Originally posted by hll stewart
so we can use only the focus assistant beam (no flash i mean), if we want (when we use 540 or 360)???
Yes, page 56 of the flash manual for the AF-540 FGZ explains the four steps needed to do this...
1. Set the power swicth to the (ON) position.
2. Press the flash mode button (MODE) to select (SB).
3. Set the camera to an autofocus mode.
4. Press the shutter release button halfway down to let the AF spotbeam fire.
The note below says, "The flash does not fire when using the AF540FGZ spotbeam exclusively as a focusing aid."
Quote: btw i started the same topic in dpreview.com and Brad99 explained how to build a focus assistant:
If you're into DIY electronics then it should be possible as one of the contacts, the single one nearest the front, has a solid 3.9v signal there when a half-shutter press occurs, and stays there for some 20 or 30 seconds. There's also the normal centre contact pulse that would normally fire the flash, I presume that's a low going current sink for the flash's trigger voltage. I saw a brief 0.6v on a DVM but of course that's without a flash connected to provide a pull up voltage. So, the small contact could initiate the laser, and the beginning of the large centre contact pulse would turn the laser off. This centre pin signal would have to be latched. One CMOS logic chip like a 4001 or 4011 might do it, plus a transistor to switch the laser.
Interesting. Obviously several ways to accomplish this. My goal was to keep it simple for those without electronics skills. Simply changing a bulb or adding an infrared filter to an existing device clearly meets that goal.
stewart