"Gerald Wang" wrote:
>Just wondering if any of you have experience with using older
> flashes on the PZ-1p as I'd like to use mine with a Sunpak 444D
> analog TTL flash. There've been warnings about using older flashes
> that have high trigger voltages with fragile modern whizbang electronic
> cameras however I don't recall the PZ-1p manual addressing this. I
> will have to check again.
The 444D wth PT-2D (?) module is perfectly fine with the pz-1p -- I use
mine on it all the time. That module also works on manual cameras like the
K-1000 and Ricoh (XR-10?). I think there is a different pentax module for
that flash for use with the mechanical camers, but can't comment on it since
I don't have one. FWIW, the 1p manual says not to use anything other than a
Pentax-brand flash unit.
As for whether high voltage flash units are safe with the pz-1p, that's a
risk I would strongly recommend _against_ you taking. Some HV flash units
will be OK, others may well fry the thing. A few years ago, when this topic
came up more often, some people reported no problems, but others reported
near-fry problems (one required the batteries to be removed for a day or two
before the camera functioned again).
When I tested my HV flash, I found that it put 350+V on the trigger pin,
but then did a pulse of negative HV on that pin immediately after firing. I
fried an SCR when designing the low-voltage trigger circuit for it because
of that -- and it was probably a heftier SCR than is in the camera.
Unexpected things like this are why I recommend you don't take the risk.
BTW, I do have problems when using that flash on my pz-1p for macro
photography -- it seems the voltages on the hotshoe droop enough to confuse
the camera if the flash is refired too quickly. No damage, but it is
extremely disconcerting when the shutter closes yet the camera doesn't
wind-on and flip the mirror down for the next minute. Giving the flash an
extra 20-30 seconds to recharge cures the problem completely.
hope that helps,
patbob ([EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED])
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