AF200S on a K10D?

Hi all

I understand that using an old flash with a new digital camera may be hasardous as to the amount of electricity generated.
I have an old AF200S flash in the drawer but have been hesitant as to put in on my K10D.
Has anybody tried this/knowledge about it? Is it safe?

Best regards
Ryan

All Pentax flash units have low voltage and work fine with all Pentax SLRs.

And anyway, Pentax cameras are rather more tolerant of high voltages than some other makes. Canon consumer cameras are notorious in this regard, but their pro models are rather better.

G

George...I have an AF280T flash that I have been told never to use with my K10,apparently there is a risk of voltage damage. Are you indicating that this information is incorrect and that it is safe for me to use this flash unit? regards Thoramay.

Yes, what George is saying is it is Ok to use the flash on your K10. I have used the AF280T on my K10 with no ill affects.

As George Says, all pentax branded flashes are safe to use on your digital SLR.

Maybe helpful?

link

I built this circuit several years back to connect my istD to a pair of Elinchromes.

link

and...

link

Regards

There is more rubbish talked about flashgun voltages than almost any other subject in photography.

The only flashguns that might cause a problem are:

A Old (Fifteen years or more) AND
B Not made by the camera manufacturer

Most offenders will be studio flash units.

If you have any doubts, put a voltmeter across the contacts. Unless the flash falls into one of the categories above you will almost certainly obtain a reading under 10 volts, which is absolutely fine.

I used my *ist D and all my film cameras connected by sync-cord to an old studio flash that has a voltage of 65. I never had a problem, though nowadays I use the unit with a trigger. Much more convenient than cables.

The only first-hand instance I have heard of involving a Pentax being fried was not a modern DSLR, but Peter Elgar's old MX. It had been used for many years with a high-voltage studio flash, and the contacts eventually burned out. I believe the camera was otherwise OK.

G

...and I've used Centon FG30s with my *istD and K10D and these flashguns apparently (although I've not tested them) have a trigger voltage of approximately 200V. Not had a problem (yet! :lol.

Dan

The AF280T is superb and I often use one on my K10D.
I also have a AF200S that I bought by mistake when looking for a AF200T and that worked fine as well.

I think you are quite likely to get more good pictures using an AF-280T than you will using a P-TTL flash.

And of course, they don't have the initial delay that the high-tech flashes do.

G