When I bought my K-x 2yrs ago, I had a look on Pentax website and found that there was a Pro-Centre at Bourne in Lincs. When ringing them for a price for camera with a 55-300 he said that he would match WEX price and chuck in a card and batteries. So living equal distance from both thought what the hell and went to Bourne.
It seemed when I got to the shop that he was trying to clear his stock and leave Pentax's fold.
I got a good deal in that I bought K-x, DA55-300 (the better one with metal bayonet), 2 sets eneloops and charger, 4gb card. All for price of K-x and 55-330 with kit lenses from WEX.
According to website they are still shown as a Pro-Centre but are they in FACT ?
I have been very pleased with the set and still glad that I went there. I find the 55-300 benefits from setting back to infinity between shots, for fast focusing, in normal conditions outside and very little hunting. This is easy enough with the Quick-Shift system but wouldn't have been with the cheaper version.

Pat

Hi all,

As I had said probably go for a Pentax flash, well I got a AF240Z.

Pleased with it on my K-X . It works ok in P mode on both, communicating with camera and setting aperture and if shutter set too fast it brings it down to max flash setting. Bounce off ceiling in my front room works nicely so yes pleased with it, real improvement over pop-up flash and at £10 well worth the money.

Reading what I could seemed that the 400ftz would have been okay but just in total manual settings, could have coped as that is all I had on 35mm Chinon and National Panasonic cheapo.

Thanks Pat

Here is a link to pictures of various SLR mounts,

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-99.html

link

May be of some use to you or others.

Pat

Also could be a Praktica PB bayonet mount.

Looks very similar to PK but just does not fit and the aperture lever is in different position. Possibly would be marked PB.

Pat

Me again,

I actually got it wrong on the voltage. I measured the small pin to centre, which seems to be a flash ready signal. Centre to the side contact, which touches the shoe mount was 6.5 volts.

Decided to try it as I'm sure I remember this sort of voltage is safe.
Wahey, seems okay, tried it in manual settings and looks to work as I thought.

Probably will buy secondhand Pentax flash all the same though.

How about the Pentax AF400 FTZ. If as you say any Pentax AF flash is ok then this is probably more powerful than the AF240z for a similar price.

Any thoughts on this model on my K-x would be grateful.

Pat

Hello there,
Could anybody tell me what sort of voltage the hotshoe on a k-x will accept.
I have a Praktica BC2400 which has auto settings, which seems to vary the output according to the distance (light reflected back). This was bought in a job lot from a car-boot with camera and lenses by mistake. I thought that they were were using the same bayonet fitting but B--lsed up.
Measuring the hotshoe fitting I get a reading of 11.9 - 12 volts pos centre peg. I seem to remember reading about high voltage on the hotshoe NOT being usable.
If it is usable according to what I read on the back it should be good for up to 30ft at 400asa with camera at f5.6 I think. Or f11 from 3-15 ft.
I don't want to just stick it on to see what might happen just in case!!

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Pat

Just tried shooting with my K_X and get the same happening when I put my hand over the lens to stop all light going in. So it does sound like to low light level for the metering system.

Patty

Lovely pictures!!
Just a question for you, do you find the focus speed on the K5 faster with the 150-500 than you did with that lens on your Kx ?,that is meaning the actual speed the lens motors from close to infinity.
I wondered as the voltage that I've read the K5 battery puts out is 7.2v ,Where with the Kx with lithium AA's it would only be at 6v and probably Eneloops only 5.5v.
I have a Kx and 150-500 and feel that it is faster with lithium AA's than Eneloops and was after a second opinion. Maybe with possible thoughts of an upgrade to a K5 eventually

Patty

Dont know if this would work on stuck filters, but this is my so far guarantee on carbon fibre fishing poles or rods, Use double sided carpet tape close to the stuck joints both sides. This gives loads of grip for next to no pressure.

Patty

Hi there Graham. Welcome from West Norfolk.

Hope you get the camera and lens you talk about and dont go the other way (c**n*k*n).

Patty