Markus Maurer asked:
> is there a risk of overloading the connectors if I use both flash connectors
> on a Pentax ME Super at the same
> time, for ex. an Pentax AF280T on the hot shoe and some NonPentaxFlash on
> the side connector ? And, how is it with
> a Pentax SFX/SF1/SF7, can I also use both connectors at the same time?
I don't have a definitive answer ... I've done this on the
Super Program and KX (and possibly on the K2 but I don't
remember) with no trouble. But I don't know whether it's
supposed to be okay, or I just got lucky. I'm *guessing*
that it's okay based on that plus the existence of that
fancy flash cord for the Super Program that attaches to
the shoe and lets you put one flash on top of the connector
on the shoe and another flash at the far end of the cable
(and allows the camera to control two TTL flashes!).
> Can I combine any brand of flash and beside the limited length of the cable
> connection, is there a difference in quality
> or else to a master/slave connection with a special slave adapter for the
> second flash?
This sentence is a little tangled, so I'm not certain
exactly what you're asking, but if you're asking what
I think you're asking:
1. I don't remember whether the ME Super does TTL flash.
If it does, and you put a "T" flash on the shoe, the
camera will only be able to quench that one, not the
one connected to the PC socket. Whether this is a
*problem* or not probably depends on exact details of
what you're shooting, the relative powers of the two
flashes, etc. (Note that unless there are some odd
timing issues, the camera should quench the shoe flash
based on the light it sees coming back from _both_
flashes.)
2. In auto mode (the flash quenches itself based on its
own sensor, and something on the back of the flash
tells you which f-stop you should be using), I'm not
entirely certain to what extent they'll interfere
with each other if they don't specify the same f-stop.
3. In manual mode (the flash fires at full strenght and
you set the f-stop based on guide number and distance)
you'll want to pay attention to the relative _power_
of the two flashes unless they're both pointing in the
same direction, just to make sure that any unevenness
in the lighting is intentional instead of a surprise.
4. When I've used a slave adaptor it's been optical. If
you're going to be playing multiple-flash games, get
one or two of them. Sometimes you'll want to plug
two flashes into the camera, but other times the optical
slave (far cheaper than a radio slave (which I've never
used)) provides extra flexibility that really comes in
handy. And they work without tripping anybody at
distances long enough to make cables a PITA. (Is the
PUG still down? 'Cause I was going to point to my
saxophone photo that used an optical slave.)
Are any of those related to the question you meant to ask?
-- Glenn
