AF200t flash with K7

Can someone please assure me, absolutely, that this unit is safe to use with my K7, in respect of the trigger voltage?

Many thanks,

Roger.

Totally, absolutely, 100%.

No Pentax flashgun has any trigger voltage issues.

In fact, very few flashguns do. This issue is hugely over-hyped.

G

Very true, but you do get the odd one.

My dad had a little Braun gun, he'd used it for years on his Super A, and he'd just got his K10D.

I stopped him putting it on till I'd measured it, and there was over 200V across the contacts. I don't know whether that would blow up a Pentax dSLR but I don't think I'd chance it.

It b***dy hurt too, when the probe slipped and I managed to touch the pins.

I think it's wise to be wary if you have an old non-Pentax gun lying around.

I use, and have used, several old pentax flashes on a K10d.
I find the af200t and af280t to be very useful and give reliable results.

I don't know if it is true, but I have heard rumours that communication between flash and body is more restricted with the k7 than the k10d. (obviously not p-ttl on either).

Thanks, all.
I have one on order for del. Monday.

Roger.

I use the AF200T on my K-5 (and K-7 before that) for macro.

Nothing has gone pop yet

Yep, trigger voltage is completely safe, used mine a few times on the K-m.

One useful trick of this flash (and indeed all Pentax Program flashes):

Put the K7 in Program mode and the flash in either red or green auto mode. Turn both on and watch the back of the camera. When the flash is charged the camera will automatically set the aperture to match the ISO setting - if you change the ISO the aperture will change to follow, just as on the table on the back of the flash.

It's a bit primitive but it works pretty well, this also applies to all the flashes with an "SA" suffix and the AF280t/AF400t models.

I can send you my Metz 45CT-1. Prepared to take the risk without a sync-safe?

What I'm trying to say is that it's better to check, even if the chance is one on hundred thousand or so.

I am perfectly happy using my Metz 45 and Vivitar 283 (with 270 volts on the trigger contact) on my K10D and K20D. No problem at all.

The interface (in the camera) is via a high voltage thyristor circuit and is quite capable of operating at these voltages.

I might point out that the K10D/K20D are now pretty elderly in DSLR terms and were both intended as top flight professional bodies. We don't know if they've changed the trigger setup in the newer bodies or even whether the same components were found in the lower spec bodies of the same era as the K10D/K20D.

Pentax won't give any written confirmation of safe trigger voltages, so I won't use anything with a higher voltage than their own flashguns. I won't be trying the tiny Sunpak which came bundled with an ME Super and has a trigger voltage of over 200V!

This link may allay your fears with regard to the Pentax AF200T . link

There is a list of flashguns and lots of information about the possible problems.

I can believe that (I'm an electronics engineer by trade), but why doesn't Pentax put that in their specifications?

BTW Metz actually states that the 45 CT-1 with certain serial numbers is not safe to use. Might be higher than 270V
And my 45 CT-1 is safe, by the way.

Call me a cynic, but perhaps the reason is to help sell more new flash guns?

Also they would be liable for warranty claims if for some reason someone's old high voltage flash did blow a circuit board...

Weirdly the '80s flashguns are now more use than the ones from the AF film SLRs.

TTL flashguns only work with some of the *ist D variants as Pentax switched to P-TTL. Go back before TTL to auto and program flash and they'll work perfectly, although you may be disappointed with the lack of manual control on the "SA" suffixed program flashes.

I always reckon that the best budget flash for a Pentax DSLR is either an AF200T or AF240Z. The latter is very under-valued despite having a zoom/bounce head and program/auto/manual modes.

Many thanks for your input all.
I have the flash unit, it's in mint condition AND...
Nothing's gone bang!!

Can you please let me know what sort of lead I need to use the AF200T off-camera & where I might get one?

Cheers,

Roger.