I think i am going to buy another cheap flash unit on ebay to try on my kx.

Hi Peekie;

Actually, i do not have any other body to try it on and only flash I have is older flash I mentioned above. Actually, I used that older unit with mt fujifilm S9600 before I buy Kx. It did not fry digital camera but I am still concerned about using it on Kx.

Hi again;

Pop up flah works in the same setting but external flash does not. As i said before I adjust shutter speed to 1/320. As soon as i connected flash gun it is down to 1/180 so camera undrstands flash gun is connected. However, doesnot fire. I am puzzled too.

First of all this topic is not about question rather it is kind of review of lens because before I buy this lens, I could't find much information about lens. I tired my chance and I bought one of these lenses from ebay auction 20 pound free p&p. It arrived Wednesday but as I had busy week I couldn't touch it till yesterday. Yesterday It was sunny but busy day again and I came home around 5 pm. I had about an hour to have quick walk in the town with my new lens.

Apart from one, all photos taken with 200 ISO. In photos a bit blend and dark as sun started to set and some shadow areas were already darker. All Photos taken handheld in manual mode. Here is some examples;

F=2.8, 1/125 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/6940/135f281125.jpg[/IMG]

F=5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/152/135f56160.jpg[/IMG]

F=11, 1/125 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/6287/135f111125.jpg[/IMG]

F=11, 1/125 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/9079/135f1111252.jpg[/IMG]

F=11, 1/200 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6184/135f111200.jpg[/IMG]

F=5.6, 1/20 sec, ISO 400
[IMG]http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9058/135f56120400iso.jpg[/IMG]

Rest of the photographs are comparison between Hoya 135mm prime and Pentax DAL 50-200 at 135mm. With Pentax DAL photos taken in Auto focus and Av mode. So they are entirely in focus so just ignore focusing and consecrated on the other differences.

Hoya 135mm, F=2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5701/135f281100.jpg[/IMG]

Hoya 135mm, F=4, 1/80 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6182/135f4180.jpg[/IMG]

Pentax DAL 50-200 at 135mm F=4.5, 1/50 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5759/135f45150.jpg[/IMG]

As aperture starts with 4.5 at 135mm, much sharper pictures then as it should be.

Hoya 135mm, F=5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3259/135f561602.jpg[/IMG]

This is bit darker than it should be and not entirely in focus.

Pentax DAL 50-200 at 135mm F=5.6, 1/40 sec, ISO 200
[IMG]http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/2576/135f56140.jpg[/IMG]

Overal, I think it is good lens for budget photographers like my self.

Hi Peekie;

I check what you said and flash fire when I short centre pin to ground (side contact). So whT could be wrong?

I found another flash unit some where deep in my bag. Trigger voltage is aound 55 volts. Is it safe to use? I tought i could check camera whether it really works with other unit.

Secondly how can I understand the polarity of second unit?

Hi Peekie;

I opened hotshoe base and everthing looks normal. No loose cable, no disconnection etc. I measured voltages from inside, they are exactly same. If there was something wrong with electrics, I wouldn't have measured voltages??? I tried to completely disassemble flash gun to see inside in details; however, I couldn't manage it.

Hi peekie

Thanks for your answer. I try shorting with voltmeter pins, i don't know wheter it is a correct type of material for shorting. If shorting does not fire but test button fires, what could be the problem?

Actually the converter i have stucks on the camera body and very hard to mount and dismount. It can cause damage to the camera mount so i think i am going to return it.

The reason i ask for a compareson, if the difference between hoya and chion does not worth spending another 8 quid for it, i would sell chinon straight away and use hoya. If it is otherway around i will buy converter and sell hoya.

So is there anybody who uses hoya and chinon 135mm?

Hi everyone;

First of all sorry for image quality. I took it with my compact camera with relatively high ISO setting so bit grainy.

This is the bottom of the flash gun. When it is in the Pentax mode number 1 on the top and number 2 in the middle is live. Number one measures around 9V and number to around 14V. However, it looks like number one never touches somewhere on the hotshoe, because it is longer than pentax hotshoe.

When I tired to shorting number 2 to centre nothing happens.

Am I doing wrong somethink? I am confused.

[img][IMG]http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/7083/img2842e.jpg[/IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/img]

Matt;

I will check it, when I get back home this afternoon. I heard people using similar multi dedicated flash gun (Miranda 500D). I am suspicious about multi dedication mechanism because when I was was measurin voltages one of the back pins was alive which looks like does not touch pentax hot shoe. I will send photos when I am back home afternoon.