Small flashes and AF assist-only?

Ratmagiclady · 03-05-2010, 04:56 PM

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.

Originally posted by GerryL

I've heard of some earlier Pentax flashes of the auto-thyristor type that has this capability to shut the flash off but the AF light still works.
We have a thread here in the forums but I forgot what model it was.
The info was from a forum member as I was also looking for something the same then.
I'll try to search it one time.

I'd be interested to find out, if you can find it. Me, I honestly skipped over almost the entirety of the 'autofocus film era' as regards having much idea what was made in all that time.

jedcrocker · 03-05-2010, 06:11 PM

I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d.

I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash.

The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well.

I hope this helps

Ratmagiclady · 03-06-2010, 08:47 AM

Originally posted by jedcrocker

I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d.

I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash.

The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well.

I hope this helps

Hey, not too bad. Does the manual mode only work in full power, though, or can you turn it down? (I'd be pretty happy to settle for something from the film era that offers the AF assist light and a couple old-fashioned auto apertures. I do actually expect to be fairly-often carrying film cameras alongside my K20d. It'd be nice if it worked adequately for both. (And old fashioned 'auto' flash is something I'm quite facile with: I just learn what it's trying to do and set exposure on the camera manually: I'm really slow with guide number calculations, these days, particularly when I'm tired, so full manual isn't the first choice for a lot of these applications: still, low power could come in handy. )

To think I at least used to be so familiar with my old 285HV that I could generally just visualize. I don't think I'd count on that ability after all this time, though.

I'll tell you, though, I knew Pentax's decision to leave out the AF assist light on the K20d would complicate my life a fair bit, but sometimes you just want to fire up the Wayback machine to go back to when they made that decision.

)

GerryL · 03-06-2010, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by jedcrocker

I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d.

I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash.

The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well.

I hope this helps

Yup! I think these where the flashes that were mentioned before.
Thanks, so I never have to search for the old threads.

GerryL · 03-06-2010, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by jedcrocker

I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d.

I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash.

The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well.

I hope this helps

Is this the AF-330 you are pertaining to:PENTAX AF-330 FTZ FLASH/MZ/PZ/SF/USED - eBay (item 300403307416 end time Mar-11-10 09:50:39 PST)
and this for the AF-240:Pentax AF240FT flash AF-240 FT - eBay (item 200379365846 end time Mar-29-10 18:35:32 PDT)

Ratmagiclady · 03-06-2010, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by GerryL

Yup! I think these where the flashes that were mentioned before.
Thanks, so I never have to search for the old threads.

It does get pretty bewildering, sometimes. Pentax flash nomenclature is something which I seem to find very hard to retain. There's probably a scheme there which would be worth me deciphering.

jedcrocker · 03-06-2010, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by GerryL

Is this the AF-330 you are pertaining to:PENTAX AF-330 FTZ FLASH/MZ/PZ/SF/USED - eBay (item 300403307416 end time Mar-11-10 09:50:39 PST)
and this for the AF-240:Pentax AF240FT flash AF-240 FT - eBay (item 200379365846 end time Mar-29-10 18:35:32 PDT)

Yes, those are the flashes I was referring to. They both have 2 levels of manual power. For the AF-330, they are "manual high" (full power) and "manual low" (1/4 power). I'm not sure if the AF-240 is the same.

I use the AF-330 for AF assist and to fire off camera slave flashes.

Ratmagiclady · 03-06-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by jedcrocker

Yes, those are the flashes I was referring to. They both have 2 levels of manual power. For the AF-330, they are "manual high" (full power) and "manual low" (1/4 power). I'm not sure if the AF-240 is the same.

I use the AF-330 for AF assist and to fire off camera slave flashes.

Hrm. That's actually potentially-useful for me, then: a quarter of that, maybe pushed through some serious diffusion... should be OK for what I have in mind. I have this cheap little thing that probably eats at least a stop and ought to fit.

Could be just enough.

(I did see from a pic of that other one that it goes down to a lower power manual setting: there's a physical switch.)

Thanks. May see if I can't snag one. It'll TTL on a film body, I presume.

