OEM flash options for Pentax ME?

Blasst · 12-17-2017, 05:13 PM

Just picked up a Pentax ME off of ebay, and its in great condition. My Dad bought one new back in 1977 when they first came out, so a bit of nostalgia pushed me to buy one.

What factory flash that was made for the ME would be recommended? I want it to look good also

Thanks!

manstanox · 12-17-2017, 05:32 PM - **1 Like**

Pentax AF280T.

Blasst · 12-17-2017, 05:50 PM

Thanks for the suggestion manstanox.

Taking a quick look online at that model, I'm guessing it will look HUGE on the ME

Any other smaller options from the factory for the ME?

**monochrome** · 12-17-2017, 06:06 PM

AF200s came kitted with my MESuper. 25% more powerful than the 160s and more features, but basically contemporary to the ME.

Blasst · 12-17-2017, 08:43 PM

Just picked up a mint AF200s off of ebay coming from Japan. Thanks monochrome. Once it gets here I might have questions to use it correctly, as I am an experienced novice with my Pentax ME and how to use a film camera properly.

stevebrot · 12-17-2017, 08:56 PM

That is a tough one. The ME has a simple hot shoe and does not offer support for dedicated flash. At the time it was released in 1976, the Auto-Robo was the only Pentax-brand flash. A year later (1977) the AF160, AF200S, and AF16 were available. In practical terms, there are dozens of third-party offerings of that era that are representative. I still use my Vivitar 2600 from that time frame.

Steve

stevebrot · 12-17-2017, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by Blasst

Just picked up a mint AF200s off of ebay coming from Japan. Thanks monochrome. Once it gets here I might have questions to use it correctly, as I am an experienced novice with my Pentax ME and how to use a film camera properly.

The manual is available for free download:

Pentax Manuals: Accessories

Steve

Blasst · 12-17-2017, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

That is a tough one. The ME has a simple hot shoe and does not offer support for dedicated flash. At the time it was released in 1976, the Auto-Robo was the only Pentax-brand flash. A year later (1977) the AF160, AF200S, and AF16 were available. In practical terms, there are dozens of third-party offerings of that era that are representative. I still use my Vivitar 2600 from that time frame.

Steve

Probably a dumb question, so how does it work on the ME without support for dedicated flash?

Not a Number · 12-17-2017, 11:42 PM

Originally posted by Blasst

Probably a dumb question, so how does it work on the ME without support for dedicated flash?

A dedicated flash will just set the flash sync camera if the camera supports dedication. So just manually set your shutter to the flash sync speed. I'm not familiar with the ME but there is probably a flash symbol at either 1/125 or 1/60 or an X.

**TwoUptons** · 12-18-2017, 04:24 AM

I think the AF160 pairs well with the ME. It looks good and is compact. The trade is that it doesn’t have much power.

IIRC, the ME has 1/100 as the sync speed with auto, bulb, and lock on the dial.

-Eric

Wasp · 12-18-2017, 05:51 AM

The AF280T would have been a good choice. I have one. It is quite powerful for its size and the built-in auto exposure works well. But it is from a later era than the ME...

**gofour3** · 12-18-2017, 07:40 AM

As Steve indicated the Autorobo was the original and only Pentax flash available for the ME, then the AF16 replaced it.

Phil.

stevebrot · 12-18-2017, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by Blasst

Just picked up a mint AF200s off of ebay coming from Japan.

Good choice

It should do everything you need from a basic auto-thyristor flash without extra bulk or weight.

Steve

pathdoc · 12-18-2017, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

It should do everything you need from a basic auto-thyristor flash

The only thing you lose relative to the 280T is the ability to bounce or swivel, and every YouTube expert and his dog is going to be tearing their hair out over that, but I think the problem may be overrated. If OP is looking for something basic to turn indoor gloom to something acceptable for happy-snaps, a basic thyristor-regulated hotshoe flash is fine. And let's face it, with its obligatory full time Av mode, the ME is far more a happy-snapper's SLR than a professional rig anyway (and I say this as somebody who owns one).

Your sync speed is also the manual backup speed; the camera will fire on that speed without batteries, so when one day the electronics die and no more circuit boards are left, you can load 100-speed film, pick a lens with the widest possible f/stop range and continue shooting on Sunny 16 rules. Until recently, some films STILL came with Sunny 16 guides printed on the inside of the box. They possibly still do, but I haven't bought colour film in an individual box for quite a while now, and the four-packs don't have it.

Blasst · 12-18-2017, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by pathdoc

The only thing you lose relative to the 280T is the ability to bounce or swivel, and every YouTube expert and his dog is going to be tearing their hair out over that, but I think the problem may be overrated. If OP is looking for something basic to turn indoor gloom to something acceptable for happy-snaps, a basic thyristor-regulated hotshoe flash is fine. And let's face it, with its obligatory full time Av mode, the ME is far more a happy-snapper's SLR than a professional rig anyway (and I say this as somebody who owns one).

This is exactly me.....for now......

When I have learned how to use the camera and am ready to move on and improve my skills, you guys will be the first to know, then you can point me in the direction I need to go. Thanks to all who posted to my question, seems to be a fantastic forum here of people willing to share their knowledge.

