Friday Flashback: Pentax Super A, Metz 45, Quantum Battery 2.

I did wedding photography for many years. I started with film and then transitioned to Digital. I am now no longer doing weddings but occasionally get asked. Before auto focus and digital my cameras were mainly Pentax. Pentax 35mm and Pentax 645.The Pentax Super A was my favourite from those days and coupled with a Metz Flash and Quantum battery pack I was ready for anything.
Below is a link to some old skateboarding pics I shot on this camera and a Kiron 28-210 zoom lens.
geoffthompsons...
I have posted on shooting a wedding with film on one of my blogs.
Here is the link.
geoffthompsonp...
And another link here which is similar.
geoffthompsons... records show that in 1988 I bought my first Pentax Super A and a pentax 50mm F1.7 lens for $599. I also purchased at the same time a Kiron 28-210m zoom lens for $299.Still have both and a great lens.In June 1990 I paid $400 for a second used Super A body.

[@justinweier4099]

This was a great video sir. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with this camera.

[@pembridgehouse]

Thank you justin. Glad you liked it! Geoff

[@bss6273]

Thank you sir. Your video and knowledge is worth gold, especially in this day and age that film is coming back

[@pembridgehouse]

Yes it is exciting that film is enjoying a comeback and pentax are talking about making film cameras again.

[@ThePhotofit]

Classic!! Love the bookcase groaning under the weight of umpteen books!!

[@pembridgehouse]

Thank you David. I once asked one of my sons how I could make my presentations and surroundings slicker like some of the A Grade youtubers. He said "No Dad, you should keep it as it is."

[@ThePhotofit]

@@pembridgehouse Your son is spot on. Keeping it real is not only endearing; it’s genuine, convincing and provides a narrative no words can describe.

[@cfagil]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. Enjoyed that. Hats off to the photographers of the film era whose gears were more involved than the nowadays'ones with much automation which tries to help us to take better photos.

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks for your comments. I guess the cameras were not more involved, quite simple really but you had to know hat you were doing.You may not have seen this video about weddings on my channel. It describes the challenges of weddings. It applies equally today as it did then. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g566qKObmK6cj9E I did not dare shoot a wedding on "p" in those days but when digital arrived I did.cheers Geoff

[@draganmikki5688]

I didn't expect much from this review, but I thoroughly enjoyed it because it brought the memories of doing the same as Geoff demonstrated. Thank you.

[@pembridgehouse]

Hi Dragan. Thank you for your comments. I am glad you enjoyed it.They were good days.Cheers,Geoff.

[@KhalikAllah]

Great work

[@pembridgehouse]

Thank you Kahiik. Geoff

[@punkrachmaninoff]

Finally someone does a good review of the Super-A!! I have the elusive 'European Camera of the Year Edition' Super-A with the 50/1.4... Love that camera.

[@pembridgehouse]

Hi and thanks for your comments. Thus is one of my favourites also. Sorry I hadn't noticed that I had not responded.

[@punkrachmaninoff]

@@pembridgehouse no problem. glad you are showing off the super a to the world in all it's glory!

[@russellsprout2223]

I really enjoyed this one. I have a real soft spot for 'old school' photography techniques. It would be great if you could find the time to produce a video about how to setup and use manual flash for weddings. This subject seems to be a veritable minefield of misinformation. Thank you

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks I am glad you enjoyed this. I have done other videos about flash. some of your questions might be answered there. Here are the links. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJfak3edab2VY9E kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGSUYn93hd1jd6s cheers Geoff

[@haenzelv6287]

Great little story. Bringing back memories. Photography back then forced you to think before firing... I started with the Petri GX-1, then Pentax K10D (first digital for me). Now I have the K-3, KP and K-1 mkII. Recently I bought some Pentax and Ricoh dlsr's for next to nothing. Still need to shoot some film though... Thanks for posting!

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks for your thoughts Haenzel. Sounds like you are well and truly a Pentax fan. My first pentax was the Spotmatic 2. Happy shooting.

[@newschomper]

Please do a tutorial on getting the correct exposure using the Metz 45 in exposure mode. I just picked up this flash to use with my film cameras. Thanks Geoff for handing down your wisdom and experience!

[@pembridgehouse]

Hi drew thanks for your comments. I presume you mean using manual exposure on your camera.I will not be able to do anything on this until maybe the end of the week.The main idea is when outdoors you set your aperture and shutter speeds as required,making sure the shutter speed is no faster than the flash sync speed.Then you select your flash settings the same as the camera. You also need to have your flash set on the same iso as the film you are using and as set on your camera.You can adjust your metz by either iso or aperture to vary the amount of fill flash you want if shooting outdoors.These same principles apply if shooting digital.In indoor lighting you decide what aperture you want and do a similar process with your flash. Always when using flash you need to set the shutter speed on your camera to the flash sync speed of your particular camera or slower. You can hook your metz up to your digital slr on the slr hotshoe using a hotshoe/pc adaptor.You can experiment with your digital slr and metz flash and then do the same on your slr film camera.I hope I haven't confused you.

