[fgpinarli]

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Hi. I bought a elicar auto macro-8 ring flash unit for using with my pentax SLRs and DSLR, K20D. It's said that it's trigger voltage is about 5 v so I think it won't harm my K20D. If anyone know that this unit will be used as "auto" or "manual" on pentax DSLRs? On the other hand, I don't know which connection is better, hot shoe or PC cord (X-sync). I will very appreciate all comments. Thank you

I know nothing about it... but look forward to seeing and hearing of your results with it.

Please post your results and thoughts in this thread when you get it.

thanks
gus

[axl]

I know nothing about it... but look forward to seeing and hearing of your results with it.

Please post your results and thoughts in this thread when you get it.

thanks
gus

same here, I know not much about flash photgraphy but was thinking about ringflash for a while for my wife. Please show us the results when you'll have them...
BR

[fgpinarli]

Thanks to all of you. I am eager to receive and try this flash and I will post the results as soon as I get it. However, As I will use it with my SMC-M 100mm macro, I think it won't be auto because my K20D can't get f stop information. May be I'll try with my SMC-A 50mm 1.7, not for macro of course. Anyway, we have to wait

[fgpinarli]

I have just received my flash. It is well built item and works without problem with K20D. It says that GN is 26 for ASA100/ft. There is 2 options: auto and manual. Also for auto mode, there is 2 selections: according to the distance, blue for 0.2-1m and red for 0.2-0.5m. So I guess if you shoot to a distance of 1 m, you select the blue icon on the ring and for a distance closer than 0.5m, the red one. The manual says that after this adjustment, the correct exposure is automatically done. However, this not the case with my K20D+ SMC-M 100m Macro, the exposures were not correct. For the manual selection, there is exposure chart. After the selection of the ASA and distance, the correct f stop can be found. So, for 100 ASA and a subject to 0.5 m, the correct f stop was given as f:16. There is also a "macro exposure aperture adjustment table" and suggest 1 F stop change for 1:2 macro (for my lens). So, the correct f stop must be 11. However, I obtained the correct exposure for 0.5m with ISO200 and f:8. I don't know why, let's think there is a difference of 1 stop but what about ASA/ISO?. The last issue : I shoot some portraits and always had red eye problem. Anyway, I also had few good close-up images and guess I'll do better with some experience. I will very appreciate all comments and thoughts. Thank you for reading with patience.

[fgpinarli]

I forgot one issue: I connected the flash via hot shoe and shoot in X mode. When I connected the PC cord to the X-sync of the K20D, the flash didn't work. Anybody know why?

[taztaz1]

hi where did you buy your elicar flash,thanks dave

[fgpinarli]

Hi. I bought from ebay. You can still see it by clicking the link:
AUTO RING FLASH UNIT FOR MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY on eBay, also, Studio Equipment Lighting, Photography (end time 17-Jan-09 20:15:00 GMT)

[fgpinarli]

Hi. After several essays. here is my conclusion:
In dim light or adequate light, K20D and elicar flash's exposures are great both on auto and manual modes. However, in absolute dark, there is 2 stops underexposure in both auto and manual modes. I don't know if this the case for all flashes, and may be you can tell it to me. All comments are wellcome. Thank you.