I got a Pentax AF200T from KEH for $31. Works great in TTL mode on my SP. Has an eye. Two auto settings. Four manual settings. Works great on all my cameras, except my MZ5, which really wants a "digital" flash to be "dedicated." Auto modes work OK on MZ5 after setting shutter and F stop manually. Not a lot of range, but enough for many uses, especially fill flash. Compact, very handy for a small kit.
Reading Boz's k-mount website will clear up any "confusion." I think the 201 may only suitable for the MZ-M body. Chris L. >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 09/10/02 12:37PM >>> You should be able to locate an earlier generation independent flash which would work on all models - I have a Starblitz 3800 DFS which works well, has TTL and external cell and is more powerful and much cheaper than the Pentax 280 T I used to have. A used 280 T should not cost very much either? All the best! Raimo Personal photography homepage at http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~raikorho -----Alkuperäinen viesti----- Lähettäjä: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Vastaanottaja: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Päivä: 10. syyskuuta 2002 6:25 Aihe: Re: Pentax flashes > > >ThanX for the replies so far. > >I do have a Vivitar 283 but it's a "Made In Japan" model (higher voltage). I had a Sunpak 133 and I'm looking for something around that size and weight. Someone mentioned the 280T but that's out of my size/weight/price range. > >In my post I made a mistake when I said the AS201SA shows a sensor eye in the online image. I mixed it up with a Sunpak unit. I don't see a sensor on the 201. > >I did some more digging and found at pentax.com a section of instruction manuals for some of their flashes. No manual for the 201 but I did find one for the 220T. Once again the explanatory text ain't the best. From what I gather the 220T (and maybe the 201) doesn't use a sensor eye on the flash body. Instead the lens has to be set to "A" (automatic) and the camera with the flash chooses a pre-set aperture. The other option using the 220T with a non-TTL camera body is to manually set the aperture for a full power burst, the setting dependent upon the distance to the subject. > >I'm kinda disappointed with what I've learned so far. Most of my lenses are plain K -- not KA -- and so I would have to use the flash at full power, adjusting for the distance. So much for "auto" flash. I hate blinding people with full flash power when it isn't needed. > >Why doesn't Pentax make a small flash like the Sunpak 144 with a sensor eye? I'm thinking about getting the 144 (or the 144D) but once again it gets into the flash trigger voltage problem, i.e. the non-Pentax flash might fry my PZ-10 and ZX-M. > >It's mentioned in the description for the 201 that it's a good flash to use with the ZX-M. If what I've found out is correct, it's a good flash IF your lenses are KA. If not, then it's check the flash range and set the aperture. > >I'm disappointed with Pentax. I've spent too much time trying to find basic info online. Their flash model designations are confusing (e.g., AF means auto-flash, not auto-focus) and their instruction manuals and product descriptions are next to useless. > >I like my Pentax cameras up to a point. I'm reaching that point and instead of changing all of my lenses over to KA to take advantage of a low-priced flash, I think it's time to sink money into the Canon EOS system. At least info on EOS isn't as obscure as what Pentax semi-translates from Japanese. And there doesn't seem to be any great confusion in regards to EOS flashes and their compatibilities with various EOS cameras. > >Best, > >Ray > > >
