jackinkc** · 12-10-2014, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by salpardido

Has anybody here successfully used a leaf shutter lens with their 645z?
I just got a 75mm LS lens and can't get it to sync properly at the fast sync speeds. At 1/500 I only get a tiny sliver of the frame exposed at the bottom or a completely dark frame. At 1/250 about a third of the frame and at 1/125 about 2/3rds of the frame exposed (or completely dark). 1/60 works fine. The camera displays the LS symbol when I'm in leaf shutter mode, so it should be shooting at 1/8th of a second. I can't manually dial in a longer shutter speed, also no bulb mode. Seems like to me that the leaf shutter opens while the focal plane shutter is till moving. Wish I'd have another camera to test the lens with.
Looking forward to hear from anybody about their experience with this combo.

This may be too simple, but have you cocked the leaf shutter? I have always had success with Pentax leaf shutter lenses

-Linus- · 12-12-2014, 12:52 PM

The other questions is,
have You used constant, natural light or a shoe-mount flash?
My first try with a Sigma EF500 gave me to dark results. I took the Metz 54MZ2 did work correct. I both cases I connected the flash to the lens with an hot-shoe to x-connector adapter.
Since the Metz did work correct I never tried the Sigma again.

-Linus-

salpardido · 12-16-2014, 08:21 PM

Originally posted by -Linus-

The other questions is,
have You used constant, natural light or a shoe-mount flash?
My first try with a Sigma EF500 gave me to dark results. I took the Metz 54MZ2 did work correct. I both cases I connected the flash to the lens with an hot-shoe to x-connector adapter.
Since the Metz did work correct I never tried the Sigma again.

-Linus-

Tested it with available light, studio strobes and on camera flash. All the same results.

ChrisSaunders · 05-19-2015, 03:57 AM

Originally posted by salpardido

Tested it with available light, studio strobes and on camera flash. All the same results.

Hi Salpardido, any update on this. I have the same issue with my 645z and wondering if this is a lense issue or camera body issue. Did you get your camera checked out?

salpardido · 05-20-2015, 07:17 AM

No success yet. The repair place that Ricoh uses says the lens checks out OK. In the meantime I've tested the lens on three different bodies and it's the same issue on all three. Little baffled. Ricoh US is checking in with Japan now to see if they have some insight. I'll keep you posted. Haven't send in my camera because I'm using it all the time and it's working fine.

ChrisSaunders2 · 05-21-2015, 07:00 PM

repeat of post in similar thread.

Hi all - sorry for the change in user name - login issues!

I think I have solved this by placing some tape over the lens contacts so the camera goes into dumb mode. I then put camera into manual, set a shutter speed of 1/8 sec as per what is meant to happen in LS mode and then chose the aperture and leaf shutter speed on the lens. And presto - all works great.

A cheap fix and one that doesn't really change work flow too much.

Let me know if it works for you.

Chris

salpardido · 05-21-2015, 11:33 PM

Chris! You are a hero. This works. Thanks so much for the tip. Amazing! I hope there'll be a firmware update in the future so that we can simply select shutter speed when a leaf shutter lens is attached.
At first when I covered all 4 lens contacts on my 75mm LS lens the camera wouldn't turn on. Then I covered only the individual one that's all the way on the left and that did the trick.

11-25-2014, 04:58 PM	#1
salpardido New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 10	Pentax 645z and leaf shutter lenses - any success? Has anybody here successfully used a leaf shutter lens with their 645z? I just got a 75mm LS lens and can't get it to sync properly at the fast sync speeds. At 1/500 I only get a tiny sliver of the frame exposed at the bottom or a completely dark frame. At 1/250 about a third of the frame and at 1/125 about 2/3rds of the frame exposed (or completely dark). 1/60 works fine. The camera displays the LS symbol when I'm in leaf shutter mode, so it should be shooting at 1/8th of a second. I can't manually dial in a longer shutter speed, also no bulb mode. Seems like to me that the leaf shutter opens while the focal plane shutter is till moving. Wish I'd have another camera to test the lens with. Looking forward to hear from anybody about their experience with this combo.

12-08-2014, 12:29 AM	#6
rob8888 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 73	Pentax 645z and leaf shutter lenses - any success? Did my 1st commercial outdoor portrait shoot today with the 135mm LS and 645z. Fantastic to have a 1/500th sync, esp with the bright sun. Had expected the shutter re-cocking to be a hassle, but, I was shooting handheld and it became instinctive & quick after about 2mins with my focussing hand. Overall very happy with technique and IQ. I think I'll use this in preference to the FA150mm for this type of work. Last edited by rob8888; 12-08-2014 at 01:35 AM.

12-09-2014, 04:48 AM	#7
obsoquasi New Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Zurich Posts: 19	please explain Could you guys explain what exactly you mean by "cock or re-cock the shutter". How exactly does one have to proceed in order to profit from the LS lenses? Asking out of curiosity.

