Af500ftz and cactus v6?

**UncleVanya** · 01-01-2017, 03:19 PM

Does anyone know if the cactus v6 can provide manual control of this flash?

Does the same apply to the v6ii trigger and can it remotely zoom the af500ftz?

Class A · 01-01-2017, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Does anyone know if the cactus v6 can provide manual control of this flash?

Does the same apply to the v6ii trigger and can it remotely zoom the af500ftz?

In this V6 compatibility compilation thread, the AF-500 FTZ is listed as "not working".

In order to work with the V6II, a flash needs to support P-TTL (or another supported digital flash protocol), which the AF-500 FTZ unfortunately does not.

**UncleVanya** · 01-01-2017, 07:56 PM

So v6 works with analog TTL sometimes and v6ii requires digital TTL Formats?

stevebrot · 01-01-2017, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

So v6 works with analog TTL sometimes and v6ii requires digital TTL Formats?

I did a little research on your original question and from what I can tell, the AF500FTZ provides a limited number of things that may be controlled through the hot shoe or 5P sync cable. Those are:

Real time flash duration (~~OTF TTL bodies only~~ Edit: OTF digital TTL bodies only)
AF Assist lamp
Auto-zoom

Unless the trigger is able to emulate ~~either analog or~~ digital TTL, there is no way to attenuate the AF500FTZ through the hot shoe.

Steve

Last edited by stevebrot; 01-02-2017 at 09:57 AM. Reason: Correction regarding analog TTL support

Class A · 01-02-2017, 05:07 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

So v6 works with analog TTL sometimes and v6ii requires digital TTL Formats?

Yes.

The V6 works with many analogue TTL flashes from different flash systems, even when it does not have a predefined power profile for them.

Either one uses another existing profile (from a flash with a similar guide number) or one creates a custom profile through the profile creation function.

I'd say TTL flashes that do not work with the V6 are the exception rather than the rule, but they do exist.

Unfortunately, I have no insight into why some flashes don't work.

**UncleVanya** · 01-02-2017, 08:10 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Unless the trigger is able to emulate either analog or digital TTL, there is no way to attenuate the AF500FTZ through the hot shoe.

Isn't emulating analog ttl exactly what the v6 is supposed to do? I appreciate the effort on the research. I am likely to add some nikon sb-24/6/8 type units to the arsenal and not worry about this too much.

stevebrot · 01-02-2017, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Isn't emulating analog ttl exactly what the v6 is supposed to do?

Class A addressed this nicely. As near as I can tell, the problem lies with the AF500FTZ and supported protocols. I went back to the flash manual and found this gem on page 10, "When mounted on non-KAF2 or KAF cameras, the AF500FTZ works only in the manual mode and dedicated/TTL operation is not possible." There are three Pentax TTL flash protocols: 1) analog TTL, 2) digital TTL, and 3) digital P-TTL. The AF500FTZ apparently only supports #2.*

I have edited my previous post to reflect this.

Steve

* My Sigma EF 610 DG Super has a similar limitation and is also on the V6 "Don't Work" list. It supports digital TTL/P-TTL, but not analog TTL

Last edited by stevebrot; 01-02-2017 at 10:03 AM.

**UncleVanya** · 01-02-2017, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Class A addressed this nicely. As near as I can tell, the problem lies with the AF500FTZ and supported protocols. I went back to the flash manual and found this gem on page 10, "When mounted on non-KAF2 or KAF cameras, the AF500FTZ works only in the manual mode and dedicated/TTL operation is not possible." There are three Pentax TTL flash protocols: 1) analog TTL, 2) digital TTL, and 3) digital P-TTL. The AF500FTZ apparently only supports #2.*

I have edited my previous post to reflect this.

Steve

* My Sigma EF 610 DG Super has a similar limitation and is also on the V6 "Don't Work" list. It supports digital TTL/P-TTL, but not analog TTL

Thanks for clarifying this. Does the v6ii work with it then since it supposedly supports digital ttl or is that only p-ttl?

