I own a K10D and a K200D, and the only P-TTL flash i own is a small Metz.
It is a true pity that every half decent DSLR camera does not support the old TTL flashes, because i have some very nice flashes i used with my LX for "macro hunting".
I used two configurations:
- one flash on the hot-shoe, and one (AF-400T) on a later bracket, with connection cord
- one of the previous flashes, and a Metz (33GN) fitted to the side of the lens, with a Novoflex bracket that screws on the filter thread
Sometimes i even used a very old ringflash, set at 1/4 power, together with the AF-400FTZ on-camera. As far as the manual flash does not over-expose, the TTL off-film reading works well anyway.
A similar setup can be used with either tubes or bellows. I prefer the latter, because it has a tripod attachment on the base rail, which i used to fit one of those handles with cable release.
It was a bulky and heavy outfit (especially using a bank with the AF-400T), but it was ideal for capturing small animals with scarce available light. Using the bank and/or a reflector, the lighting was very nice, and the results were often stunning.
I still like to shoot analog, especially in large formats (from 6x7 to 8x10"), but doing macros with a 35mm camera is definitely not my preferred pastime...
I understand that i could buy a cable, and use the new Metz (P-TTL) off-camera, together with the small retractable flash. I could try to reduce the output, and soften the light, by applying some kind of reflector/softener on the Metz.
Somehow i feel that such a setup would perform much worse than the old equipments i used with my LX or Super A, because it would be weaker and less flexible.
What do you think?
Considering the cost of powerful (and wireless compatible) P-TTL flashes, there could be a radical solution: buy a *ist camera compatible with my old flashes!
It's a 6 megapixel camera, but it would be cheap, and for sure not the kind of camera that you're scared to use under difficult conditions!
It would be for macro use only, so AF and speed would be of no concern.
I browsed many posts, looking for answers about the compatibility of *ist models, and i found that only D, DS and DS2 variants are TTL compatible.
From what i realized, all of them have some limitations.
The *ist D has just a minor issue: the RTF must be disabled when the camera is used with external TTL flash.
The *ist DS and DS2 seem to be usable only in manual mode, and with A lenses the diaphragm ring should not be kept on "A". On top of that, for a mysterious reason the very large apertures are not supported. I must say that i found a post which stated that TTL-flash was NOT working outside "A", so there are different opinions!
Before buying an old *ist body, i must know in advance if i'm missing something, and if there is a way to use a dual flash setup with a *ist D/DS/DS2.
I am also interested in the behavior of P-KA lenses, as i have two macro lenses (90mm and a 160mm) with electric contacts. Shorter focals would be used with tubes or bellows, that don't have the contacts, only the diaphragm lever which is not useful with digital bodies, AFAIK.
Any first-hand experience is very welcome. I've found conflicting reports, so i guess that somebody was not reporting his personal experience, but his personal interpretation of Pentax documentation.
Please excuse me if the answers have been already given many times; i did a search, but this forum is truly gigantic!
thanks in advance
Paolo
Last edited by cyberjunkie; 02-05-2013 at 01:12 AM.