K20D and older flashes

**ljlayne** · 07-10-2008, 09:59 PM

If this has already been addressed in another thread, please feel free to direct me to that thread. I have a Vivitar 285HV Zoom Thyristor flash and a Sunpack Auto 611 Thyristor flash. Does anyone know if either or both of these will work with the K20D?

Jodokast96 · 07-11-2008, 12:30 AM

Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages

Both may work, but you need to check the trigger voltages first so you don't fry your camera. The Vivitar is probably one of the most popular flash still in use.

**ljlayne** · 07-12-2008, 09:19 AM

I have looked both in the manual and online for the output voltage/amperage for the X-synch and hot shoe on the K20D but can't find any. Does anyone know where I can find this?

Jodokast96 · 07-12-2008, 07:15 PM

No clear answer. Some say keep it around 6v, some say a max of 30v.

pichygrue · 07-13-2008, 11:46 AM

The Vivitar 285 HV Zoom Thyristor will work fine. Mine is about 25 years old, but no complaints!

Camera K20D!

Jodokast96 · 07-13-2008, 01:11 PM

Originally posted by pichygrue

The Vivitar 285 HV Zoom Thyristor will work fine. Mine is about 25 years old, but no complaints!

Camera K20D!

Not all of them. Some push out some serious voltage. I've got 3 383's, one at 6v, one at 10v and another at 120v. The 120v needs the Safe-Sync, but after that, yes they all work great.

Ulo · 07-15-2008, 11:17 AM

Hi all,
I'm new to this great forum and I'm really happy that I found it. Hope I can get some help solving my flash problems.

I've got a pretty old (late 80's I think) Sunpak Auto 26 FD Thyristor flash. I'd like to give it a chance before giving in to buying a new expensive one, but I don't know how to check if the voltage is ok. I've read somewhere that the camera chip can fry if the voltage is higher than recommended.

The flash is dedicated Pentax and was bought by my father in the late 80's who used it with his Pentax K1000 and his Ricoh RX7. But that was a while ago...

How do I know it is safe to use.

If risky, which flash (reasonably priced) would You recommend? I have been looking at Pentax FGZ-360, Sigma EF-530 ST and the Soligor DG420.

oh yeah, I've got a Pentax K10D.

Thanks
/Ulo

drabina · 07-15-2008, 01:27 PM

Ulo: You have to measure the voltage yourself with a multimeter. Same models may give you different reading based on the year they were produced. Measuring is easy. I believe there is info on how to do it on the site mentioned by Jodokast96.

Jodokast96 · 07-15-2008, 03:54 PM

Secrets of Powershot Flash Photography

Ulo · 07-16-2008, 12:00 AM

Thanks for the answers,

I think I'm going for the Sigma EF-530 or the Pentax AF-360 instead. I don't even know if the Sunpak flash is half as good as the new ones. I mean, it is about 20 years old, and things ought to evolve...

Any suggestion which one of them i should go for (going to use it for portraits mostly)?

Thanks
/Ulo

07-10-2008, 09:59 PM	#1
ljlayne Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 26	K20D and older flashes If this has already been addressed in another thread, please feel free to direct me to that thread. I have a Vivitar 285HV Zoom Thyristor flash and a Sunpack Auto 611 Thyristor flash. Does anyone know if either or both of these will work with the K20D?

07-15-2008, 11:17 AM	#7
Ulo New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Malmo, Sweden Posts: 2	How to check if a older flash works?q Hi all, I'm new to this great forum and I'm really happy that I found it. Hope I can get some help solving my flash problems. I've got a pretty old (late 80's I think) Sunpak Auto 26 FD Thyristor flash. I'd like to give it a chance before giving in to buying a new expensive one, but I don't know how to check if the voltage is ok. I've read somewhere that the camera chip can fry if the voltage is higher than recommended. The flash is dedicated Pentax and was bought by my father in the late 80's who used it with his Pentax K1000 and his Ricoh RX7. But that was a while ago... How do I know it is safe to use. If risky, which flash (reasonably priced) would You recommend? I have been looking at Pentax FGZ-360, Sigma EF-530 ST and the Soligor DG420. oh yeah, I've got a Pentax K10D. Thanks /Ulo

07-16-2008, 12:00 AM	#10
Ulo New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Malmo, Sweden Posts: 2	Sounds a bit too complicated Thanks for the answers, I think I'm going for the Sigma EF-530 or the Pentax AF-360 instead. I don't even know if the Sunpak flash is half as good as the new ones. I mean, it is about 20 years old, and things ought to evolve... Any suggestion which one of them i should go for (going to use it for portraits mostly)? Thanks /Ulo

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07-11-2008, 12:30 AM	#2
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages Both may work, but you need to check the trigger voltages first so you don't fry your camera. The Vivitar is probably one of the most popular flash still in use.

07-12-2008, 09:19 AM	#3
ljlayne Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 26 Original Poster	I have looked both in the manual and online for the output voltage/amperage for the X-synch and hot shoe on the K20D but can't find any. Does anyone know where I can find this?

07-12-2008, 07:15 PM	#4
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	No clear answer. Some say keep it around 6v, some say a max of 30v.

07-13-2008, 11:46 AM	#5
pichygrue Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Netherlands Posts: 21	The Vivitar 285 HV Zoom Thyristor will work fine. Mine is about 25 years old, but no complaints! Camera K20D!

07-13-2008, 01:11 PM	#6
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Originally posted by pichygrue The Vivitar 285 HV Zoom Thyristor will work fine. Mine is about 25 years old, but no complaints! Camera K20D! Not all of them. Some push out some serious voltage. I've got 3 383's, one at 6v, one at 10v and another at 120v. The 120v needs the Safe-Sync, but after that, yes they all work great.

07-15-2008, 01:27 PM	#8
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525	Ulo: You have to measure the voltage yourself with a multimeter. Same models may give you different reading based on the year they were produced. Measuring is easy. I believe there is info on how to do it on the site mentioned by Jodokast96.

07-15-2008, 03:54 PM	#9
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Secrets of Powershot Flash Photography