The Sunpak 522 is an interesting beast. I have one with OT-5 OM TTL
controller bought from a list member so many years ago I can't recall
who it was. Despite the fact it's large enough to look like a T45
contender its guide number at ISO 100 is only 120 feet for 35mm lens
coverage. The T32 claims 105 feet at ISO 100 with 24mm coverage. I've
always looked at the T32's coverage claim a bit askance and I've never
actually measured the 522's output. But I suspect the 522 is perhaps
about the same power as a T32 or, more likely, slightly less. Unlike
the T32, however, the 522 allows swiveling the flash head without
swiveling the auto sensor.
There were several filter and diffuser lens kits made for it (none of
which I have except for the clip on holder frame). The telephoto
diffusers have guide numbers in the user's guide but there are no such
specs for the two wide angle diffusers.
I used this flash quite often for about a year and often in conjunction
with another flash (like the T32) in the hot shoe (non TTL on non-OM
cameras). One major advantage of the 522 is that it takes 6 AA cells
and can deliver a lot of flashes before 6 high capicity NiMH cells run
down. I also managed to buy an extra battery holder. You can pre-load
the holders and then swap all 6 cells for fresh ones in a jiffy. It
comes in handy if you're taking 4-600 flash shots/night.
Another nice feature is a full to 1/64 power control switch that moves
in 1/3 stop increments. However, it's quite small and very fiddly to
use. Mine is also not terribly accurate and may need to be calibrated
with a flash meter before use with a film camera in manual mode.
I scanned my owner's manual and have combined the 32 or so JPEG images
into a PDF file available on request. Caution: It's about 15MB.
Chuck Norcutt
On 10/24/2010 11:37 AM, Dean Hansen wrote:
> I hit the twice-a-year f-Stop Swap (http://www.f-stopswap.com/) camera
> show in suburban Minneapolis yesterday. Attendance seemed way down from
> previous years. Olympus film items were pretty meager--some OM-10s and
> OM-1s, a mix of 50/1.8 and other unremarkable lenses, and no macro
> equipment at all. There were plenty of lenses for Canon and Nikon
> cameras, lots of ancient ('50s, '60s) camera bodies, a few early Bolex
> 16mm movie cameras, and boxes of used (usable?) flash units by various
> manufacturers, camera cases, and various filters . There was a
> beautiful OM-4T with a 50/1.4 lens, but at $439 (IIRC), I passed. Did
> pick up a Sunpak Auto 522 flash to use with my Mamiya 645. Now here's a
> flash that means business. It makes the T20 flash ($15) I also bought
> look like a child's toy.
> And on the Mamiya 645, I found that the Olympus right-angle
> Varimagni finder slides right on as though it were made for this MF
> camera. Cool.
> Dean
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