[jma]

Many years ago I bought a Cobra Twin D 500 flash gun for use with my old Pentax Super A. They worked together very successfully. I'm now frustrated by the limitations of the built-in flash on my Pentax K 10 D. I'd prefer to use the Cobra gun to forking out £200+ for a Pentax gun, but would I fry the electronics in the K 10 D?

Can anyone advise from personal experience? Or even from knowledge of the various trigger voltages involved?

Thanks in advance!

And apologies if this isn't really a new thread - I'm new to this game!

[Colly]

I nearly made the mistake of using an old flash gun from the film days. As I wasn't sure about the trigger voltage I contacted the manufacturer and was warned not to use it as the trigger voltage was far too high. - So, don't use it until you are sure if its trigger voltage.
You don't have to buy your camera maker's guns; you can get perfectly good, reliable ones from Metz, Nissin and Yongnuo. In this instance I bought a Mecablitz Metz gun with a guide number of 36 which is dedicated to my camera for £76.00.

[jma]

I nearly made the mistake of using an old flash gun from the film days. As I wasn't sure about the trigger voltage I contacted the manufacturer and was warned not to use it as the trigger voltage was far too high. - So, don't use it until you are sure if its trigger voltage.
You don't have to buy your camera maker's guns; you can get perfectly good, reliable ones from Metz, Nissin and Yongnuo. In this instance I bought a Mecablitz Metz gun with a guide number of 36 which is dedicated to my camera for £76.00.

Thanks Colly. I think Cobra don't exist any more but your steer towards other manufacturers is most useful. Thanks again.

jma

[smith328]

[quote='jma' pid='93631' dateline='1393255665'
The site below has a list of trigger voltages for a range of flashguns.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

[Colly]

[quote='jma' pid='93631' dateline='1393255665'
The site below has a list of trigger voltages for a range of flashguns.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Yes, I've seen that list (or similar) before and my gun wasn't on it which is why I contacted the manufacturer.

[jma]

[quote='jma' pid='93631' dateline='1393255665'
The site below has a list of trigger voltages for a range of flashguns.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Thanks smith 328. The list is very interesting but it doesn't mention my gun or any camera other than an EOS.

If there is anyone out there who knows the trigger voltage of my gun I'd be very pleased to hear from him or her. It's a Cobra twin D 500.

I shall contact Pentax to find the maximum that my camera can take.

[Wall-E]

[quote='jma' pid='93631' dateline='1393255665'
The site below has a list of trigger voltages for a range of flashguns.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Yes, I've seen that list (or similar) before and my gun wasn't on it which is why I contacted the manufacturer.

There are instructions on that page on how to measure the trigger voltage. You only need a $5.49 USD multi-meter from Harbor Freight.

[jma]

[quote='jma' pid='93631' dateline='1393255665'
The site below has a list of trigger voltages for a range of flashguns.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Yes, I've seen that list (or similar) before and my gun wasn't on it which is why I contacted the manufacturer.

There are instructions on that page on how to measure the trigger voltage. You only need a $5.49 USD multi-meter from Harbor Freight.

Thanks smith 328. I haven't got a multimeter, but you've given me an excuse to get one !! Thanks.

[Wall-E]

[quote='jma' pid='93631' dateline='1393255665'
The site below has a list of trigger voltages for a range of flashguns.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Yes, I've seen that list (or similar) before and my gun wasn't on it which is why I contacted the manufacturer.

There are instructions on that page on how to measure the trigger voltage. You only need a $5.49 USD multi-meter from Harbor Freight.

Thanks smith 328. I haven't got a multimeter, but you've given me an excuse to get one !! Thanks.

I'm not smith 328, but your welcome.

[jma]

[quote='jma' pid='93631' dateline='1393255665'
The site below has a list of trigger voltages for a range of flashguns.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Yes, I've seen that list (or similar) before and my gun wasn't on it which is why I contacted the manufacturer.

There are instructions on that page on how to measure the trigger voltage. You only need a $5.49 USD multi-meter from Harbor Freight.

Thanks smith 328. I haven't got a multimeter, but you've given me an excuse to get one !! Thanks.

I'm not smith 328, but your welcome.

Forgive my senior moment please Wall-E. I'm afraid I got a bit tangled up in who wrote what! Thank you for your multimeter advice.