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Re: [OM] OM-4T + non-OM flash question

Subject: Re: [OM] OM-4T + non-OM flash question
From: "Paul Farrar" <farrar@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 09:47:10 -0600 (CST)
> 
> My apologies in advance - this is an OM-related question.
> 
> Background: I've just bought a used OM-4T, and am testing it. I use flash
> very little and only manually as I've been using OM-1's, but would like to
> get more familiar so I can use flash when appropriate.
> 
> I just tested a shoe-mounted Contax flash on it. It seemed to work fine on
> manual, but when I tested on auto the shutter stayed open a long time (I had
> to switch to manual to close it when I tested in low light). It seems that
> not only did the camera not control the flash (which I expected) but that
> the light from the flash wouldn't cause it to close the shutter. Pointing it
> at an incandescent light caused it to close the shutter.
> 
> Anybody informed enough to
>  - give a knowledgeable explanation
>  - assess whether this is OK behavior?
> 
> I'll go test the big strobe next, but since this will be on the PC socket I
> expect similar results.
> 
> Thanks,
> Andrew

It's not a good idea to mix dedicated flashes with different brands
of body. (The OM T flashes are usually OK with other cameras
because they retract the dedicated pins if a keying hole is not present.)
If the flash doesn't light the ready light, the 4Ti will hold the
shutter open until it gets enough light or times out (several minutes),
That's why the shutter closed when you pointed the camera at the light.
If the flash fired, you probably had the shutoff pin shorted by the
incompatible body; so the flash was extremely short and didn't provide
enough light to close the shutter.

Check the voltage on any non-dedicated flash before you try in on
a camera. Otherwise you my get a several $100 repair bill.

Paul

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