Are Energizer Lithiums safe to use in a K-1(II) flash unit?

bobore · 04-11-2022, 03:32 AM

My daughter is shooting with a K-1(II), and I'm going to buy her the basic AF-200FG flash unit. Is it safe to use Energizer Lithiums in the flash unit without risking damage to the camera or flash?

I recently read about excess voltage from older flash units posing a risk to more recent Pentax dslr bodies, so my wheels started spinning!

JohnX · 04-11-2022, 04:03 AM

Lithium batteries are specified for this flash. No compatibility warnings on the Ricoh site.

It is quite low powered. Are you sure it'll do what she wants?

**Mooncatt** · 04-11-2022, 04:29 AM

Originally posted by JohnX

It is quite low powered. Are you sure it'll do what she wants?

I agree, this is something you might want to get her input on. I have this flash, but I've found my stronger $30 generic manual speedlight to be more useful. I think the only time the AF-200FG flash was really useful for me was when I used it as an optical trigger for the speedlight when I used that one off camera.

bobore · 04-11-2022, 04:39 AM

Thanks for the info, folks. Yes, I know it's a low powered unit, but it'll at least give her the option to experiment with some basic outdoor fill-flash.

**brianmquinn** · 04-11-2022, 06:29 AM

I would go with a used Pentax AF-360FGZ (the first model) from ebay. It sells for very reasonable prices and offers tilting flash head.

JohnX · 04-11-2022, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by brianmquinn

I would go with a used Pentax AF-360FGZ (the first model) from ebay. It sells for very reasonable prices and offers tilting flash head.

And significantly more power/range. Don't forget there was a Samsung badged version which could be cheaper.

**Bob 256** · 04-11-2022, 08:48 AM

This flash (AF200FG) has a guide number of 20. For about the same price, consider the AF201 which has a swivel head with pull-out diffusion panel, and four modes. It's about the same size and folds flat making it easy to carry in a pocket. I have it (as well as some more powerful flashes) and use it with my K1 quite frequently. I love its compactness and it doesn't weight the K-1 down very much compared to larger flashes. The user guide doesn't mention lithium but doesn't exclude these either (AAAs). Lithiums run at about 1.7 volts so they shouldn't be a problem, but I use alkaline batteries and they deliver quite a few flashes (spares on hand).

PENTAX AF 200FG reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database

PENTAX AF 201FG reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database

Last edited by Bob 256; 04-12-2022 at 08:18 AM.

steephill · 04-11-2022, 09:05 AM

The AF201 has the same guide number as the AF200 - 20 (possible confusion between metres and feet?). However the AF201 is newer and has some manual control options which makes it by far the better choice of the two.

**Bob 256** · 04-11-2022, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by steephill

The AF201 has the same guide number as the AF200 - 20 (possible confusion between metres and feet?). However the AF201 is newer and has some manual control options which makes it by far the better choice of the two.

Thanks for that. I quickly grabbed some printed specs and didn't think to look at the distance units used for each (I didn't think to look at the specs in my own URL references). My bad.

bobore · 04-12-2022, 01:06 AM

Many thanks for all the helpful info!

**TwoUptons** · 04-12-2022, 02:36 AM - **1 Like**

As a follow-up note, the warnings about voltage and old flashes aren't about the batteries you use in the flashes -- they're about the voltage the flashes will put through the connections into the camera.

When the flashes are triggered by the camera, a circuit has to be closed, and there's a voltage associated with that. On modern flashes, that voltage is very low, only a few volts. On some older flashes, the voltage can be over 100 V. I think anything over 6 V is potentially harmful.

I think any Pentax brand flash since the 1980s at least would be fine in that regard... so the modern ones you're looking at certainly will be.

-Eric

**photogem** · 04-12-2022, 02:48 AM

Originally posted by brianmquinn

I would go with a used Pentax AF-360FGZ (the first model) from ebay. It sells for very reasonable prices and offers tilting flash head.

The first version of this flash has big problems with the plastic (as does the stronger 540 FGZ version):
The plastic of the batterydoor gets worn out quickly and crumbles. It was a very bad design.
Too bad, because the flash is otherwise good:
Pentax AF-540FGZ Flash battery door repair - PentaxForums.com
See reviews in our forum.

ALL Samsung SEF....PZF have the very same problem because they are rebagged Pentax 360/540's

**photogem** · 04-12-2022, 02:59 AM

Originally posted by Bob 256

This flash (AF200FG) has a guide number of 20.
For about the same price, consider the AF201 which has a guide number of 60and rotatable head.

The guide number of the AF201 isn't 60 but 20 as well!
But indeed a nice small flash.

Nice and small is as well the Metz 24 AF1. Doesn't rotate but has a guide number of 24.

