
Powerful and versatile TTL dedicated flashgun for many Nikon and Minolta film cameras, plus Pentax film and selected digital SLRs (see below)
- Multi-dedicated flash unit
- Tilt and swivel for bounce
- Wide-to-tele zoom flash
- Twin flash tubes for fill in
- Powerful GN up to 44m
- Dedicated auto operation
- For Nikon, Minolta 35mm
- For Pentax film and digital
- TTL flash on selected SLRs
- With copy of the instructions
- Includes Alkaline batteries
This is an excellent high power flash unit for many Minolta, Nikon and Pentax 35mm film SLR cameras (plus some Pentax/Samsung digital models). The flash has a bounce, swivel and zoom head, twin flash tubes for fill in, and offers dedicated and/or TTL flash control with selected cameras. It's switchable between all three camera systems and is ideal for photographers with more than one type, or those looking to upgrade. The flash is in very good condition, fully working order and supplied with instructions (copy) and Alkaline batteries. Please read the full description for more important information.
The head tilts up to 90 degrees and swivels over 330 degrees for bounce flash in vertical or horizontal positions. Bounce flash gives much softer, more natural lighting than direct flash, and reduces the chance of redeye. While bounce flash offers better illumination than direct flash, the top-down nature of the light can create unwanted shadows, especially under the chin and around the eyes in pictures of people. A secondary flash tube is built in, and this fills in the shadows when bounce flash is used. This can be switched on or off as desired. If your room is small enough, you may be able to bounce the flash from behind you instead. With this flash you can swivel the head 180 degrees backwards while tilting it up slightly, so it aims at the meeting point of the wall and ceiling. As the flash is being reflected from a very large area this "reverse bounce" provides a soft light with wide coverage, less visible shadows than direct flash, and even more natural-looking results than normal bounce flash. The zoom flash head adjusts for wide angle (35mm), normal (50mm) and tele (85mm and longer) lenses or the equivalents on other formats, giving wider coverage or greater range as appropriate. Even wider lenses can be used with bounce flash.
Powerful guide numbers are 44m (143ft) at the longest telephoto setting, 30m (99 feet) at standard, and 24m (78 feet) at wide angle with ISO 100. This gives a theoretical maximum range of up to 21m (70 feet) with ISO 100 and 50mm f/1.4 lens, or 31m (102 feet) with a 135mm f/2.8 lens and ISO 400. As with all flashguns, actual range will depend on the conditions.
TTL (Through The Lens) flash control system for extremely accurate exposures with selected cameras (see below), taking account of factors such as bounce flash, filters and bellows/extension tubes. Automatic, dedicated operation on suitable cameras (see below), setting the shutter speed and/or aperture and displaying flash ready status in the viewfinder. Two standard auto modes are also provided for non-TTL cameras (including some Pentax/Samsung digital models), giving auto ranges of up to 11m (36ft). Thyristor circuitry used in auto modes for faster recycling and more flashes per set of batteries. The TTL setting works as full power manual on non-TTL cameras.
Comprehensive control panel on the rear of the flash provides distances from 1.4 to 40m (5 to 132 feet), apertures from f/2 to f/22 and film speeds from ISO (ASA) 64 to 1600. A ready light and test button are provided, plus an auto check light that confirms correct exposure. This independent Jessops 300 TTL flashgun is nicely made, around 145mm (5.5") tall on the camera yet weighs only around 320g (11.3oz) without batteries. Power is supplied by 4x standard disposable alkaline AA batteries (included). Locking shoe fitting for secure mounting.
An excellent flash for Minolta, Nikon and Pentax users, plus many others.
Condition: Excellent+++ (8.5/10)
The flash is in fully working order, charges and fires correctly and dedicated features have been checked on suitable cameras for correct operation. The controls and movements work positively with only a little play as usual, and all features work as expected. Cosmetically it shows just the usual signs of use including some small surface marks here and there in the plastic finish, and the battery contacts are clean with no signs of corrosion. The instructions are a copy (in English) but clear and legible.
No cracks, splits or deep scratches, and overall it's in nice shape.
Includes a copy of the instructions, plus 4x Alkaline AA batteries.
Pictures in this listing show the actual flash offered for sale.
Compatibility
This flash is multi-dedicated, and will work with various levels of dedication on the following camera models:
Pentax manual focus, medium format, AF and digital
The flash can be used with any 35mm or medium format Pentax SLR camera with a hot shoe. Dedicated auto flash works on models such as the ME Super, ME-F, MG, MV and MV-1. The shutter speed is set automatically when the flash is charged, and flash ready status is shown in the viewfinder. Programmed auto flash works on the Super A (Super Program) and MZ-M (ZX-M). Both shutter speed and aperture can be set automatically when the flash is charged, and flash ready status is shown in the viewfinder. It displays flash ready but does NOT set the shutter speed or aperture automatically on the Program A (Program Plus), A3 (A3000), P30 series and P50 (P5).