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12-04-2014, 05:27 AM	#2
bull drinkwater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: pontiac mi. Posts: 392	I too have the 75mm ls, I have been using it successfully on my 645d. i've shot up to 1/500 sec with and without A flash with no problems. just remember to cock the shutter. aperture determines camera to subject distance.

12-06-2014, 02:19 PM	#3
rob8888 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 73	I've got both the 75mm LS and 135mm LS. Both seem to work fine on the 645z. My 135mm is a sharp little lens too.

12-07-2014, 05:46 AM	#4
-Linus- Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Münsterland Posts: 139	With the 135LS & 645D no problems. Have You tested the lens mechanical? Take the lens only, set the aperture to f16, set the speed to 1/60, cock the shutter, watch through the lens from mount side an slowly press the aperture lever on the mount. At beginning the aperture should be open. While moving the lever the aperture should move to f16, the shutter should close, then open for 1/60 and stay closed until you cock it again. -Linus- Last edited by -Linus-; 12-07-2014 at 11:14 AM.

12-07-2014, 03:26 PM	#5
salpardido New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thanks for the feedback everybody. Good to hear that the LS lenses do work on the 645z. Thanks -Linus- for the lens testing advice. Looks like the leaf shutter is working and I may have Pentax take a look at the camera.

12-09-2014, 08:26 AM	#8
ndevlin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 132	Originally posted by obsoquasi Could you guys explain what exactly you mean by "cock or re-cock the shutter". How exactly does one have to proceed in order to profit from the LS lenses? Asking out of curiosity. There is a ring around the front of the lens that physically cocks the leaf shutter by being turned about 90 degrees counter clockwise. You have to do it after every shot, which is a pain, as these are manual, not electronic leaf shutters. My experience with the 135mm LS mirrors that described above -- it's razor sharp.

12-10-2014, 11:49 AM	#9
jackinkc Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 118	Originally posted by salpardido Has anybody here successfully used a leaf shutter lens with their 645z? I just got a 75mm LS lens and can't get it to sync properly at the fast sync speeds. At 1/500 I only get a tiny sliver of the frame exposed at the bottom or a completely dark frame. At 1/250 about a third of the frame and at 1/125 about 2/3rds of the frame exposed (or completely dark). 1/60 works fine. The camera displays the LS symbol when I'm in leaf shutter mode, so it should be shooting at 1/8th of a second. I can't manually dial in a longer shutter speed, also no bulb mode. Seems like to me that the leaf shutter opens while the focal plane shutter is till moving. Wish I'd have another camera to test the lens with. Looking forward to hear from anybody about their experience with this combo. This may be too simple, but have you cocked the leaf shutter? I have always had success with Pentax leaf shutter lenses

12-12-2014, 12:52 PM	#10
-Linus- Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Münsterland Posts: 139	The other questions is, have You used constant, natural light or a shoe-mount flash? My first try with a Sigma EF500 gave me to dark results. I took the Metz 54MZ2 did work correct. I both cases I connected the flash to the lens with an hot-shoe to x-connector adapter. Since the Metz did work correct I never tried the Sigma again. -Linus-

12-16-2014, 08:21 PM	#11
salpardido New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 10 Original Poster	Originally posted by -Linus- The other questions is, have You used constant, natural light or a shoe-mount flash? My first try with a Sigma EF500 gave me to dark results. I took the Metz 54MZ2 did work correct. I both cases I connected the flash to the lens with an hot-shoe to x-connector adapter. Since the Metz did work correct I never tried the Sigma again. -Linus- Tested it with available light, studio strobes and on camera flash. All the same results.

05-19-2015, 03:57 AM	#12
ChrisSaunders New Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 2	Originally posted by salpardido Tested it with available light, studio strobes and on camera flash. All the same results. Hi Salpardido, any update on this. I have the same issue with my 645z and wondering if this is a lense issue or camera body issue. Did you get your camera checked out?

05-20-2015, 07:17 AM	#13
salpardido New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 10 Original Poster	No success yet. The repair place that Ricoh uses says the lens checks out OK. In the meantime I've tested the lens on three different bodies and it's the same issue on all three. Little baffled. Ricoh US is checking in with Japan now to see if they have some insight. I'll keep you posted. Haven't send in my camera because I'm using it all the time and it's working fine.

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05-21-2015, 07:00 PM	#14
ChrisSaunders2 New Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 2	repeat of post in similar thread. Hi all - sorry for the change in user name - login issues! I think I have solved this by placing some tape over the lens contacts so the camera goes into dumb mode. I then put camera into manual, set a shutter speed of 1/8 sec as per what is meant to happen in LS mode and then chose the aperture and leaf shutter speed on the lens. And presto - all works great. A cheap fix and one that doesn't really change work flow too much. Let me know if it works for you. Chris

05-21-2015, 11:33 PM	#15
salpardido New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 10 Original Poster	Chris! You are a hero. This works. Thanks so much for the tip. Amazing! I hope there'll be a firmware update in the future so that we can simply select shutter speed when a leaf shutter lens is attached. At first when I covered all 4 lens contacts on my 75mm LS lens the camera wouldn't turn on. Then I covered only the individual one that's all the way on the left and that did the trick.