Non Fuji flash with HS20

Is there any reason why a non-Fuji TLL flash wouldn't work perfectly with the HS20?

Specifically, I would like to be able to use the Pentax AF540 on the HS20.

Hello JM:

JMoochie said:

JMoochie said:

JMoochie said:

Is there any reason why a non-Fuji TLL flash wouldn't work perfectly with the HS20?

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Yes there is...It's because only TTL flashes designed for Fuji cams will work PERFECTLY...The key here is perfectly...

Any flash that has a manual mode should work on the HS20...Whether it be a thyristor Sunpak 383, Vivitar 285 or your TLL AF540...Just set your Pentax or any flash to a manual non TLL mode and it should work fine...Of course you'll have to experiment much more for proper exposures since all the TLL auto modes are disabled...

From your questions it's kind of obvious you're a beginner, so really I would spend most of my current time into learning the camera itself...If you need flash, concentrate on the pop up flash at this point...Trying to learn the camera and a new flash when you are just beginning can be counter productive at times...Just a suggestion...

lw

Jerry Mucci said:

Is there any reason why a non-Fuji TLL flash wouldn't work perfectly with the HS20?

Specifically, I would like to be able to use the Pentax AF540 on the HS20.

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"From your questions it's kind of obvious you're a beginner..."

Beginner so far as using one brand of TLL flash on a different branded camera.

I wonder how "off" (how many stops, or fractions of stops) TLL flashes typically are on different brand cameras. Does anyone know re: Pentax vs. Fujifilm cameras?

Jerry Mucci said:

"From your questions it's kind of obvious you're a beginner..."

Beginner so far as using one brand of TLL flash on a different branded camera.

I wonder how "off" (how many stops, or fractions of stops) TLL flashes typically are on different brand cameras. Does anyone know re: Pentax vs. Fujifilm cameras?

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Don't worry about TTL (Through The Lens mode, where the camera controls the flash's output) for any flashes that have it. You'll either use the flash in fully manual mode or in the flash's own Auto mode, where the flash itself controls it's output, not the camera. Many smart TTL flashes won't even work in Auto or Manual mode because the electrical contacts on the bottom of the flash don't mate properly with the contacts in the camera's hot shoe. You want to use a simple flash such as Vivitar's 285HV. It has only a single contact on the flash's foot. The HS10 also has a single electrical contact in the center of the hot shoe. I'm not familiar with Pentax's AF540, but if it has multiple contacts on its foot, it may not work at all. If you already have one and it doesn't work, you might be able to get it to work by insulating some of the flash's contacts. Some people use electrician's tape, but that can get messy and hard to clean if you leave it in place too long. If you don't have the AF540 yet, check it out to see what it's contact(s) look like.

might be worth just using the camera flash to trigger a 'dumb' slave unit. Some flashes allow themselves to be used as slaves.
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http://www.flickr.com/people/28361002@N07/

... No reason whatever. You will not have the TTL metering and will therefore need to adjust manually.

The HS-10 did not have TTL, nor were there Fuji flashes available, but it still worked fine.
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Cheers, Dave.
Have fun - take lotsa pix.

http://eyemindsoul.blogspot.com/

Hello Jerry:

Just in case you don't already know, if you happen to get a used manual flash, make sure the trigger voltage is not one the older 100-200 volt types...I don't really know what the max rating got the HS20 hot shoe is, but most modern flashes are around a 6v trigger and the hot shoes will handle a 24v surge...But I don't think any of these newer digital cameras will handle those older 100-200 volt units without damage...

Your Pentax 540 is a strong flash and should do quite well in non TLL mode...

I've been using a SunPak 383 or Vivitar 285 for years and I've gotten to know them so well, I've never felt the need to pay the big bucks for a TLL flash...

lw

Jerry Mucci said:

Is there any reason why a non-Fuji TLL flash wouldn't work perfectly with the HS20?

Specifically, I would like to be able to use the Pentax AF540 on the HS20.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the warning/tips.

I'll do some experimenting with the Pentax flash/HS20 (when I get it) combo in auto, manual, and slave modes. Should be fun.

Jerry

Jerry Mucci said:

Is there any reason why a non-Fuji TLL flash wouldn't work perfectly with the HS20?

Specifically, I would like to be able to use the Pentax AF540 on the HS20.

Click to expand...

The contact patterns and pinout on the hotshoe and base of the flash in TTL systems are not standardized among manufacturers. I have read somewhere in a long-ago thread there may be possibility of damage to circuitry in either the camera or flash if incompatible units are used together.

The pin alignment patterns are completely different between Pentax and Fuji.

Patrick : )