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01-03-2010, 04:01 AM   #1
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K7 maximum allowed hotshoe trigger voltage

Because i own some superb Metz 45 CT-4 and CT-5 flash units and recently upgraded from Pentax K100D to the Pentax K7 i need to know the maximum allowed trigger voltages of the K7 hotshoe/X-contact.

Some years ago i bought the K100D and had the same question and Pentax US was willing enough to share that information, but this time i got the following answer to the same question:

QuoteQuote:
No such specifications for DSLRs is provided to us from the manufacturer. We are unable to guarantee that another manufacturer’s flash unit cannot damage flash circuits in PENTAX cameras.

“X” sync voltage specifications also were not provided to us from the manufacturer. However, this sync circuit is designed to accommodate professional studio strobe units via standard PC cable connection.

PENTAX Japan has never provided us with a “safe trigger voltage” specification for any camera model.
They even deny that they told me the maximum allowed trigger voltage of the K100D while i still got that email in my mailbox (what was 300 volt btw).

Of course i can use this flashes with my Wein Safe-Sync, but it would be much more easy to just connect the flash to the X-contact of the K7.

Anyone here on this forum who know how to get hold of this information?

01-08-2010, 03:04 PM   #2
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Just giving this topic a kick

No one know how to get hold on this info?
01-08-2010, 05:23 PM   #3
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What's the trigger voltage of your Metz flash units?

My 45CT-4 reads 24V. I've been using it with a K10D body (hotshoe, no PC terminal) for a while now without any problem.

I've saw video of K-7 demo, the presenter (a Pentax guy) did mention that the K-7 PC terminal had "high voltage protection" but he didn't say how high was "high voltage."

The K-7 user's manual still warns about high voltage, but of course does not say how high is high.

The only official info I've ever seen is from Ricoh. My GX200 user's manual specifically says that higher than 20V can damage the camera.
01-08-2010, 06:55 PM   #4
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I can't help you with the information you want, but I have used a Metz 60 CT-2 for a few thousand exposures hooked up to the PC socket of my K20 and K-7 with no ill effect.

03-01-2010, 09:37 AM   #5
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Did anyone ever find out an answer to this?
03-01-2010, 09:55 AM   #6
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Go me

The second call to Pentax technical today got the answer of 20V
03-01-2010, 10:26 AM   #7
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Metz states on their websites that the 45CT4 and 45CT5 are safe for digital cameras.

03-01-2010, 12:49 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Sakura Quote
Because i own some superb Metz 45 CT-4 and CT-5 flash units and recently upgraded from Pentax K100D to the Pentax K7 i need to know the maximum allowed trigger voltages of the K7 hotshoe/X-contact.

Some years ago i bought the K100D and had the same question and Pentax US was willing enough to share that information, but this time i got the following answer to the same question:



They even deny that they told me the maximum allowed trigger voltage of the K100D while i still got that email in my mailbox (what was 300 volt btw).

Of course i can use this flashes with my Wein Safe-Sync, but it would be much more easy to just connect the flash to the X-contact of the K7.

Anyone here on this forum who know how to get hold of this information?
That surprises me, everything else I've heard indicates that it is somewhere in the 20-30 volt range, and 300 will kill the camera.

So far there has never been any indication that Pentax DSLRs are unable to tolerate voltages below 20v (unlike Canons which can fry above 6... Cheap slackers, nearly any cheapo 5 cent bipolar transistor can handle 20v+.)
03-01-2010, 01:37 PM   #9
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If Pentax is ISO 10330:2002 compliant. That sets a 25 volt standard on the flash voltage.
But Pentax has never said whether they are compliant.
03-01-2010, 02:33 PM   #10
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So does this mean I would be able to use any hotshoe flash under 20v on a K-7 in manual mode? I have a Metz 54m-4 and Nikon SB-800 that I'd love to put on the K-7 safely.
03-01-2010, 02:48 PM   #11
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If they measure under 20 volts, they should be fine in manual mode.
04-21-2010, 10:24 PM   #12
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(I posted this one in the "camera and accessories" section)

I have a K7.

I'm thinking of buying a (bargain) Metz Mecablitz 60 CT-4 with Battery Pack and SCA Adapter included in the package.
The previous owner was using this flash for his Nikon system so the adapter is for Nikon. The adapter included with the flash is a "SCA 346/2 AF [M4]" and the cable is a "SCA 300A".

Option 1:
Can I use this adapter directly with my K7?
If so, will the flash function fully (all function available)?
What function will I lose?

Option 2:
I can get the SCA 372 adapter at bargain price (~$50). Is it better to use this adapter instead?
Will I lose any function?

Option 3:
To get SCA 3702 and cable SCA 3000 C as per Metz website recommendation.
The price for SCA 3702 and cable SCA 3000 C is 119 each.

Which is the best option (considering I do not want to spend too much on the adapter)?

cheers

Last edited by bodhi08; 04-22-2010 at 03:35 AM.
04-22-2010, 05:12 AM   #13
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K7 - Max Hotshoe and PC Trigger Voltages

Ok so there seems to be some difference of views on this but there are two questions....

1 - Max voltage allowed at the Hotshoe

2 - Max voltage allowed at the PC contact

Some idea on 2 would be to note here examples of the trigger voltage of studio flash units
And, the voltage of some which have been used successfully and without damage.

[I regularly use Miranda 500CD guns on the hotshoe connection.They present 2.7v at the gun's hotshoe contacts with NIMh cells fitted.
Other Miranda guns present other voltages i.e. the 700CD is 8.2v
Also, I have successfully modified a Jessop 230ABZ using opto isolator technology but this is not a suitable solution for all high voltage guns.]

Thanks DG
04-22-2010, 05:56 AM   #14
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just remember when measuring the flash voltage, use a meter with minimum 10 Meg Ohm input impedance.

Cheap moving coil meters load the flash contact and give false readings that change with every voltage scale selected.,
04-23-2010, 01:38 AM   #15
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Thanks...I am a retired ex photo industry senior electronics engineer.
DG
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