your thoughts on AF 500 FTZ flash

pentaxogrophy · 01-18-2008, 05:40 PM

I'm looking for a more powerful flash for my k10d. The 540 would meet my needs, but the price tag is a higher than I'm wanting to spend. I'm considering the AF 500 FTZ for it's swivel and bounce head along with guide number. I realize it's a TTL and doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the 540 or even 360, but I'm not too worried about that. I read it can do 2 frames per second at 1/16th power but what about at more power? Can anybody tell me how fast can this thing fire at 1/2 half power? Any other issues that you know about regarding this flash? Should I be considering a different flash?

Thanks,

Don

**Canada_Rockies** · 01-18-2008, 05:56 PM

It will only work in manual mode on the K10D - I have the flash and the camera. The K10D does not support TTL flash metering, and the AF500FTZ does not support Auto metering (there is no sensor on the flash), nor does it support P-TTL.

I wish it did.

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-18-2008, 08:14 PM

I would go straight for the AF540FGZ.

Unless you want to spend all your time doing flash calculations for every shot, forget a manual only solution.

Additionally the AF540 goes wider, to give the coverage for wider angle lenses with a drop down fresnel secondary lens.

The 540 also is fully backwards compatable with every camera pentax made, it can work in auto mode for the K1000, TTL for a more advanced film camera like a PZ1, and if you ever want to use flash on an older DSLR like an *istD with K mount lenses, the *istD will work with this flash in TTL mode

It really is a great unit. This is coming from someone who has both the AF500FTZ and the AF540FGZ.

pentaxogrophy · 01-19-2008, 07:00 PM

That's a good point about the wide angle. I'm not sure it will be a problem though since I bounce the light as much as possible. I currently own the 330 ftz and haven't had any problems with my kit lens set at 18mm. I'll eventually upgrade to the 16-50mm probably, but will it really be a problem if I bounce?

I really enjoy the manual side of photography. Its more fun to me to walk into a situation and figure out how to get the lighting to work out and create soft shadows.

So I guess I'm back to my original concern. How quickly can you 500 fire at something greater than 1/16th power? Is there much difference between the 540 and 500 regarding that?

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-19-2008, 07:48 PM

Originally posted by pentaxogrophy

That's a good point about the wide angle. I'm not sure it will be a problem though since I bounce the light as much as possible. I currently own the 330 ftz and haven't had any problems with my kit lens set at 18mm. I'll eventually upgrade to the 16-50mm probably, but will it really be a problem if I bounce?

I really enjoy the manual side of photography. Its more fun to me to walk into a situation and figure out how to get the lighting to work out and create soft shadows.

So I guess I'm back to my original concern. How quickly can you 500 fire at something greater than 1/16th power? Is there much difference between the 540 and 500 regarding that?

I think they are pretty much the same in recycle time. Essentually same GN an same power (batteries)

stewart_photo · 01-19-2008, 09:09 PM

Originally posted by pentaxogrophy

(snip) So I guess I'm back to my original concern. How quickly can your 500 fire at something greater than 1/16th power? Is there much difference between the 540 and 500 regarding that?

Since the AF-540 FGZ is a thyristor-style flash unit varying output and recycling times based on actual subject distance, scene brightness, and so on, those questions are nearly impossible to answer. The AF-540 FGZ is capable of high-speed sync with the K10D (working at the fastest shutter speed, providing part of your answer), but the number of actual consecutive shots in this or any other mode will vary greatly.

stewart

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-20-2008, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by stewart_photo

Since the AF-540 FGZ is a thyristor-style flash unit varying output and recycling times based on actual subject distance, scene brightness, and so on, those questions are nearly impossible to answer. The AF-540 FGZ is capable of high-speed sync with the K10D (working at the fastest shutter speed, providing part of your answer), but the number of actual consecutive shots in this or any other mode will vary greatly.

stewart

Stewart, true, but in high speed sync mode the flash is set to a much lower power, because it is flashing multiple times within the sweep of the shutter. This is all being done on the initial charge of the capacitor not based upon recycle rates.

the OP asked about recycle
At half power my AF 500FTZ can do 2 shots very quickly followed bu about a 3 second charge where it can do again 1 half power shot. my AF540FGZ seems about the same.

