New Flash with an LX or SuperA

Hey everyone,
really excited to have joined this forum. I recently aquired an LX and SuperA and really want to take them out for a spin but it would nice to have a flash.

Does anyone know if a new flash will support it's ttl fuctionality, or should I stick to an old model? I'm aware manual functionality would be available (depending on the flash) but I've not been able to find an answer to this question on the internet.

thanks!!

Hi David.

Sorry I cant help with your flash, question, but I am sure it will soon be answered on this forum.

My Pentax film camera is a Spotmatic II, vintage 1974, which is open aperture metering but manual for all operations.


Take care.

It is my understanding that the later series 'F 'flashes are only compatable with AF bodies.

See link http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/technology/hot-shoe/index.html

Regards - Steve

The current P-TTL flashes won't work.

My advice would be to hunt down an AF200T (very under-rated and therefore quite cheap) or an AF280T. Both support TTL, program flash, auto flash and various manual power output settings. They have safe trigger voltages for digital and have a surprising degree of automation with Pentax DSLRs.

Good advice from Dangermouse. The LX really "deserves" the AF400T if you can deal with its weight and bulk. It is a wonderful unit and will blister paint at 20 feet!

Several companies made compatible flashes, ProMaster is one, but I'd stick with Pentax on the used market.

I know you will enjoy the LX. It is I think the finest SLR Pentax ever made and given proper care will last "forever." Service on it is a bit expensive. Eric Henderson here in the states is an excellent source and other members will have suggestions should the time come.

BTW the Beattie screen fits the LX and since the camera reads exposure off the film no compensation is needed for the brighter image.

Do try out some long night exposures, but be prepared to wait around. The LX will time exposures of an hour or better. An amazing piece of kit.

I have two of the 'paint blisterers'! and use them in the studio all the time. But, since you've just aquired the LX I suggest you check out the website stevejcoe suggests. You'll be buying second hand so caveat emptor.

However I think the current '360' Pentax flash, I can't remember its full name, may well work with your cameras. It supports TTL.

One thing to aware of is that the LX uses a unique flash socket on the front of the camera.

Enjoy it all!

To add to Gartmore's comments a cord for the AF400T to fit the flash socket on the front panel is or was available. Oddly enough I was able to buy "new" wide angle and telephoto diffusers for the AF400T, cords, and the external battery pack within the last few years. The "stock" AF400T uses 6 AA cells in a quick change module on the base of the flash handle, and it can eat them fairly quickly, thus the external battery pack is nice for long shoots, weddings and the like.

If you have the pentaprism with the hot shoe the proper connections for flash are on it. However, if you go after the action finder, a great piece of kit, it doesn't have those connections. KEH here in the states usually has some LX stuff and is a reliable source of used gear, although the international aspect might be a pain.

Here's an interesting site http://pug.komkon.org/LX_Gallery/index.html

There's quite a mystique around the LX. It's a pity that Pentax didn't continue its development to continue its "competition" with the Nikon F3. It truly is a collector's item.

If you are interested in acquiring an AF400T or two, I might be persuaded to part with my "matched" pair. They are an indispensible part of the kit if you wish to look like a professional.

(And if you have an LX, what else would you want to look like?)

If you do go down this route, be aware that the various power packs made by Pentax are not fully interchangeable.

The AF400T takes the TR Power Pack. Later, 5 pin, flash guns can use either TR Power Pack-2 or TR Power Pack-3. The difference lies in the cable connection. It might be possible to get cables that connect the later packs with the earlier flash-guns, but the standard cables are definitely not compatible.

The original pack also powers the AF080C ring-flash. Another must-have piece of kit!

G

If you want to know about flash, ask a George!

G

Brother George -

Are you saying we're flashers?

Absolutely, if you have an LX, you want to look like a pro.

Some years ago it was said that, to be taken as a professional, you needed a leather jacket, a Pentax, and a surly attitude. The jacket and attitude are optional.

Concerning the power pack, somewhere I ran across a post describing how to modify the AF400T TR power pack to power the current DTTL flashes. As I recall it was little more than changing out the connector, but ... since the power pack delivers several hundred volts care would be in order. The ideal would be a link, male connector to plug into the power pack's cord, and female to connect to the DTTL flash, allowing one pack to power both series. Any DIY types out there?

Yes, the AF080C ring flash is a nice bit, but hard to find. Pentax's current ring flash is a fortune!

What I'd like to know is why the first Pentax DSLR used off-the-sensor flash determination akin to the LX's off the film method, and all the rest, including my K10D, use the current pre-flash method. Anyone know?

If I were a cynic, I'd wonder it were to see a new line of flashes....

I may have a plethora of old film bodies but the one I would keep above all others is my LX. I have a fair bit of LX related bits and pieces too, but not the famed AF400T... yet. I do have the AF280T with a flash bracket though and Ken sold me the special cable to connect to the front socket.

K.

IF, you were a cynic?

I am sure that the 3 packs all produce the same output. It's just the connections that are different, and they are rather specialised. Pentax had no interest in supplying adapters, so they are almost certainly a 3rd party product, if they exist at all.

G