I use my Pentax AF 400T and my Studio Pro mono lights on the *ist D constantly. I must have more than 1000 firings without incident.
Paul
On Dec 18, 2004, at 10:49 AM, Don Sanderson wrote:


Here are the isolators I'm refering to:

http://www.adorama.com/WNSSPC.html
http://www.adorama.com/WNSSHSHS.html

Don


-----Original Message-----
From: Don Sanderson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:32 AM
To: PDML
Subject: "safe" Flash Sync Voltages


All the talk about 'safe' flashes to use on the D got me a little concerned. The last thing I want to do is damage the poor thing. :-( I took some measurements from various units that I use.

Here are the sync pin voltages I measured from
various flash units:

Pentax 200T                4.65
Pentax 280T                7.18
Pentax AF-360FGZ           3.01
Pentax AF-500FTZ           3.55
Vivitar 285HV              5.80
Vivitar 285                6.24
Yake M-110 Studio Flash    8.09

I no longer have an O'Scope so I can't measure any
'spike' voltages present at the sync pin when fired.
These spikes are what could do real damage.
In a properly designed trigger circuit there should
be no spikes but I can't prove their presence or
absence on these units.

As far as I can see the ist D manual only mentions these
flash models:

240,330,360,400,500.

The 360 and 500 I measured are the lowest sync pin voltage
of the lot. This leads me to believe that the newer Pentax's
are designed to operate at lower, (sub-TTL logic) levels.
I'm reasonably OK with the 200T but the Yake and the 280T
really scare me.

There is such a thing as a "flash isolator" available.
It fits in the hot shoe and protects the camera from
overvoltage/spikes at the sync pin.

I will be buying one very soon for the 285s and Yake!
I will also not be using the 280T on the D anymore.


Don





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