GN for minolta flash Auto 200x?

Question

this has been offered to me by a rally and im just wondering if its worth the postage, best i can do is find pix of one, but cant find GN

looks like can be fired manually and fired by hand so could be handy for something?

expect its a low GN if you know for sure thanks heaps, also if theres a formula to minolta flash GN's and model numbers that would be great for my future reference.


Thanks all


a

Dr thanks i had a look and couldnt read because of the flash burn out in the image! here comes a flash/exposure lecture-haha, 64 sounds to high a metz may give that, in the bowels of my grey matter im thinking its 16....doug

Doud im not quite with you is it a GN14?

Im up on flash and always talk in 100iso, so if its GN14 then im looking at say 2.5meters at F5.6 --- we reading each other? thanks

cheers thanks yaba daba do

ok no ones given me the answer yet?

so here goes GN is the power of the flash. in fotogry nowadays its all metric so mm and meters.

GN numbers are always rated at 100iso (photographers always talk 100iso or they specify different)

so a flash with a gn of16 means this

GN divided by the Fstop gives the meters so:

GN16 divide F8 equals 2 meters, shutter speed dont matter*

hope thats clear, not wanting to sound like a you know what just for your info

i think it might be a 20 (hence 200x) or more standard would be 16

*above i said shutter speed dont matter it does if you give to much (burn out the image) or if you exceed the sycn speed


light is iso100 F16 @ 125 GN16 = 1meter (3 feet)

if you shot it with the flash on manual exposure at 1/125th would fine but if you shot it at 1/60th it would over expose, but at 250th the flash has already given perfect illumination at 1 meter

at F16 but want to shot from 2 meters then change Fstop to F8

lements of mad

Dear Dr Sam

yes im mad mad mad, from TV school i learn digital manual white balance and colour temp use and abuse of, im also manual exposure, manual flash/lighting rigs, and yes as a set my appepture i prefer to select where my focus falls with manual focus

that said i never really shot at speed so i have the luxury of fully manual operating, i get on peoples wicks i geuss but im fanatical about my craft, like use a tripod is a standard answer of mine

alot of my answers are the tortured laments of the insane to many and im growing to accept it, i do want to help people and forget the age/skill of our friends here sometimes shame on me!


Thanks Dr

Answer 1

Minolta Auto 200x GNs (metres for ISO 100)

Automatic - up to 20 (14)
Manual Hi - 20 (14)
Manual Lo - 7 (5)

Bracketed GN for 'wide panel' if this is provided.

------------------------------
Max GN 20 for ISO 100 & metres.
If you fit the 'wide panel' for wide angle lenses, it reduces the GN to 14 for ISO 100 & metres.

At 2.5m, you will need to set to f8 if you are using the flash in manual mode.

You should be able to find a handbook at Mike Butkus' site, below.

Answer 2

You ARE going to need some extra light if the subject is in the shade. Don't forget, a reflector can be your very best friend. You may need an assistant, but if you can position your subject so a reflector can be used out of frame to bounce light back onto them, then that can work wonders. A highly reflective gold surface can even add some very nice warmth to the subject. A problem you will likely have with using your 200x flash will be sync speed. I am not positive about this, but I think the max sync speed you can use with that camera is 1/60 shutter speed. Outdoors on a bright day, even in the shade, your shutter speed may be considerably higher than that, especially if you are using a wide aperture and / or exposing for a brighter, sunny background so as not to have it blown out. In such a circumstance, you would need a neutral density filter on the lens so your shutter speed will not exceed 1/60. As to whether or not the Nikon flash will work on the Minolta is something you will just have to try. You do not have to have film in the camera to just see if the flash will fire when in the hot shoe. I have an old MInolta x700 (that I still use) and some flashes from other manufacturers will work with it and some will not. If you do use the Nikon, you will have to set it fully manually, and unless you have a light meter to read the light and / or a way to know the output of the flash for a given aperture and distance, then you run a real risk of having too much or too little fill light. I suggest you stay with the Minolta flash or better yet, try to use a large reflector. steve

Answer 3

I check eBay for random things like this dealig with vintage equipment. Sometimes a seller will give nice information.

One auction says GN 64, but does not specify at which ASA - probably 100.

Check the photos in this auction. You can see the guide wheel and get an idea of the range of the flash.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Minolta-Auto-200X-Flash-for-XG-w-Case-Works-Fine-EX-NR_W0QQitemZ230156259285QQihZ013QQcategoryZ103415QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one's harder to see, but the dial is set on ASA 100:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Minolta-Auto-200X-AUTO-Flash-EX_W0QQitemZ320142173356QQihZ011QQcategoryZ103415QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ADDITION:

From the photos, I'm coming up with a GN (in feet - not meters) of about 22 at ASA 100 and 32 at ASA 200. Distances are obviously approximate, but as close as I can guess...

ASA 100
4' x f5.6 = 22.4
6' x f4.0 = 24.0
8' x f2.8 = 22.4
11' x f2.0 = 22.0

ASA 200
3' x f11 = 33.0
4' x f8 = 32.0
6' x f5.6 = 33.6
8' x f4 = 32.0
11' x f2.8 = 30.8
15' x f2 = 30.0

If you deal in meters, I'll let you do the conversion math. ;-)

In manual mode, ASA/ISO 100, it looks like 2.5 meters would be f/2.8 and not f/5.6.

You know what, Antoni? I think we have to get you checked out. Not only do you know how to manually focus a camera, but you understand guide numbers as well! Something must be wrong with you. I think those horns on your head must be your own and the helmet is just a ruse to make them appear fake. It's the devil, I say!

Answer 4

Sorry I havn't got the foggiest