Promatic FTD 4000 flash

I was wondering if anyone had a manual for a Promatic FTD 4000 flash and could give me some direction to using it. Most of the settings on the camera I think I have figured out, but on the front of the flash is a switch with 3 colors above it, Green,Yellow, and Blue. Anyone know what this switch does?

Thanks

I found a manual for the Promatic 5600 on Ed Butkus' site http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/promatic_ftd5600.pdf maybe there are some similarities that can help you

Yeah, I saw that one too. There are some similarities, and it helped a lot. However it didn't have anything about a switch on the front of the camera with 3 colors.

Bet there is a dial or table with the same three colours on the back or side of the flash.

If not - see the bottom of this post.

Pick a colour, and set the switch to that colour. Then look at the dial or table, and you will see numbers representing distances, film speed and lens apertures.

If you film is ISO 125, there will be a correlation between that, the colour you chose and an aperture. Set your lens to that aperture, set your camera to its synch speed, and providing your subject is neither two close, or too far, the flash will measure light bounced back from your subject and adjust itself accordingly.

Usually you can see a correlation between the colour and a range of distances.

One exception - I've actually seen a couple of flashes that are so cheap that they just re-used parts from more expensive models. As a result, they had multi-colour swithches that did nothing.

I thought of that to, there is a table on the back, but its not affected by the switch in any way I can tell. Although to the right of the switch is what appears to be a sensor of some sort. I'm guessing that it affects the sensitivity of that sensor. The colors meaning distance. It was a cheaper lens, promatic/promaster isn't known for expensive and quality, but for $10 I was willing to take the risk for a swivel flash. The flash also has a fill in flash on it.

I just wish it was easier to find info about it.

madgardener said:

I thought of that to, there is a table on the back, but its not affected by the switch in any way I can tell. Although to the right of the switch is what appears to be a sensor of some sort. I'm guessing that it affects the sensitivity of that sensor. The colors meaning distance. It was a cheaper lens, promatic/promaster isn't known for expensive and quality, but for $10 I was willing to take the risk for a swivel flash. The flash also has a fill in flash on it.

I just wish it was easier to find info about it.

Click to expand...

The table won't be affected in any way by the switch. The table just tells you what aperture to set on your lens (for each setting on the switch), and what distances the flash will work for when you set the switch and aperture.

Are you able to attach a couple of photos?

Now that I look closer at the table on the back of the camera , there are 3 lines that are the same color as the 3 settings on the front. I'll attach some photos after I find my *igital camera, I don't use it much, its a point and shoot.