Inexpensive Auto Flash

[hinman]

Eyetek Digital DS328AZ from ebay

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I got an inexpensive new flash that is cheaply made in Singapore. Some remorse

when I see it like a plastic toy mounted on my K100D. But it actually works

quite alright in test shots for me. I may be naive and get what I pay for. But

my main thing is after a flash for bounce and swivel and lightweight at the same

time.

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Here are two test shots with and without the flash in indoor setting

with my Albinar 28mm f/2.8 Macro in f/2.8 setting for low lit room

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#1 without flash <br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/2046819276_db15f1d539_b.jpg"></img>

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#2 with flash <br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2046028789_56720dbff9_b.jpg"></img>

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And I am still trying to make the best use of the cheap flash for

$48. My better tests would be shooting some portraits with my DA

18-55 on my boys for indoor and see how it can compliment my favorite

$60 lens for indoor.

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Warning: blogs has advertisements. More about the $48 flash with Eyetek Digital

DS328AZ <br>

<a

href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2007/10/inexpensive-gear-with-pentax.html">http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2007/10/inexpensive-gear-with-pentax.html</a>

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Alternatives of auto-flashes that are not PTTL in: <br>

<a

href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2007/08/flash-after-pentax-fa-50-f14.html">http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2007/08/flash-after-pentax-fa-50-f14.html</a>

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Thanks, <br>

Hin

[pinwu_xu]

For the 1st picture without the flash, what if you adjust the white

balance?

 

Pinwu

[hinman]

I should have tried various WB and custom setting. So far, I rely on the tungsten WB and I think I have tungsten WB in the first picture. I should have used a tripod for the same location and compare 1) w/o flash 2) use built in flash and 3) use an external flash. Ideas are welcome for how to test an external flash properly.

 

The flash is very limited in that the AF setting is for f/2.8 only and I use M mode with Auto WB and adjust timing to be 1/125 in iso 200 as suggested by the manual on using f/2.8 and 1/60 second for iso100 setting suggested for for the internal AF sensor in the flash.

 

The flash does pre-flash when I turned it on, it pre-flash as if trying to meter for the internal f/2.8. And the recycle time is quite amazing fast for my amateur use. I need more tests and real use with indoor portraits to get comfortable using this flash. As of now, I won't recommend it to anyone as it is cheaply made with light plastic material that are likely to wear out fast. And the flash really doesn't look sturdy at all. I would encourage others to look for the alternatives that I mention before in my blog post for

 

1. Vivitar 285 HV (someone actually suggest the older version of 285HV for a reason, but the Vivitar 285 withtout HV has high voltage as I recall from some threads). This flash bounce and zoom but NOT swivel

 

2. Sunpak 383. This flash has almost everything like the Vivitar except the zoom head

 

3. Digital Concept that supports PTTL

 

4. perhaps few others as in Sigma PTTL, Metz 36, Metz 48 and something similar.

 

I will write again to update people interested in alternative flash.

 

Thanks,

Hin

[paul_noble]

You mentioned the voltages on the Vivitar 285HV, so it appears you are aware of the danger of high trigger voltage.

 

Have you checked the trigger voltage of your new flash? I would check it before taking too many pictures. Its easy. You just need a simple voltmeter. I have a cheap one that I picked up at a discount store for $3.99. Its useful for a lot of things around the house.

 

Simply charge the flash and put one lead on the center pin of the flash shoe and the other lead on the side contact.

 

High voltage may not damage your camera immediately, so the fact that you've taken a few pictures is not proof that the flash is safe. I have a Vivitar 283 that I thought was safe. I took a couple of pictures on my K10D and then decided to re-check the voltage. It was over 110 volts! Needless to say, that flash will not be used on my K10D again.

 

I wouldn't be comfortable using a flash with a trigger voltage higher than about 10 volts. I asked Pentax, in an email, what the maximum voltage my K10D could take. They replied that it should be safe up to "about 25 volts", but I didn't get a warm, fuzzy feeling that this person was a techie who knew what he was talking about. There are plenty of new flashes out there that are under 10 volts, so don't risk damage to your camera that will almost certainly NOT be covered by the warranty.

 

Paul Noble

[hinman]

Paul, thanks for the valuable advice. Mine is pretty safe at 6volt.