Elicar macro lens with flash

janstew · 08-27-2011, 04:07 AM

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I cant get the flash worked out lol.......it works but I cant seem to get it to sync with the camera (k5).
I bought the whole camera to get the lens....Elicar medical macro 2.5......it has no aperture ring.....Light room reads it as a M or K......I have to put the lens length in.....100 was a close as I could get. Instead of the aperture ring there is a ring that has ISO/ASA on it....goes from 6 to 400......seems to work very similar to aperture....6 lets in more light than 400.....

The flash is powered by the bottom of the camera ( AA batteries and it comes off the original camera) and the hot shoe thingo has only one pin. It will flash randomly so it does work......I just cant get it to work when I want it to! It is soooo worth working out!
cheers
Jan

**ChipB** · 08-27-2011, 11:46 AM

Jan, first things first - you need to check the trigger voltage of the flash to make sure you don't do any damage to the K5's flash circuit. Quick test is to get a VOM meter and check the voltage between the pin and the metal piece that's on the edge of the slide-in bracket. Fire the flash manually a couple of times, then check the static voltage. If it's over roughly 10V DC then your camera is probably at risk - some will say that 25V DC is 'ok', but I like to err on the safe side.

Assuming the voltage is ok, then you'll need to put the K5 in 'manual' and set the shutter speed to the flash sync speed - 180/sec. Then set your f-stop to "something" and give it a try. Adjust f-stop as required. The flash will either fire at full strength or at whatever setting the control box might have - ie: 1/4, 1/2 strength.

Good luck - sure hope the voltage is ok - I have the non-medical version of this lens and it's fantastic!!!

janstew · 08-27-2011, 01:35 PM

Done all that Chip.......the voltage is fine at 6.....but it doesnt seem to respond to the camera......I will have another try at it today and see what i can come up with. So far I LOVE this lens!
cheers
Jan

**ChipB** · 08-27-2011, 03:51 PM

Jan, I forgot to ask - does the flash fire whenever you press the "test" button?

And, do you have another flash that works reliably on the K5 (not the onboard flash - a hotshoe flash)?

And, does the flash work reliably on the Elicar camera?

Just trying to narrow down the culprit!!

janstew · 08-27-2011, 05:02 PM

Hi Chip
Yep it works on the elicar camera when I push the test button, you can clearly hear it charge up. I cant get it to work properly with the elicar camera but maybe that has something to do with no film in it? I have found a manuel for them !! RingFlash Resource Instruction manual for Elicar Auto Macro 8 Although mine seems slightly different as it is a fixed flash. I can see screws to remove it from the lens itself. I don't think my k5 likes it. It doesn't want to charge up although the ready light is on. I now cant get the test button to work and when I push it the K5 powers down but not off........si I dont think I will risk playing with it. I have 4 flash that work fine on the K5 from pentax to sb28's.....I can probably get around most things with them

Its a pity cause the ring flash would have been another fun toy to play with
cheers
Jan

**ChipB** · 08-27-2011, 09:18 PM

Bummer, sounds like something is messed up in the Elicar flash unit. However, since you have several flashes, have you considered something like this - Flexible Arm Flash Lite Light Kit for SLR/DSLR Camera | eBay ? Would give you a lot more flexibility than the ring flash.

Anyway, good luck sorting it all out - and enjoy that fine lens!!

janstew · 08-29-2011, 04:30 AM

Thanks Chip.....I am loving this lens but I am thinking I may unscrew the flash from the front?? Any reason this couldn't be done?
cheers
Jan

**ChipB** · 08-29-2011, 09:10 AM

Originally posted by janstew

Thanks Chip.....I am loving this lens but I am thinking I may unscrew the flash from the front?? Any reason this couldn't be done?
cheers
Jan

Jan, go ahead and remove it - it doesn't work properly anyway so why tempt yourself!!

djm · 10-12-2011, 03:50 AM

The flash unit is reverse polarity to todays DSLR's ( -5v) all you need to do is crossover the 2 wires from the camera hotshoe to the battery pack and all will be fine.