[@newschomper]

@@pembridgehouse Thanks Geoff, I'm shooting outdoors mostly at night in complete darkness, so how would i approach this with the Metz 45?

[@pembridgehouse]

@@newschomper Hi Drew. It depends on what subject you are shooting and what camera you are using and what film iso you are using.Generally if you are using flash at night outdoors you may need to expose for background scenes with the camera and the foreground with the flash.I think I only ever once used my metz outdoors at night when I was shooting at a wedding.It had gotten dark.I was shooting a Bridal party and there were lights on in a courtyard in the background.I had my camera on a tripod and reduced the shutter speed to pick up the ambient light in the background.I then set my flash on the required setting to make sure the flash reached the subjects.They were some twenty plus yards away. I probably had the camera shutter speed at about an 1/8th of a second. I told the bridal party to remain still although the flash probably dealt with any movement by them. There are 2 shutter speeds in operation here. That on the camera and in dark conditions the flash is exposing at approx 1000th of a second.In effect 2 exposures in one.You probably should go on a film forum like DP review and pose your questions there to see what replies you get.With a digital camera with high Iso this scenario does not present a problem.

[@Kaufeetimevideo]

I'm across the pond and purchased a Program about 5 years ago. The Pentax was having issues shipped to a mechanic. Shoots great pictures only wish I know flash like you. Thank You for making this video

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks for your comments. Yes they are great cameras.You can still get the large Metz flashes on the used market in Adelaide for good prices.When you say across the pond I an not sure what ocean you mean.We usually say in Australia of New Zealanders they are across the ditch.

[@Kaufeetimevideo]

@@pembridgehouse Apologize about using slang in the wrong, I am from Kansas USA. I have been a Pentaxian since 1980/81 with a ME Super.

[@pembridgehouse]

@@Kaufeetimevideo We Australians thrive on slang so no need to apologise.Glad you are into Pentax. That is my first love and ongoing. Other brands try to woo me.The ME super is a wonderful camera. I have 2 that I should get fixed.Enjoy your day in Kansas.In Adelaide, in our local hills, we have a bushfire(wildfire)at present that is starting to be controlled. One of our sons and his family nearly came to stay with us last night as the fire was not too far away.cheers Geoff

[@choongching]

Just got a Metz 45 Flash for myself from ebay. Looking forward to trying it out! Thanks for sharing this.

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks for your comments and thanks for subscribing. I am in the process of creating some more videos at present but a slow process at the moment.Good luck with your metz.If you are able to find a battery pack hat would be helpful but the standard battery holder with the flash is ok for occasional use.The contacts where the battery holder connects to the the flash handle can develop a coating over time that means they need to be scraped a little to ensure the power gets through.

[@АндрейЕвтушенко-ш8д]

With great pleasure I look at the enthusiastic people engaged in photography ! I have digital cameras but film Pentax and Minolta bring peace of mind to my hobby . Thanks for the review! With best wishes !!!

[@pembridgehouse]

Thank you for your comments. Have a happy new year.

[@dominicwroblewski5832]

Oh how I loved the Super Program / Super A ( i had 3 Super Programs and a black Super A) That camera was a joy to shoot. I'm still trying to find a Metz 45 in decent shape but so far no luck. I always shot as a hobby so I couldn't afford a battery pack so I made my own out of parts from Radio Shack. Used it with a Vivitar 283 for night time train Photography.

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks Dominic I love getting comments from enthusiastic photographers. The Metz flashes seem to be in reasonable supply in Australia but I haven't been looking around for them lately. Shooting as a hobby as against trying to make money is a good idea. I started making a bit of money from weddings as there was a lot of work coming my way at times but never really embraced going full time.I found it was much too hard to make a living out of photography.It would have been at the expense of a lot of other things that are more important.I have a lot more posting of videos to go yet so you might find something else of interest down the track.cheers. Geoff

[@robhowarth77]

Pentax MX - S was a superb camera. Mine, very sadly was stolen in 2010 and despite the agents scouring world wide for me, it could not be replaced.

[@pembridgehouse]

Sad to hear that Rob. I hope you found a worthy replacement. Geoff

[@ivanuchuya2089]

Hello. Do you know which store sells quantum battery?

[@pembridgehouse]

There are 2 for sale on ebay at present . One is in need of repair,

[@khanscombe619]

Was there a Nikom TTL lead for it & would it support Nikon Matrix Balance Fill on F4, F5?

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks for your question Ken. I don't know the answer to that. My experience with the TTL lead and connection for pentax on thus was that my TTL lead died but even when I used it on the pentax I got better results just using the thyristor sensor on the metz. I found using TTL seemed to shut my flash down sooner and did not give me full lighting on my subject. ie doing a full length shot of a bride and bouncing off the ceiling there was a fall off in light towards the bottom.Also taking a flashmeter reading was helpful.cheers Geoff

[@shademanirvanipour6870]

I did wedding photography few years ago and I used my Metz 60 6T4 Flash and my studio Lights as well for indoors weddings and for out doors as well

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks for your comments Shademan. I hope you found these videos interesting.It is always challenging to photograph a wedding.