01-18-2008, 05:40 PM	#1
pentaxogrophy Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 2	your thoughts on AF 500 FTZ flash I'm looking for a more powerful flash for my k10d. The 540 would meet my needs, but the price tag is a higher than I'm wanting to spend. I'm considering the AF 500 FTZ for it's swivel and bounce head along with guide number. I realize it's a TTL and doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the 540 or even 360, but I'm not too worried about that. I read it can do 2 frames per second at 1/16th power but what about at more power? Can anybody tell me how fast can this thing fire at 1/2 half power? Any other issues that you know about regarding this flash? Should I be considering a different flash? Thanks, Don

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Quantum CN3 Turbo Power Cable for Pentax AF-500 FTZ flash	slawek	Sold Items	2	11-04-2009 05:05 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax AF-500 FTZ	Lanfriendly	Sold Items	2	12-28-2008 06:34 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax AF-500 FTZ Wireless Flash, Sync Cord 5P, Adapters, Power Pack	carpents	Sold Items	4	06-07-2008 12:56 PM

01-18-2008, 05:56 PM	#2
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	It will only work in manual mode on the K10D - I have the flash and the camera. The K10D does not support TTL flash metering, and the AF500FTZ does not support Auto metering (there is no sensor on the flash), nor does it support P-TTL. I wish it did.

01-18-2008, 08:14 PM	#3
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	I would go straight for the AF540FGZ. Unless you want to spend all your time doing flash calculations for every shot, forget a manual only solution. Additionally the AF540 goes wider, to give the coverage for wider angle lenses with a drop down fresnel secondary lens. The 540 also is fully backwards compatable with every camera pentax made, it can work in auto mode for the K1000, TTL for a more advanced film camera like a PZ1, and if you ever want to use flash on an older DSLR like an istD with K mount lenses, the istD will work with this flash in TTL mode It really is a great unit. This is coming from someone who has both the AF500FTZ and the AF540FGZ.

01-19-2008, 07:00 PM	#4
pentaxogrophy Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 2 Original Poster	That's a good point about the wide angle. I'm not sure it will be a problem though since I bounce the light as much as possible. I currently own the 330 ftz and haven't had any problems with my kit lens set at 18mm. I'll eventually upgrade to the 16-50mm probably, but will it really be a problem if I bounce? I really enjoy the manual side of photography. Its more fun to me to walk into a situation and figure out how to get the lighting to work out and create soft shadows. So I guess I'm back to my original concern. How quickly can you 500 fire at something greater than 1/16th power? Is there much difference between the 540 and 500 regarding that?

01-19-2008, 07:48 PM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by pentaxogrophy That's a good point about the wide angle. I'm not sure it will be a problem though since I bounce the light as much as possible. I currently own the 330 ftz and haven't had any problems with my kit lens set at 18mm. I'll eventually upgrade to the 16-50mm probably, but will it really be a problem if I bounce? I really enjoy the manual side of photography. Its more fun to me to walk into a situation and figure out how to get the lighting to work out and create soft shadows. So I guess I'm back to my original concern. How quickly can you 500 fire at something greater than 1/16th power? Is there much difference between the 540 and 500 regarding that? I think they are pretty much the same in recycle time. Essentually same GN an same power (batteries)

01-19-2008, 09:09 PM	#6
stewart_photo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 1,864	Originally posted by pentaxogrophy (snip) So I guess I'm back to my original concern. How quickly can your 500 fire at something greater than 1/16th power? Is there much difference between the 540 and 500 regarding that? Since the AF-540 FGZ is a thyristor-style flash unit varying output and recycling times based on actual subject distance, scene brightness, and so on, those questions are nearly impossible to answer. The AF-540 FGZ is capable of high-speed sync with the K10D (working at the fastest shutter speed, providing part of your answer), but the number of actual consecutive shots in this or any other mode will vary greatly. stewart

01-20-2008, 07:04 AM	#7
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by stewart_photo Since the AF-540 FGZ is a thyristor-style flash unit varying output and recycling times based on actual subject distance, scene brightness, and so on, those questions are nearly impossible to answer. The AF-540 FGZ is capable of high-speed sync with the K10D (working at the fastest shutter speed, providing part of your answer), but the number of actual consecutive shots in this or any other mode will vary greatly. stewart Stewart, true, but in high speed sync mode the flash is set to a much lower power, because it is flashing multiple times within the sweep of the shutter. This is all being done on the initial charge of the capacitor not based upon recycle rates. the OP asked about recycle At half power my AF 500FTZ can do 2 shots very quickly followed bu about a 3 second charge where it can do again 1 half power shot. my AF540FGZ seems about the same.