How to setup and use a basic flash.

Maybe you guys can help me out, I have an old flash for my k1000,

maybe its as old as the camera it self (at least 15 years) and I

don't have the manual, and I have NO CLUE how to use it at all. What

I mean is it has a chart on the back and 2 lights and the test button

and then 2 switches plus the on/off button.

So I have no clue how to use it, I've done a bit of googling and I

know to set the camera shutter speed to 1/60th or lower (the k1000s

max sync speed) but I have no idea about the rest. It does seem to be

somewhat intellegent cause most of my flash pictures come out ok but

maybe I'm missing out on stuff I could be in control of, also it has

the little hole in the front that I assume is some sort of light

meter to measure how much light has been reflected back off the

subject?

Anyways here is a pic of the back maybe you guys can make some sense

of it.

(not sure how to add images on this forum so here is the link)

http://home.cogeco.ca/~glamb/flash.jpg

And as for setting the camera for flash use I just know to set the

shutter to 1/60 and set the focus I have no idea what to do with the

aperature?

Its a sunpack rx220-s

- On the table, find the column that corresponds to your film speed.

- The figures outlined in yellow or green in that column represent the f-stop you

must set to take advantage of the flash auto capabilities. For example, with 400

ASA film, you can choose for the flash to expose at either f4 or f8.

- Select yellow or green with the switch on the left, and set the corresponding

aperture on the lens. (The distance figures on the left of the table represent the

maximum distance that the flash can cover at that setting. So the green setting

allows you to work at greater distances - but you may often prefer to use the yellow

setting, as it gives you greater depth of field.)

- 'M' is for manual, and means that the flash goes of at full power each time it is

triggered

- 'auto ok' is a confirmation light that comes on a second or so after you have shot in

the yellow or green auto modes - it only comes on if enough light has reached the

subject

- 'ded./nor.' - 'ded.' as in dedicated TTL flash control. It depends what camera

brand the flash is dedicated to... probably not the K1000, so leave set to 'normal'

- The other numbers in the table can be used to set the aperture when shooting the

flash in manual mode

Thanks alot for the responce that helps alot.

I just want to get a little clarification.

So using the Yellow or green setting is the settings I use if I want the the flash to automatically send out the proper amount of light?

And the distance in the chart, thats the max distance it works at? What I mean is I can set it to yellow, which has a distance of 18 feet and use it at less then that and it will still work correctly?

And if the auto ok light doesn't come on after taking a pic that means it might not be properly exposed and to recheck my settings and try the shot again?

Also do I always set the camera to 1/60th when ever I'm using the flash and I just ignore the exposure needle in the veiwfinder when using the flash in auto mode?

2 more LOL.

Is there a way to use it just as a fill flash?

And is there any lower profile flashes out there I could use on my camera that are smaller and lighter? What I mean is all the newer cameras have a small flash that pops up when needed so you always have one with you, I would think with todays technology I could get one that is smaller, lighter and runs off 2 AAs or 2 AAAs that I could leave on the Camera all the time?

Thanks again for the help.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

'Do I always set the camera to 1/60th when ever I'm using the flash and just ignore

the exposure needle in the viewfinder when using the flash in auto mode?'

No.

When shooting indoors, you can slow down the shutter speed to mix some ambient

light with the flash. For example, shooting at f8 with 400ASA film (with the flash in

Yellow mode), you might decide to select a shutter speed of 1/15 or 1/8 (but watch

for blur). Make a decision based on the metering needle.

When shooting outdoors watch out for overexposure. As you can't use a shutter

speed faster than 1/60, in bright conditions you'll be using an f-stop of about f22. In

such a scenario the flash will just add a little fill light.

'Is there a way to use it just as a fill flash?'

Yes, set the flash to give you f4 (green mode, at 400ASA) but set the lens to f8. Now

your flash is giving you an exposure 2 stops below normal. Meanwhile set the shutter

speed to give you a normal exposure under the ambient lighting conditions (but don't

go over the 1/60 flash sync).