Sunpak Auto Zoom 3000 Flash - Please help me figure it out

[rs1]

Hello,<br>

<p>I picked up a Sunpak Auto Zoom 3000 at a recent flea market. Very

nice flash unit, head tilts every possible way. It's all great

except I can't figure out its many features. I didn't get a manual

with it. If anyone has experience with this flash unit, please help

me.</p><p>

I do have an image of the dial on the side of the flash but I don't

want to break any forum rules by embedding it so here is the

link    <a

href="http://members.shaw.ca/rajivsankranti/sunpak.jpg"

target="_blank">click here...</a>. The flash has several auto modes

and a manual mode. I am familiar with my Vivitar 2800 and since the

auto modes on the Sunpak are also colour coded, I guess, blue means

f5.6 and up to 40 feet, green is f8 and up to 30 feet etc. What I

can't figure out is the scale for manual mode. The flash does have a

manual mode and there is a switch for it (switch that says A-M) but

no information on the scale and no guide number either.

Also, in the middle of the scale is a knob that moves the innermost

dial. The dial on one side says FULL, 1/2, 1/4 etc., and on the

opposite side has f stops. Don't know what this one means. Is it for

dialing lower flash intensity? If so, is it connected to the insides

of the flash making the flash reduce intensity? This flash is not

TTL, the shoe has only one contact.</p>

 

<p>Any help will be appreciated. I did a google search and came up

with nothing. </p>

 

Thanks for reading this long winded post.<br>

 

Rajiv.

[jimstrutz]

I don't have this flash, but if it is like my other Sunpaks, then yes, when you switch it to manual (M) the dial becomes a regulator from full to 1/32 power. The opposite side of the inner dial shows what the proper aperture should be for a given distance.

 

Right now it's set on 400 ISO, and full power (lined up on the green dot). The dial shows that at this setting at f/5.6 it should be good for up to 12 meters, or 8 meters at f/8, etc. From the dial it looks like the 100 ISO (ASA) GN is roughly about 110 in feet, or 32 in meters.

[rs1]

Jim,<br>

<p>Thank you very much. It all makes sense now. Yes, when I turned the dial to 100 ISO, the f16 mark lines up with 2 meters so that makes the GN 32. Thanks for your help. This is a great flash! I can use it for daylight fill by adjusting that dial and not having to step back as I have been forced to do with my other flash. Beautiful! </p>

[jcuknz]

<p>Deleted as I am seven years late :-(</p>

[keith_jones5]

<p>I am seven years late too but the information may still be of use. The easiest way to find out the guide number of many sunpak models (particularly autozoom) is just use the first two digits of the model name. i.e. autozoom 3000 = GN 30.... autozoom 4000 = GN 40 etc.</p>