[@jwshao2747]

nice flash!!

[@pembridgehouse]

Yes it was! ans is.

[@sahidabas1151]

Same too i Photogrfer , how you now..

[@ingowalkerling5141]

Try those Metz 45 CT flashguns in combination with the mecamat 45 external sensors. You loose SCA connectivity, but you get the full manual and automatic aperture control with those flashes. There were three different types: 45-20 for 45 CT-1 45-30 for 45 CT-5 45-46 for 45 CT-3 and CT-4

[@pembridgehouse]

Thanks for this Ingo. I will look into that. cheers geoff

[@lexlayabout5757]

Don't most modern DSLRs and MILCs have PC sockets? My Pentax K-1 does, or you can always put a hotshoe -> PC adaptor on the camera. The Metz are quality kit, but the trigger volts seem high for modern cameras, some around 24 volts according to the Botzilla website. I'm using late Sunpak hammerheads (555, 622) which are around 6v. Film TTL doesn't work on digital but the old Auto mode is better than digital TTL IMHO.

[@pembridgehouse]

Hi Lex. No most modern dslrs dont have a pc socket but you are right you can connect to the hotshoe with an adaptor.I haven't had a problem using my Metz on modern DSLRs . Yes sometimes the auto setting is a better setting than TTL. I used to find this when shooting film.cheers geoff

[@lexlayabout5757]

@@pembridgehouse Yes, the 45 CL-4 is reported as having a trigger voltage of around 15 volts, and there is a modern standard that cameras should take up to 24 volts. But, for other readers, beware that the oldest flash units (generally pre-1980) of any brand had much higher voltages (hundreds!) and could damage modern cameras' electronics.

[@pembridgehouse]

@@lexlayabout5757 Thanks Lex good advice. Geoff

[@aliyaqub5801]

Hi Geoff, I recently purchased a Metz 45 but I'm not sure how to expose correctly. I have a 50mm equivalent lens on it and a light meter but I'm not sure how to expose correctly. Any tips?

[@pembridgehouse]

Hi Ali, thanks for your questions. Drew Waters in these comments was asking a similar question. Have a look at my replys there. That may partly answer your question.This video is quite popular so I can see I might have to do a demo on how to use the Metz 45 both indoors and out.

[@aliyaqub5801]

@@pembridgehouse Thanks

[@mikecptslow7534]

Thank you for this. A random search of Pentax SuperA brought me here. I found my old SuperA with a Pentax 24-50 lens. I changed the batteries and still cant get the shutter to activate. The shutter button doesnt activate it. Any quick tip to loosen it up would be appreciated.

[@pembridgehouse]

Hi Mike,I have 2 Super A bodies that don't work.I made enquiries and parts are hard to get. I found a guy in Australia where I live,in another state, who says he can fix them.My local camera repairer said it was too hard.I don't have any simple solutions.I think this link is to the camera repair guy I found. www.camerarepairs.com.au/#quotes I still may send my cameras to him.

[@shademanirvanipour6870]

I still got my METZ 45CT4 flash and is good for setting the FLASH POWER OUT PUT and all you then had to do was to set the right Aprature on your camera

[@pembridgehouse]

Sorry I hadn't replied to this. Yes they quite simple to use when you knew what you were doing.Thanks for your comment.

[@angelisone]

In case many are not aware that ATG started out with Vivitar 283, 285, 285HV, Metz 45 series & 60 series and then the Quantum QFlash series. If anyone has problems or questions on those flashes, please ask with your email attached. ATG says on the 45 series, you can use 7.2VDC battery instead of carry the Quantum 9V battery pack.

[@pembridgehouse]

Not sure what this is about angelisone. Thanks anyway.

[@angelisone]

@@pembridgehouse What I am saying is that the Metz 45CL & 45CT can use 7.2VDC battery instead on using ATG/Quantum Battery Pack 2 (4:29). 7.2VDC with a charger are cheap: www.amazon.com/Tenergy-Battery-Standard-Connector-Universal/dp/B001BKPAR6/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&aaxitk=s8vYKqZX0y-WgRZfSm7aQg&hsa_cr_id=7052731570701&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2 Since you already has the 9V Battery Adapter (2:02 attached to flash handle), you cut and solder the ends using Tamiya's Plug.

[@Wes-dz6lt]

@@angelisone [e-mail] recently just purchased a 45cl1 and have some questions regarding charging, would greatly appreciate any help!

[@shademanirvanipour6870]

I don’t do any more weddings photography and now days I do mostly models photos shoots or celebrities photography or portraits photography

[@pembridgehouse]

Hi Shademan, I just realised I had not responded to your comments before. Thanks for you input. I hope you have a happy new year.

[@shademanirvanipour6870]

I used canon A1 and canon T90 those Days

[@pembridgehouse]

Sorry I had not replied to this. Those canon cameras were and are good.geoff