How do I get my Pentax AF200s Flash to work on my Pentax k1000?

Question

How do I get my Pentax AF200s Flash to work on my Pentax k1000? I set the flash unit onto the horse shoe of the camera but when I take a photo no flash pops up. I Set the shutter speed to 60 (where the orange "x" is located), the ISO speeds match up on the flash and the camera, I have tested the flash and it works fine, put brand new batteries too. HELP!!!!

Answer 1

Make sure the flash is firmly seated in the hot shoe. If it's not making good physical contact with the hot shoe, the flash won't be triggered.

Also, check the hot shoe and the flash contacts for tarnish or corrosion. You may need to clean the hot shoe with a Q-tip dipped in some rubbing alcohol to get rid of tarnish; same for the flash contacts.

The flash should be set to Auto, which I believe is red or green on the back. White is manual (full power flash).

Here's how the flash works on a K1000: You set the shutter speed to 1/60 or slower (that's why the X is there). You set set the ISO on the flash, then look over at the scale. If the flash power is set to green, choose the aperture by the green line. If the flash is set to red, choose the aperture by the red line. Red has more output than green. The maximum range for automatic is 12' for green and 24' for red (that should correspond to your flash, I hope).

Now if you've cleaned the contacts and they are definitely making good physical contact with each other, and you're still not getting a flash, then there's three possibilities: 1) the flash is bad; 2) the camera's hot shoe is dead or 3) both 1 and 2). You can test 1) by trying another SLR (just go to the camera store and try one of the SLRs there). You can test 2) by trying another flash (well, as long as you're in the store for the test of the flash, why not?).

Hopefully, it's just a dirty flash contact.

Edit: I don't know why people wonder if the flash is compatible. The K1000 has a non-dedicated hotshoe and the flash has both manual and automatic outputs; the dedication only works with cameras that have the right contacts in the hot shoe. With non-dedicated Pentaxes, the flash is either manual or automatic, without dedication. If they don't know this, they shouldn't answer.

Answer 2

Are you absolutely sure they are compatible? Check the contacts on the bottom of the flash foot and the ones on the HOT (not horse) shoe on the camera. If they don't match perfectly you may have to use a synch cord. Of course, its possible the hot shoe no longer works due to age. Your best move might be to visit a real camera shop and ask their advice. Check the Pentax home page and perhaps you can email then for an answer.