12-17-2017, 05:13 PM	#1
Blasst Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 82	OEM flash options for Pentax ME? Just picked up a Pentax ME off of ebay, and its in great condition. My Dad bought one new back in 1977 when they first came out, so a bit of nostalgia pushed me to buy one. What factory flash that was made for the ME would be recommended? I want it to look good also Thanks!

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12-17-2017, 05:32 PM - 1 Like	#2
manstanox Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: High Wycombe Photos: Gallery Posts: 35	Pentax AF280T.

12-17-2017, 05:50 PM	#3
Blasst Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 82 Original Poster	Thanks for the suggestion manstanox. Taking a quick look online at that model, I'm guessing it will look HUGE on the ME Any other smaller options from the factory for the ME?

12-17-2017, 06:06 PM	#4
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	AF200s came kitted with my MESuper. 25% more powerful than the 160s and more features, but basically contemporary to the ME.

12-17-2017, 08:43 PM	#5
Blasst Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 82 Original Poster	Just picked up a mint AF200s off of ebay coming from Japan. Thanks monochrome. Once it gets here I might have questions to use it correctly, as I am an experienced novice with my Pentax ME and how to use a film camera properly.

12-17-2017, 08:56 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	That is a tough one. The ME has a simple hot shoe and does not offer support for dedicated flash. At the time it was released in 1976, the Auto-Robo was the only Pentax-brand flash. A year later (1977) the AF160, AF200S, and AF16 were available. In practical terms, there are dozens of third-party offerings of that era that are representative. I still use my Vivitar 2600 from that time frame. Steve

12-17-2017, 08:58 PM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Blasst Just picked up a mint AF200s off of ebay coming from Japan. Thanks monochrome. Once it gets here I might have questions to use it correctly, as I am an experienced novice with my Pentax ME and how to use a film camera properly. The manual is available for free download: Pentax Manuals: Accessories Steve

12-17-2017, 09:46 PM	#8
Blasst Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 82 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot That is a tough one. The ME has a simple hot shoe and does not offer support for dedicated flash. At the time it was released in 1976, the Auto-Robo was the only Pentax-brand flash. A year later (1977) the AF160, AF200S, and AF16 were available. In practical terms, there are dozens of third-party offerings of that era that are representative. I still use my Vivitar 2600 from that time frame. Steve Probably a dumb question, so how does it work on the ME without support for dedicated flash?

12-17-2017, 11:42 PM	#9
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by Blasst Probably a dumb question, so how does it work on the ME without support for dedicated flash? A dedicated flash will just set the flash sync camera if the camera supports dedication. So just manually set your shutter to the flash sync speed. I'm not familiar with the ME but there is probably a flash symbol at either 1/125 or 1/60 or an X.

12-18-2017, 04:24 AM	#10
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,213	I think the AF160 pairs well with the ME. It looks good and is compact. The trade is that it doesn’t have much power. IIRC, the ME has 1/100 as the sync speed with auto, bulb, and lock on the dial. -Eric

12-18-2017, 05:51 AM	#11
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,660	The AF280T would have been a good choice. I have one. It is quite powerful for its size and the built-in auto exposure works well. But it is from a later era than the ME...

12-18-2017, 07:40 AM	#12
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	As Steve indicated the Autorobo was the original and only Pentax flash available for the ME, then the AF16 replaced it. Phil.

12-18-2017, 08:05 AM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Blasst Just picked up a mint AF200s off of ebay coming from Japan. Good choice It should do everything you need from a basic auto-thyristor flash without extra bulk or weight. Steve

12-18-2017, 08:17 AM	#14
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by stevebrot It should do everything you need from a basic auto-thyristor flash The only thing you lose relative to the 280T is the ability to bounce or swivel, and every YouTube expert and his dog is going to be tearing their hair out over that, but I think the problem may be overrated. If OP is looking for something basic to turn indoor gloom to something acceptable for happy-snaps, a basic thyristor-regulated hotshoe flash is fine. And let's face it, with its obligatory full time Av mode, the ME is far more a happy-snapper's SLR than a professional rig anyway (and I say this as somebody who owns one). Your sync speed is also the manual backup speed; the camera will fire on that speed without batteries, so when one day the electronics die and no more circuit boards are left, you can load 100-speed film, pick a lens with the widest possible f/stop range and continue shooting on Sunny 16 rules. Until recently, some films STILL came with Sunny 16 guides printed on the inside of the box. They possibly still do, but I haven't bought colour film in an individual box for quite a while now, and the four-packs don't have it.

12-18-2017, 02:08 PM	#15
Blasst Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 82 Original Poster	Originally posted by pathdoc The only thing you lose relative to the 280T is the ability to bounce or swivel, and every YouTube expert and his dog is going to be tearing their hair out over that, but I think the problem may be overrated. If OP is looking for something basic to turn indoor gloom to something acceptable for happy-snaps, a basic thyristor-regulated hotshoe flash is fine. And let's face it, with its obligatory full time Av mode, the ME is far more a happy-snapper's SLR than a professional rig anyway (and I say this as somebody who owns one). This is exactly me.....for now...... When I have learned how to use the camera and am ready to move on and improve my skills, you guys will be the first to know, then you can point me in the direction I need to go. Thanks to all who posted to my question, seems to be a fantastic forum here of people willing to share their knowledge.