No! No! Do _not_ measure with a cheap volt meter! Many cheap voltmeters are not very high ohmic. As a result it will "load" the trigger voltage point of the flash, reducing the measured voltage. This is specifically true for the flashes with high voltage, they mostly have a high impedance input circuit, resulting in a voltage on your cheap voltmeter, much lower than the voltage that your camera will feel!
How ever many Pentax camera's can handle a high voltage. I have used 200 and 400V flashes on my Z-1 without problem. But when mounting the flash, take care that the 400V is not making contact with the other connection points, the monitor and the squelche contacts are maybe much more vulnerable. I did not test yet on my DS, maybe I better do not.... Jos Nick Wright wrote: > The reason older flash units might wreck a new dSLR is because some of > them had higher trigger voltages. You can check your flash's voltage > with a $5 voltmeter from WallyWorld. As long as it's under 6 volts (I > think) it will be safe on your camera. To check just put one of the > meter's probes on the center pin on the flash's foot, and the other > probe on the little metal tab on the side of the foot (while the flash > is on). Viola! > > On 3/1/07, Markus Maurer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Yes, the AF280T has auto modes like the AF400T and is only weaker at gn28 >> instead of gn40. >> greetings >> Markus >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of >> Paul Stenquist >> Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 1:54 AM >> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> Subject: Re: older flashes with K10, Pentax's response >> >> >> Does the 280T have an auto mode like the 400T? If so, it can be used in >> that mode, and it will probably function quite well. The 400T is quite >> good in auto mode on the K10D. >> Paul >> On Mar 1, 2007, at 7:17 PM, cbwaters wrote: >> >> >>> After reading some posts a while back about the possibility of >>> wrecking the >>> K10's flash circuit by using older flash units, I have been reluctant >>> to >>> mount my 280T or 200T to the camera. >>> I looked at the new "digital ready" flashes online but I have really >>> worn >>> thin the good graces of the Finance Mistress with the purchases of >>> late. >>> The only remaining path was to ask Pentax if I could safely use my old >>> flashes. >>> >>> Here's their response: >>> "The K10D is not compatible with a TTL flash in automatic mode. The >>> recommended flashes are P-TTL types such as the AF360FGZ or the >>> AF540FGZ. >>> The AF220T and AF280T flashes can definitely be used on the new K10D, >>> however it will only work in manual mode." >>> >>> Now you know. >>> >>> Cory >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> PDML@pdml.net >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> >>> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> PDML@pdml.net >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> PDML@pdml.net >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> >> > > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
