There was a similar thread a month or two ago, where someone had evidence of it being related to the focus screen. (They had exactly this problem until they changed the screen for a cut-down older type IIRC)

here we go , halfway down the 2nd page, poster was Axl.

other thread

Actually its a spammer Peter.

Er Mods, the user name should give a clue

hahaha nice!

Shhhhushh i'm hunting wabbits !

I've used the small one of these (ng5159) successfully on a motorbike, and for hillwalking etc.

nat geo backpack

Plenty of room, the shower-cap cover even kept it dry in a flood-causing torrential downpour in southern spain last year

straps are well designed for activities

Minor update, had a bit more time on my hands this afternoon so got my hands on a proper (£200) digital meter, rather than the cheap-ish £30 one in my toolkit.

Forget my earlier figures, the GX8R measures 201V on whatever setting (1/4,1/2 or full). If I hadnt discovered the pc port circuit protection i'd be rather worried!

Just shows to take supposed 'measured' figures for old flashes with a pinch of salt, without the correct equipment so-called readings can be dangerously misleading.

Thanks guys. been doing a little more research, and in a thread on pentaxforums
www.pentaxforums.com/forums/camera-studio-accessories/87679-flash-trigger-voltag...
someone there clearly states that the K20d (i.e. the same as my GX20) does have a protection circuit built in for the Pc socket. The problem is that this doesnt include the hotshoe, and hence a number of K10's and K20's have had circuits burnt out from using 200+V flashes on the shoe. looks like i'll be fine using this on the pc connection then....

Apologies for bringing this up again, but the sticky question of safe trigger voltages is a personal concern at the mo, and although there have been a few threads here and elsewhere about it I dont think a definite answer has ever been agreed.

(Whether this is possible without PENTAX themselves stating in black and white what is safe is of course debatable but...)

Ive recently picked up an old Sunpak GX8R ringflash. Now this would be absolutely perfect on my dental 100 macro, but of course there is the trigger voltage issues.

The last 'definite' answer I can find on this is that to be 100% safe with no worries 10v is the over-cautious answer, and a couple of differing sources on this and other forums claim that pentax themselves have stated 30v

Now I somewhat bravely/stupidly connected and used the ringflash on my GX20 - with no probs whatsoever, though it was set on 1/4 power for this test. (this is through the pc connection on the side, as it has no hotshoe being a ringflash unit)

I now have been able to use a decent voltmeter on it this morning at work, and have the following results

1/4 power setting - 24v
1/2 power setting - 30v
full power setting 42v

the question is do i risk it again - on the lower settings? the 6-7 shots i took on 1/4 power had no effect on my body, but was i just lucky....?

Obviously i'm never gonna use it on full power..


If not is there any handy 'interface' units that will plug in between it and my pc connection to ensure by body remains safe?


Cheers Tel.

If a silver and brown one was available here that would go on the credit card immediately. Sod the expense, thats the first thing ive seen for years that makes me think I must have that regardless of any other concerns.

? I've recently got an NC10 too, which is fab and regularly comes out top of group reviews, even after being available for 1.5 years - so much so they have started making them again.

But it DOES have a sd slot on the front, and apparently always has. battery life is top too - the six cell battery they mostly come with is good for 7 hrs, and a 9 cell is available for £50 odd (10-11 hrs then). Runs elements 7 well too, though an upgrade to 2gb of ram is advisable for editing

Thanks all, (and especially Thoramay ) thats a fairly comprehensive list there! the steam railway and ventnor gardens were already on the list but that adds lots more places to visit
As for what photography i'm after, I always look for landscapes and interesting detail stuff, and like wildlife shots too, and the girlfriend is a budding semi-pro so will be looking for every opportunity.

I can already imagine that if its all whats described then this may well be the first visit of many!

Thanks Tel.