I thought I sent a similar thread yesterday but cannot find it today......sorry about a duplicate if if does show up..............
I have a new K100d and an old
Sunpak Auto 144 Thysistor flash I'd like to use.
I am pretty inexperienced, but I have used that Sunpak with other digitals cameras, namely my Panasonic FZ-20 that allowed use of an external flash. So I know at least that the flash can be made to work.
I am a little confused, but I think this is what I need to do:
- On Flash - Mount and Power On
- On Flash - Set ISO, read f stop to be set on camera
- On Camera – Power On
- On Camera - Set to same ISO as flash unit
- On Camera - Set camera to Manual Exposure mode
- On Camera - Set shutter speed to 1/180 or slower
- On Camera - Set the f stop indicated above
I have not tried the steps above yet.
However, yesterday I tried the K100d with the Sunpak just a little. I used Aperture Priority Exposer mode however, and set the f stop to what the Flash indicated, with the ISO the same on both the flash and camera. That worked, at least the flash fired and I got an image, but the shutter seemed VERY slow, around 0.3 second. I was not able to find on the camera what the shutter speed was.
Just to confuse the issue, my Sunpak actually has TWO "ON" settings. They are not labeled on the Sunpak 144, and I no longer have the manual for this unit. If I select, say, ISO 200 and turn the flash to the first ON setting, the flash indicates I need to use f2.8 at 6.6 to 33 feet. In the second "ON" setting, it indicates f8 at 2.5 to 12 feet. So which "ON" setting should I use? I suspect the two ON settings have something to do with maybe manual or auto operation of the Sunpak but I can't find anything on that. I have checked and the firing voltage is okay with this unit.
I would love to get a P-TTL unit, but right now I have other places to put $200 or so.
Assuming I can get the Sunpak to function, can anyone give me a reference of its power? I've found a guide number for it, but I'm confused trying to compare apples to apples with other units. See the link above. I know that feet and f setting and affect the guide number, I just want to be able to compare this and other units.
Also, can anyone tell me if I could use this flash remotely, like as a slave unit? My guess is no as it would probably fire on the pre-flash on the k100's flash (assuming the K-100 has one; not sure of that either!)
Thanks!