Flash Questions

[RedHawk]

Hello again!

I've got a little flash (a sunpak auto14) and it's got a table of numbers on the back of it which I presume helps you choose what fstop and shutter speed to use. However I can't understand it and have found no advice so far on t'internet. There is a meter row, a feet row, and ASA and DIN column and then 5 other columns with what I presume are fstop numbers in them. However it gives no clue as to what shutter speed to use!

Also, when playing with a flash, do you use a lightmeter to work out what exposure values etc to use?


Ta,

James

EDIT: My camera's X sync fastest shutter speed is 1/60

[xion911]

As far as I know, the table is for older cameras that do not have the ability to "talk to the flsh, so you would need to calculate all the values based on how far you are from your subject. Since nearly every camera does this for you now, I don't think you would need to worry about it. My canon AE-1 from the 80's is even auto on that.

[RedHawk]

Ah, but this is a Pentax k1000 though. The only electric part is the lightmeter, which doesn't work on mine!!

[chaz]

The flash sync speed should be 1/60 sec, just read distance scale on gun, set aperture for subject distance, camera to 1/60 sec, job done.