Metz Mecablitz 24 reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database

04-11-2022, 03:32 AM	#1
bobore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Oregon Coast Posts: 156	Are Energizer Lithiums safe to use in a K-1(II) flash unit? My daughter is shooting with a K-1(II), and I'm going to buy her the basic AF-200FG flash unit. Is it safe to use Energizer Lithiums in the flash unit without risking damage to the camera or flash? I recently read about excess voltage from older flash units posing a risk to more recent Pentax dslr bodies, so my wheels started spinning!

04-11-2022, 08:00 AM	#6
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,069	Originally posted by brianmquinn I would go with a used Pentax AF-360FGZ (the first model) from ebay. It sells for very reasonable prices and offers tilting flash head. And significantly more power/range. Don't forget there was a Samsung badged version which could be cheaper. Last edited by JohnX; 04-11-2022 at 08:08 AM.

04-12-2022, 02:48 AM	#12
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 2,591	Originally posted by brianmquinn I would go with a used Pentax AF-360FGZ (the first model) from ebay. It sells for very reasonable prices and offers tilting flash head. The first version of this flash has big problems with the plastic (as does the stronger 540 FGZ version): The plastic of the batterydoor gets worn out quickly and crumbles. It was a very bad design. Too bad, because the flash is otherwise good: Pentax AF-540FGZ Flash battery door repair - PentaxForums.com See reviews in our forum. ALL Samsung SEF....PZF have the very same problem because they are rebagged Pentax 360/540's Last edited by photogem; 04-12-2022 at 02:54 AM.

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04-11-2022, 04:03 AM	#2
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,069	Lithium batteries are specified for this flash. No compatibility warnings on the Ricoh site. It is quite low powered. Are you sure it'll do what she wants?

04-11-2022, 04:29 AM	#3
Mooncatt Site Supporter Join Date: May 2020 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 996	Originally posted by JohnX It is quite low powered. Are you sure it'll do what she wants? I agree, this is something you might want to get her input on. I have this flash, but I've found my stronger $30 generic manual speedlight to be more useful. I think the only time the AF-200FG flash was really useful for me was when I used it as an optical trigger for the speedlight when I used that one off camera.

04-11-2022, 04:39 AM	#4
bobore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Oregon Coast Posts: 156 Original Poster	Thanks for the info, folks. Yes, I know it's a low powered unit, but it'll at least give her the option to experiment with some basic outdoor fill-flash.

04-11-2022, 06:29 AM	#5
brianmquinn Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cincinnati Photos: Gallery Posts: 42	I would go with a used Pentax AF-360FGZ (the first model) from ebay. It sells for very reasonable prices and offers tilting flash head.

04-11-2022, 08:48 AM	#7
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,818	This flash (AF200FG) has a guide number of 20. For about the same price, consider the AF201 which has a swivel head with pull-out diffusion panel, and four modes. It's about the same size and folds flat making it easy to carry in a pocket. I have it (as well as some more powerful flashes) and use it with my K1 quite frequently. I love its compactness and it doesn't weight the K-1 down very much compared to larger flashes. The user guide doesn't mention lithium but doesn't exclude these either (AAAs). Lithiums run at about 1.7 volts so they shouldn't be a problem, but I use alkaline batteries and they deliver quite a few flashes (spares on hand). PENTAX AF 200FG reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database PENTAX AF 201FG reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database Last edited by Bob 256; 04-12-2022 at 08:18 AM.

04-11-2022, 09:05 AM	#8
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 386	The AF201 has the same guide number as the AF200 - 20 (possible confusion between metres and feet?). However the AF201 is newer and has some manual control options which makes it by far the better choice of the two.

04-11-2022, 11:09 AM	#9
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,818	Originally posted by steephill The AF201 has the same guide number as the AF200 - 20 (possible confusion between metres and feet?). However the AF201 is newer and has some manual control options which makes it by far the better choice of the two. Thanks for that. I quickly grabbed some printed specs and didn't think to look at the distance units used for each (I didn't think to look at the specs in my own URL references). My bad.

04-12-2022, 01:06 AM	#10
bobore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Oregon Coast Posts: 156 Original Poster	Many thanks for all the helpful info!

04-12-2022, 02:36 AM - 1 Like	#11
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,286	As a follow-up note, the warnings about voltage and old flashes aren't about the batteries you use in the flashes -- they're about the voltage the flashes will put through the connections into the camera. When the flashes are triggered by the camera, a circuit has to be closed, and there's a voltage associated with that. On modern flashes, that voltage is very low, only a few volts. On some older flashes, the voltage can be over 100 V. I think anything over 6 V is potentially harmful. I think any Pentax brand flash since the 1980s at least would be fine in that regard... so the modern ones you're looking at certainly will be. -Eric

04-12-2022, 02:59 AM	#13
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 2,591	Originally posted by Bob 256 This flash (AF200FG) has a guide number of 20. For about the same price, consider the AF201 which has a guide number of 60and rotatable head. The guide number of the AF201 isn't 60 but 20 as well! But indeed a nice small flash. Nice and small is as well the Metz 24 AF1. Doesn't rotate but has a guide number of 24. Metz Mecablitz 24 reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database

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