01-01-2017, 03:19 PM	#1
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459	Af500ftz and cactus v6? Does anyone know if the cactus v6 can provide manual control of this flash? Does the same apply to the v6ii trigger and can it remotely zoom the af500ftz?

01-01-2017, 09:34 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by UncleVanya So v6 works with analog TTL sometimes and v6ii requires digital TTL Formats? I did a little research on your original question and from what I can tell, the AF500FTZ provides a limited number of things that may be controlled through the hot shoe or 5P sync cable. Those are: Real time flash duration (~~OTF TTL bodies only~~ Edit: OTF digital TTL bodies only) AF Assist lamp Auto-zoom Unless the trigger is able to emulate ~~either analog or~~ digital TTL, there is no way to attenuate the AF500FTZ through the hot shoe. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 01-02-2017 at 09:57 AM. Reason: Correction regarding analog TTL support

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01-01-2017, 07:26 PM	#2
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by UncleVanya Does anyone know if the cactus v6 can provide manual control of this flash? Does the same apply to the v6ii trigger and can it remotely zoom the af500ftz? In this V6 compatibility compilation thread, the AF-500 FTZ is listed as "not working". In order to work with the V6II, a flash needs to support P-TTL (or another supported digital flash protocol), which the AF-500 FTZ unfortunately does not.

01-01-2017, 07:56 PM	#3
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459 Original Poster	So v6 works with analog TTL sometimes and v6ii requires digital TTL Formats?

01-02-2017, 05:07 AM	#5
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by UncleVanya So v6 works with analog TTL sometimes and v6ii requires digital TTL Formats? Yes. The V6 works with many analogue TTL flashes from different flash systems, even when it does not have a predefined power profile for them. Either one uses another existing profile (from a flash with a similar guide number) or one creates a custom profile through the profile creation function. I'd say TTL flashes that do not work with the V6 are the exception rather than the rule, but they do exist. Unfortunately, I have no insight into why some flashes don't work.

01-02-2017, 08:10 AM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Unless the trigger is able to emulate either analog or digital TTL, there is no way to attenuate the AF500FTZ through the hot shoe. Isn't emulating analog ttl exactly what the v6 is supposed to do? I appreciate the effort on the research. I am likely to add some nikon sb-24/6/8 type units to the arsenal and not worry about this too much.

01-02-2017, 09:53 AM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by UncleVanya Isn't emulating analog ttl exactly what the v6 is supposed to do? Class A addressed this nicely. As near as I can tell, the problem lies with the AF500FTZ and supported protocols. I went back to the flash manual and found this gem on page 10, "When mounted on non-KAF2 or KAF cameras, the AF500FTZ works only in the manual mode and dedicated/TTL operation is not possible." There are three Pentax TTL flash protocols: 1) analog TTL, 2) digital TTL, and 3) digital P-TTL. The AF500FTZ apparently only supports #2.* I have edited my previous post to reflect this. Steve * My Sigma EF 610 DG Super has a similar limitation and is also on the V6 "Don't Work" list. It supports digital TTL/P-TTL, but not analog TTL Last edited by stevebrot; 01-02-2017 at 10:03 AM.

01-02-2017, 10:05 AM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Class A addressed this nicely. As near as I can tell, the problem lies with the AF500FTZ and supported protocols. I went back to the flash manual and found this gem on page 10, "When mounted on non-KAF2 or KAF cameras, the AF500FTZ works only in the manual mode and dedicated/TTL operation is not possible." There are three Pentax TTL flash protocols: 1) analog TTL, 2) digital TTL, and 3) digital P-TTL. The AF500FTZ apparently only supports #2.* I have edited my previous post to reflect this. Steve * My Sigma EF 610 DG Super has a similar limitation and is also on the V6 "Don't Work" list. It supports digital TTL/P-TTL, but not analog TTL Thanks for clarifying this. Does the v6ii work with it then since it supposedly supports digital ttl or is that only p-ttl?