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Minolta XG-1 and 200X flash

Started Aug 4, 2007 | Discussions thread
Ken Coviak Contributing Member • Posts: 576
Re: Minolta XG-M and 132X flash

In those models, the "auto" function is performed entirely in the flash. The flash is set for a certain exposure level. In the case of the 132x, there was a choice of just two exposure levels. You set the lens aperture to correspond to the flash exposure level setting and film ISO.

When the flash fires, a sensor monitors the amount of light being reflected back from the scene. When the amount of reflected light reaches the level of the selected exposure value, the circuitry in the flash shuts the strobe off. In the cheaper units, this was done by dumping the rest of the charge from the capacitor into a dummy load. In the better units, they were able to shut off the high voltage circuit and preserve the remaining charge, shortening the recycle time until ready for the next flash.

The other connection in the Minolta hot shoe allowed the flash to indicate to the camera when it was turned on, and when it was ready to fire. I believe that problems with this signal can cause problems with the shutter. A combination of "turned on" and "not ready to fire" can inhibit the shutter. A misbehaving signal could cause shutter problems. (It's all starting to come back to me now.)

What kind of batteries does your old flash use? If you are using AA or AAA cells (carbon zinc, alkaline, or nickel cadmium), you might try NiMh cells. The voltage is in the same range as the other cells, but NiMh can supply as much current as the NiCd cells, and may shorten the flash cycle time over carbon zinc or alkaline.

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