Pentax AF240Z questions

Following my successful experiments with the AF200T I've bought an AF240Z, mostly as I wanted a swivel head. This turns out to work perfectly with the K-m if you put both in Program mode - as you change ISO on the camera it changes the aperture, just as the chart on the back of the flash suggests. I do have a few questions though:

There's a switch on the back marked "zoom". I understand how to set the flash for different lengths of lens (pulling or pushing the head) but I'm not sure whether this switch makes any difference? All it seems to do is change the effective distance display on the back, but I've no idea whether it also alters the flash output in some way?

Does anyone know the part number for the wide angle adapter (assuming that there is one)? The flash has a groove in the head to allow filters to fit, so I assume that some Pentax accessories were offered for it. In standard form it only goes to 35mm, which isn't especially wide on digital.

Finally, the flash came with a filter attached, I can only describe the colour as "sepia brown"! I've removed it, but why/when would anyone want to give the flash a brownish tinge?

Hi Matt, I too have a AF240Z amongst my collection of flashes.

Regarding the swith marked 'zoom' as far as I am aware moving it does not change output power. As you say it moves the distance/aperture scale, so when using the flash in manual, you would ensure that the setting on the head matches the setting on the zomm swith and set the exposure manually.

'Boz' http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/flashes/non-TTL/index.html lists no accessories and I have never come across an adapter for wider than 35mm. The manual, such as it is makes no reference to a wide angle adapter.

The flash does have a slot for filters, so maybe a slide in adapter was available originally.

Regarding the Sepia filter, it was not uncommon in the 80's and possibly before to find flashes supplied with several coloured filters. I never used them myself. but I am sure someone on the forum can provide more detailed information on their use.

Regards - Steve

Thanks Steve - it's not a bad flash for the £20 I paid. It didn't want to talk to the K-m at first, but after I took the batteries out and wiggled the switch a few times it seemed to get the idea. It had probably been sitting in a wardrobe for some years!

Zoom change the "angle of view" off the flash (if you are allowed to call it that) just like a lens.
Wide angle gives wide flash burst that doesn't go far and long is more focused that reach further.
So yes zoom does influence flash power.

I've actually just bought some chocolate brown and other fancy colour filters for special effect on a white back ground and maybe doe some other things with it.
If you don't know it yet, you can by colour correction filters for you flash.
The flash is most likely daylight so if you're shooting indoors under tungsten you can match the light so you don't get any colour casts.

Matt, I use mine on manual as part of a remote slave set up . The zoom head and bounce allow provide added flexibility

Stefan is right, moving the zoom added from wide to telephoto will focus output and so provide additional range. My earlier comment related to no additional power being outputted from the head. Unlike the Af200T, which I also have there are no 1/2 , 1/4 , or 1/8 power settings, which do actually control power output from the head.

Regards - Steve

Thanks Stefan - I'll have a play and see what happens. I've been experimenting with bouncing the flash off the ceiling today with (usually) good results, although you need to be careful of overhangs, fireplaces, etc casting a shadow.

I will have a play tomorrow and see how dark the edges get if I shoot with the lens set to 18mm and the flash at 35mm. It may not be too bad if I bounce the flash.

It is just coincidence that the flashgun has seemed to work while your camera is set to Program mode. Boz's site explains the ins and outs, but basically, the flash shuts off when its sensor detects sufficient light for a camera set to the given ISO and aperture. It has no way of checking that those things are set properly on the camera - that's your job.

In my experience these old Pentax auto flashguns do a good job of providing the right amount of light. And they do so instantly - there is no pre-flash flashing and red-eye nonsense.

I like the AF-240T.

G

For direct flash you will certainly see the difference but like you said it might not be too bad if you bounce it.

The camera is definitely detecting the flash, and it can't be a coincidence. When I change the ISO with both devices in Program mode the camera changes the aperture to match the correct aperture at that ISO, so it's clearly aware of the flash and is adjusting itself accordingly. I doubt that it's changing the flash output but it seems to be matching the correct settings listed on the back of the flash.

I know I "should" be in Manual, but I tend to use Program with the E-dial set up to shift exposure settings. That way I know a grab shot will be ok, and if I have a few more seconds I can tweak the settings to get a specific aperture. I've hung onto this with flash for now as I'm still figuring out how to do tricks with it - Manual will come in when Program no longer does what I want.