PZ-5000 AF AF Assist Question

[E-K]

Does anyone who is using the Sunpak PZ-5000 AF on a 350D/20D know if the AF assist light will still function even with the two left pins masked out? I'm fine using it as a non-dedicated flash but if the AF assist light could be made to work all the better.

e-k

[E-K]

Well, to answer my own question, at least on a 350D - no.

Works great as a non-dedicated flash so far though. In Canada I was able to pick it up new for cheaper than a 383 or Vivitar 285HV.

e-k

[PacAce]

Does the AF work if you don't tape the pins (I was thinking it would)? Also, just curious, why did you need to tape the two pins?

[E-K]

It's a TTL flash (not E-TTL or E-TTL II). With no pins masked it worked somewhat, it would recognise the focal length and aperture and the AF-Assist lamp would work. However, it only worked for a little bit before the camera encountered an error - not unexpected :(.

According to the EOS-Doc masking the two left pins (looking at the camera hot shoe) would have the flash work in manual (non-TTL) mode.

I did find a link for someone trying the same flash on a 20D. Originally I thought they masked the bottom left pin but their diagram was for the flash hot shoe not the camera hot shoe so it's actually bottom right on the camera. I'll give that a try tonight.

e-k

[E-K]

Well, the bottom right didn't work either :(.

In any case, I found a site where they had partially decoded the E-TTL protocol using an EOS-50. Driving the bottom left pin of the flash shoe to ~3V will manually activate the AF-Assist lamp on the flash.

I doubt I'll be able to convince the camera to drive this high without some active electronics but at least I can still do it manually in a pinch.

e-k

[roman_t]

i used this flash (canon model) with 10d and 5d. its assist light works with both if you activate it in cf menu.

[E-K]

I had heard it worked on the 10D, D30 and D60 but not on the 350D and 20D (at least without modification).

AF Assist is activated in the custom functions and if I leave all pins live it does work for a little bit (AF Assist, reading of aperture from camera, zoom head locked to lens zoom position), but after a little bit either the camera locks up or the flash does.

Glad to hear it works on the 5D though although I don't think I'll be upgrading until the Rebel XT dies :(

e-k

[Jere Lee]

I use one of these with my 30D in Auto Mode and everything works as it should, including the infrared focus assist. Please PM me about where I can purchase these in Canada.

[E-K]

I use one of these with my 30D in Auto Mode and everything works as it should, including the infrared focus assist. Please PM me about where I can purchase these in Canada.

I replied to your PM with where I purchased mine.

Just out of curiousity for the 30D where you able to set the ISO on the flash with the camera on?

e-k

[Jere Lee]

I'm not sure, there were times when I seem to have a problem setting ISO on the flash. I will check that and get back to you with a PM in a day or two. It seems to me that the camera passed the ISO on to the flash, but I'm not sure about that.