08-27-2011, 04:07 AM	#1
janstew Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Forbes Central West NSW Posts: 311	Elicar macro lens with flash Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I cant get the flash worked out lol.......it works but I cant seem to get it to sync with the camera (k5). I bought the whole camera to get the lens....Elicar medical macro 2.5......it has no aperture ring.....Light room reads it as a M or K......I have to put the lens length in.....100 was a close as I could get. Instead of the aperture ring there is a ring that has ISO/ASA on it....goes from 6 to 400......seems to work very similar to aperture....6 lets in more light than 400..... The flash is powered by the bottom of the camera ( AA batteries and it comes off the original camera) and the hot shoe thingo has only one pin. It will flash randomly so it does work......I just cant get it to work when I want it to! It is soooo worth working out! cheers Jan

10-12-2011, 03:50 AM	#9
djm Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 50	Leave the flash unit On The flash unit is reverse polarity to todays DSLR's ( -5v) all you need to do is crossover the 2 wires from the camera hotshoe to the battery pack and all will be fine.

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08-27-2011, 11:46 AM	#2
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,541	Jan, first things first - you need to check the trigger voltage of the flash to make sure you don't do any damage to the K5's flash circuit. Quick test is to get a VOM meter and check the voltage between the pin and the metal piece that's on the edge of the slide-in bracket. Fire the flash manually a couple of times, then check the static voltage. If it's over roughly 10V DC then your camera is probably at risk - some will say that 25V DC is 'ok', but I like to err on the safe side. Assuming the voltage is ok, then you'll need to put the K5 in 'manual' and set the shutter speed to the flash sync speed - 180/sec. Then set your f-stop to "something" and give it a try. Adjust f-stop as required. The flash will either fire at full strength or at whatever setting the control box might have - ie: 1/4, 1/2 strength. Good luck - sure hope the voltage is ok - I have the non-medical version of this lens and it's fantastic!!!

08-27-2011, 01:35 PM	#3
janstew Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Forbes Central West NSW Posts: 311 Original Poster	Done all that Chip.......the voltage is fine at 6.....but it doesnt seem to respond to the camera......I will have another try at it today and see what i can come up with. So far I LOVE this lens! cheers Jan

08-27-2011, 03:51 PM	#4
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,541	Jan, I forgot to ask - does the flash fire whenever you press the "test" button? And, do you have another flash that works reliably on the K5 (not the onboard flash - a hotshoe flash)? And, does the flash work reliably on the Elicar camera? Just trying to narrow down the culprit!!

08-27-2011, 05:02 PM	#5
janstew Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Forbes Central West NSW Posts: 311 Original Poster	Hi Chip Yep it works on the elicar camera when I push the test button, you can clearly hear it charge up. I cant get it to work properly with the elicar camera but maybe that has something to do with no film in it? I have found a manuel for them !! RingFlash Resource Instruction manual for Elicar Auto Macro 8 Although mine seems slightly different as it is a fixed flash. I can see screws to remove it from the lens itself. I don't think my k5 likes it. It doesn't want to charge up although the ready light is on. I now cant get the test button to work and when I push it the K5 powers down but not off........si I dont think I will risk playing with it. I have 4 flash that work fine on the K5 from pentax to sb28's.....I can probably get around most things with them Its a pity cause the ring flash would have been another fun toy to play with cheers Jan

08-27-2011, 09:18 PM	#6
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,541	Bummer, sounds like something is messed up in the Elicar flash unit. However, since you have several flashes, have you considered something like this - Flexible Arm Flash Lite Light Kit for SLR/DSLR Camera \| eBay ? Would give you a lot more flexibility than the ring flash. Anyway, good luck sorting it all out - and enjoy that fine lens!!

08-29-2011, 04:30 AM	#7
janstew Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Forbes Central West NSW Posts: 311 Original Poster	Thanks Chip.....I am loving this lens but I am thinking I may unscrew the flash from the front?? Any reason this couldn't be done? cheers Jan

08-29-2011, 09:10 AM	#8
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,541	Originally posted by janstew Thanks Chip.....I am loving this lens but I am thinking I may unscrew the flash from the front?? Any reason this couldn't be done? cheers Jan Jan, go ahead and remove it - it doesn't work properly anyway so why tempt yourself!!

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