First 2nd Curtain Sync - History Question

BB_Zone28 · 03-31-2014, 12:45 PM

Anyone here know when and what model(s) of Pentax camera & flash were the first to offer 2nd Curtain flash sync feature?

From the info I've found so far, it appears the F series flashes may have been the first with 2nd Curtain sync capability, but in the AF SLR camera database this feature isn't mentioned.

A secondary question would be who (other brand than Pentax?) offered the very first 2nd Curtain flash sync feature for any camera system?

Last edited by BB_Zone28; 03-31-2014 at 01:04 PM.

stevebrot · 03-31-2014, 01:23 PM

Are you looking for such a beast? I would suggest that a good place to start in Pentax-land is the Dimitrov K-mount site:

Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page

Steve

BB_Zone28 · 03-31-2014, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Are you looking for such a beast? I would suggest that a good place to start in Pentax-land is the Dimitrov K-mount site:

Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page

Steve

I had been looking through his info, but the 2nd Curtain Sync feature isn't referenced in his specifications charts for cameras or flashes.

wombat2go · 03-31-2014, 02:20 PM - **1 Like**

The AF400Ftz had it and the manual mentions that it worked with SFX / SF1.
Manual also mentions that the inbuilt flash on those cameras did not have that function

BB_Zone28 · 03-31-2014, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by wombat2go

The AF400Ftz had it and the manual mentions that it worked with SFX / SF1.
Manual also mentions that the inbuilt flash on those cameras did not have that function

That helps. I downloaded the AF400Ftz manual. It shows a leading/trailing curtain switch.
So, based on this info for the SF1(1987) & AF400Ftz(1987), we know that 2nd curtain sync was at least available in 1987, if not before, or maybe this is where it all began for Pentax.

---------- Post added 03-31-2014 at 05:08 PM ----------

Regarding 2nd curtain sync, I just found this quote on Wikipedia for the 1986 Canon T-90 & 300TL flash "The T90 became the first mass-market camera to support second-curtain flash, where the flash fires at the end of the exposure, just before the second shutter curtain starts to close."

So, I'm concluding that the following year, 1987, with the release of the SF1 & AF400FTZ was the first Pentax with 2nd curtain sync.

stevebrot · 03-31-2014, 07:04 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BB_Zone28

So, I'm concluding that the following year, 1987, with the release of the SF1 & AF400FTZ was the first Pentax with 2nd curtain sync.

That is a reasonable assumption. Good to see that you worked it out. You might note that this was and is primarily a flash function though there is a body dependency. The body signals both first and second curtain release to the hot shoe (first curtain to the main pin and second curtain to the digital pin) regardless of the setting for the onboard flash. This is true for modern dSLRs as well as the film cameras that have the digital signal pin on the hot shoe. If the flash supports second curtain sync and the feature is turned on, the second curtain signal is used.

Steve

BB_Zone28 · 03-31-2014, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

You might note that this was and is primarily a flash function though there is a body dependency. The body signals both first and second curtain release to the hot shoe for all exposures regardless of the setting for the onboard flash. This is true for modern dSLRs as well as the film cameras that have the digital signal pin on the hot shoe. If the flash supports second curtain sync, the second curtain signal is used.

Steve

Good point! That's why I listed both the SLR camera model and flash model together in my comments regarding 2nd curtain sync.

03-31-2014, 12:45 PM	#1
BB_Zone28 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 152	First 2nd Curtain Sync - History Question Anyone here know when and what model(s) of Pentax camera & flash were the first to offer 2nd Curtain flash sync feature? From the info I've found so far, it appears the F series flashes may have been the first with 2nd Curtain sync capability, but in the AF SLR camera database this feature isn't mentioned. A secondary question would be who (other brand than Pentax?) offered the very first 2nd Curtain flash sync feature for any camera system? Last edited by BB_Zone28; 03-31-2014 at 01:04 PM.

03-31-2014, 01:23 PM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Are you looking for such a beast? I would suggest that a good place to start in Pentax-land is the Dimitrov K-mount site: Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 03-31-2014 at 01:31 PM.

03-31-2014, 07:04 PM - 1 Like	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by BB_Zone28 So, I'm concluding that the following year, 1987, with the release of the SF1 & AF400FTZ was the first Pentax with 2nd curtain sync. That is a reasonable assumption. Good to see that you worked it out. You might note that this was and is primarily a flash function though there is a body dependency. The body signals both first and second curtain release to the hot shoe (first curtain to the main pin and second curtain to the digital pin) regardless of the setting for the onboard flash. This is true for modern dSLRs as well as the film cameras that have the digital signal pin on the hot shoe. If the flash supports second curtain sync and the feature is turned on, the second curtain signal is used. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 03-31-2014 at 07:12 PM.

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03-31-2014, 02:07 PM	#3
BB_Zone28 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 152 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Are you looking for such a beast? I would suggest that a good place to start in Pentax-land is the Dimitrov K-mount site: Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page Steve I had been looking through his info, but the 2nd Curtain Sync feature isn't referenced in his specifications charts for cameras or flashes.

03-31-2014, 02:20 PM - 1 Like	#4
wombat2go Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	The AF400Ftz had it and the manual mentions that it worked with SFX / SF1. Manual also mentions that the inbuilt flash on those cameras did not have that function

03-31-2014, 03:39 PM	#5
BB_Zone28 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 152 Original Poster	Originally posted by wombat2go The AF400Ftz had it and the manual mentions that it worked with SFX / SF1. Manual also mentions that the inbuilt flash on those cameras did not have that function That helps. I downloaded the AF400Ftz manual. It shows a leading/trailing curtain switch. So, based on this info for the SF1(1987) & AF400Ftz(1987), we know that 2nd curtain sync was at least available in 1987, if not before, or maybe this is where it all began for Pentax. ---------- Post added 03-31-2014 at 05:08 PM ---------- Regarding 2nd curtain sync, I just found this quote on Wikipedia for the 1986 Canon T-90 & 300TL flash "The T90 became the first mass-market camera to support second-curtain flash, where the flash fires at the end of the exposure, just before the second shutter curtain starts to close." So, I'm concluding that the following year, 1987, with the release of the SF1 & AF400FTZ was the first Pentax with 2nd curtain sync.

03-31-2014, 07:12 PM	#7
BB_Zone28 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 152 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot You might note that this was and is primarily a flash function though there is a body dependency. The body signals both first and second curtain release to the hot shoe for all exposures regardless of the setting for the onboard flash. This is true for modern dSLRs as well as the film cameras that have the digital signal pin on the hot shoe. If the flash supports second curtain sync, the second curtain signal is used. Steve Good point! That's why I listed both the SLR camera model and flash model together in my comments regarding 2nd curtain sync.