03-05-2010, 06:11 PM	#17
jedcrocker New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NY Posts: 5	Re: Small flashes and AF assist-only? I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d. I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash. The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well. I hope this helps

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Studio Strobes or Small Flashes?	brofkand	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	40	05-09-2010 02:48 AM
Tenba Black Label Small Satchel - great small bag!	andi	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	2	10-13-2009 07:44 PM
Small Flashes for K20D/FAQ me?	Ratmagiclady	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	10	12-03-2008 06:26 AM
What other camera co's flashes can use the same addons as my Pentax flashes?	Grimlock	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	3	08-22-2008 05:39 PM
Model photo shoot using small flashes	imadethis	Post Your Photos!	9	11-03-2007 05:21 PM

03-05-2010, 04:56 PM	#16
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563 Original Poster	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. Originally posted by GerryL I've heard of some earlier Pentax flashes of the auto-thyristor type that has this capability to shut the flash off but the AF light still works. We have a thread here in the forums but I forgot what model it was. The info was from a forum member as I was also looking for something the same then. I'll try to search it one time. I'd be interested to find out, if you can find it. Me, I honestly skipped over almost the entirety of the 'autofocus film era' as regards having much idea what was made in all that time.

03-06-2010, 08:47 AM	#18
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563 Original Poster	Originally posted by jedcrocker I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d. I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash. The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well. I hope this helps Hey, not too bad. Does the manual mode only work in full power, though, or can you turn it down? (I'd be pretty happy to settle for something from the film era that offers the AF assist light and a couple old-fashioned auto apertures. I do actually expect to be fairly-often carrying film cameras alongside my K20d. It'd be nice if it worked adequately for both. (And old fashioned 'auto' flash is something I'm quite facile with: I just learn what it's trying to do and set exposure on the camera manually: I'm really slow with guide number calculations, these days, particularly when I'm tired, so full manual isn't the first choice for a lot of these applications: still, low power could come in handy. ) To think I at least used to be so familiar with my old 285HV that I could generally just visualize. I don't think I'd count on that ability after all this time, though. I'll tell you, though, I knew Pentax's decision to leave out the AF assist light on the K20d would complicate my life a fair bit, but sometimes you just want to fire up the Wayback machine to go back to when they made that decision. )

03-06-2010, 11:07 AM	#19
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by jedcrocker I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d. I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash. The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well. I hope this helps Yup! I think these where the flashes that were mentioned before. Thanks, so I never have to search for the old threads.

03-06-2010, 11:14 AM	#20
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by jedcrocker I had also been looking recently for an AF assist lamp solution for my K200d. I ended up getting a Pentax AF-330 flash from KEH for $27. This is a TTL flash (not P-TTL) so needs to be in manual mode if you use the flash, but I did confirm the "spot beam only" AF assist lamp works on the K200d. In low light, the red lamp (grid pattern) illuminates the subject. I can now focus in near darkness. This mode works without firing the flash. The AF-240 also has a spotbeam AF assist mode and I think it is nearly the same vintage as the AF-330, so it may work as well. I hope this helps Is this the AF-330 you are pertaining to:PENTAX AF-330 FTZ FLASH/MZ/PZ/SF/USED - eBay (item 300403307416 end time Mar-11-10 09:50:39 PST) and this for the AF-240:Pentax AF240FT flash AF-240 FT - eBay (item 200379365846 end time Mar-29-10 18:35:32 PDT)

03-06-2010, 11:35 AM	#21
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563 Original Poster	Originally posted by GerryL Yup! I think these where the flashes that were mentioned before. Thanks, so I never have to search for the old threads. It does get pretty bewildering, sometimes. Pentax flash nomenclature is something which I seem to find very hard to retain. There's probably a scheme there which would be worth me deciphering.

03-06-2010, 06:03 PM	#22
jedcrocker New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NY Posts: 5	Originally posted by GerryL Is this the AF-330 you are pertaining to:PENTAX AF-330 FTZ FLASH/MZ/PZ/SF/USED - eBay (item 300403307416 end time Mar-11-10 09:50:39 PST) and this for the AF-240:Pentax AF240FT flash AF-240 FT - eBay (item 200379365846 end time Mar-29-10 18:35:32 PDT) Yes, those are the flashes I was referring to. They both have 2 levels of manual power. For the AF-330, they are "manual high" (full power) and "manual low" (1/4 power). I'm not sure if the AF-240 is the same. I use the AF-330 for AF assist and to fire off camera slave flashes.

03-06-2010, 08:13 PM	#23
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563 Original Poster	Originally posted by jedcrocker Yes, those are the flashes I was referring to. They both have 2 levels of manual power. For the AF-330, they are "manual high" (full power) and "manual low" (1/4 power). I'm not sure if the AF-240 is the same. I use the AF-330 for AF assist and to fire off camera slave flashes. Hrm. That's actually potentially-useful for me, then: a quarter of that, maybe pushed through some serious diffusion... should be OK for what I have in mind. I have this cheap little thing that probably eats at least a stop and ought to fit. Could be just enough. (I did see from a pic of that other one that it goes down to a lower power manual setting: there's a physical switch.) Thanks. May see if I can't snag one. It'll TTL on a film body, I presume.