Flash recommendation for Pentax LX camera

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YoIaMoNwater

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This will be the first time I’ll be using flash for a Halloween event and I’m pretty excited. Just curious if anyone has experience with using flash and if so what kind do you recommend for a 35mm?

I plan to go to a local camera shop to grab one ASAP as I’ll need it by Saturday.
 
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AgX

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The flashlight is independant of camera format.
 

AgX

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The LX does not require a TTL flash. You also can use a plain flash with calculated settings or an autoexposure flash.
 

MattKing

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Pentax LX

I just did a google check and it require a TTL flash.
No, it offers TTl functionality if you have a compatible flash - compatible with the type of TTl that was current when the LX was current.
But it will work with manual flashes and so called automatic flashes as well.
If you are buying an older flash, be cautious about older, high trigger voltage models.
There are LX owners here who can give you advice about what they like to use.
And by the way, if you ask questions like this, it often helps to make your thread title much more specific. I'll add the Pentax LX reference for you.
 
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YoIaMoNwater

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That’s awesome to hear. Seems like all the old online threads about LX are people convincing others to use TTL flash, which after I checked, isn’t cheap!

What would you guys recommend a budget flash unit then?

Edit: thanks Matt for changing the title
 

bdial

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I don't know that camera, but more than likely you could use non-dedicated flash.
But, since you don't have much learning experience time, a dedicated TTL flash is probably the best choice.

Otherwise, most flashes available nowadays offer at least manual and automatic modes where the flash has its own light sensor to judge the exposure.
In a nutshell;
For automatic, you set your camera's aperture to whatever the flash requires and it will adjust the light output according to what it "sees" with its sensor.
For manual, you focus on your subject, note the distance from the lenses distance scale, then use the table or scale on the flash to determine what the appropriate aperture is for that distance, and set your lens accordingly, then make your picture.

For TTL mode the camera will control the flash output according to the light it reads off the film. You will likely need to set the lens to some minimum aperture which should be documented in the flashes instruction manual.

In ranked order, for a third-party flash, my preferences would be Metz, Sunpack and Vivitar. Much depends on what your local shop might have in stock.
 

Les Sarile

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I have the Pentax AF280T paired to my LX and it's a very good TTL flash combo. Helps to use the lithium batteries in them for quicker recovery cycle.
 

AgX

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That’s awesome to hear. Seems like all the old online threads about LX are people convincing others to use TTL flash,

I bought all my flashes from thrift stores and out of rummage boxes of camera stores. Never paid more than 10€. A on-camera TTL flash I got at the camera store already for 5€. But of course here one must be licky to find just the apt model as TTL logic is proprietary.
 

Arcadia4

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id also recommend the pentax af280t, which offers ttl but also manual settings and can be had for £25 ebay(or less in auctions- i paid £12.50 for mine)or dealer - ffordes have several for £29 some with off camera leads inc. , and is a fairly foolproof option. The kmp pages give a rundown on the pentax options. http://kmp.pentaxians.eu/flashes/
But suitable 3party flashes will also work fine.
 

AgX

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If you are buying an older flash, be cautious about older, high trigger voltage models.
Is the LX already sensitive to high voltages?

(But I admit, in the flash-TTL era this general problem started.)
 
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MattKing

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Is the LX already sensitive to high voltages?

(But I admit, in the TTL era this general problem started.)
I don't know.
But just as I would be cautious about using any of my Olympus OM bodies that are compatible with TTl flash, I would be concerned about a Pentax LX.
Even my Mamiya 645 Pro is apparently susceptible to damage, according to the information I've encountered.
 

Les Sarile

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There are other Pentax LX compatible flash units - larger AF400T, AF080C Ring Light and the smaller AF200T.
I don't recall the model numbers but I believe there were third party ones that also supported LX TTL from Vivitar, Sunpak and/or Metz.
 

GRHazelton

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I have three LXs. If you had more time to shop the used market the AF400t is a killer flash for the LX. Powerful but bulky it will "blister paint" at 25 feet. As others have noted, almost any "auto" flash will do the job, but not with the panache of the AF400t or other dedicated Pentax flash units, ASFAIK all now discontinued. The AF400t will automatically switch the camera shutter speed for flash; while the flash is recharging the LX shutter speed is returned for available light shooting..Sweet!
The AF400t also has wide angle and telephoto lens "diffusers" for such purposes, if you can find them! The external battery pack uses 6 C cells; without it the flash eats 6 AA cells at a terrible rate.Do note that a flash, new or used, may require "reforming" the capacitor before sustained use, at the cost of a set of batteries. To use the AF400t and other dedicated flashes you will need a proper sych cord. Don't leave home without one!
From what I can gather the trigger voltage, measureable with a digital DVM, is not a worry at voltages less than perhap 100 volts for the LX, although the photographer could get a nasty shock. See this site http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html for good info on this.
Good luck with the shoot! Let us know how things go.
 
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YoIaMoNwater

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Thanks a lot for all the detailed responses.

I went ahead and got a AF200S at a local shop the other day and put the flash into use yesterday. Unfortunately there was an issue with the connection to the hot shoe so a lot of blank shots were wasted. Again, maybe because alcohol was involved, I accidentally dropped the flash while trying to clean the hot shoe contacts and the battery door broke off. I'm gonna try to fix it with superglue and if that doesn't work, duct tape will prob solve it.
 
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