TTL Auto flash works on the Super A (Super Program), Program A (Program Plus), LX (hot shoe), SFX (SF1), SFXn (SF1n), SF7, Z-1 (PZ-1), PZ-1 (PZ-1P), Z-10 (PZ-10), Z-20 (PZ-20), Z-70 (PZ-70), MZ-3, MZ-5 (ZX-5), MZ-5n (ZX-5n), MZ-6, MZ-7 (ZX-7), MZ-10 (ZX-10), MZ-30 (ZX-30), MZ-50 (ZX-50), MZ-S, 645, 645N and 645NII. Shutter speed and/or aperture (not LX) can be set automatically (depending on the exposure mode) when the flash is charged, and flash ready status is shown in the viewfinder.
Compatible with the Pentax *ist D, DS, DS2 and Samsung GX-1S digital SLRs in TTL mode, shutter speed and/or aperture can be set automatically (depending on the exposure mode) when the flash is charged, and flash ready status is shown in the viewfinder. Usable on the Pentax *ist DL, DL2, K100D, K100D Super, K110D, K200D, K10D, K20D, K-m (K2000), K-x, K-r, K-5 and K-7 plus the Samsung GX-1L, GX-10 and GX-20 models, in conventional auto (non-TTL) modes. The shutter speed is set automatically when the flash is charged, aperture set manually (Av mode works well), and flash ready status is shown in the viewfinder. Not compatible with P-TTL mode on the digital models.
Nikon 35mm manual focus and AF
Works on many Nikon manual focus SLR cameras. Fully dedicated operation including TTL flash, auto setting of shutter speed and viewfinder flash ready indication on the FE2, FM3A, FA, FG, F-301 (N2000) and F-601M (N6000). Dedicated operation including auto setting of shutter speed and viewfinder flash ready indication on the EM, FE, FG-20 and F3P. Viewfinder indication of flash ready on the Nikon FM2, FM2n and FM2/T.
Works on most Nikon 35mm AF SLR cameras including the F-401 (N4004), F-401s (N4004s), F-401x (N5005), F-501 (N2020), F-601 (N6006), F-801 (N8008), F-801s (N8008s), F50 (N50), (see below for the F55/N55/Us), F60 (N60), F65 (N65), F70, F75 (N75), F80 (N80), F90, F90x, F100, F4, F5 and F6. Works on the Nikon Pronea 600i APS AF SLR camera, but not suitable for the Pronea S which has no external flash shoe. Works with the Nikon-based Fujifilm Finepix S1 Pro and S2 Pro digital SLR cameras. Auto dedicated operation with TTL flash control, auto setting of shutter speed and/or aperture (depending on exposure mode) plus viewfinder flash ready indication.
On the Nikon F55 (N55, Us) it provides fully automatic dedicated operation in the camera's Auto or P (program) modes, with the shutter speed and aperture (f/4 with ISO 100, use red auto mode on the flash) set automatically, plus viewfinder flash ready indication. In A (aperture-priority auto) mode it sets the shutter speed automatically, apertures are set manually (so all of the flash's non-TTL auto or manual modes can be used), with viewfinder flash ready indication, and slow synchro mode on the camera can be used to balance the background and subject. In M (manual) mode the shutter speed is restricted to the maximum allowed (1/90th) or slower, apertures are set manually (all of the flash's non-TTL auto or manual modes can be used), with viewfinder flash ready indication. Please note that the Nikkor AF 28-80mm or 28-100mm G zoom lenses usually supplied as standard with this camera have a maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6, so program flash is only recommended with films of ISO 200 or faster. ISO 100 can be used at the wide angle zoom settings, but will give slight underexposure at longer focal lengths.
This flash is NOT suitable for Nikon or Nikon-based digital SLR cameras – it won't fire on these models.
Minolta 35mm manual focus
This flash will work with all Minolta manual focus SLR cameras, plus the CLE rangefinder. Dedicated automatic setting of shutter speed in appropriate modes, with flash ready signal in the viewfinder on the XG-1, XG-2, XG-7, XG-9, XG-A, XG-M, X-300 (X-370), X-300s (X-370N), X-7A, X-9 and other XG and X models, the XD, XD-5, XD-7 and XD-11, plus the Centon DF-300 and some Seagull cameras, which are clones of the Minolta X models. Full TTL (Through The Lens) OTF (Off The Film) auto flash operation on the X-500 (X-570), X-600, X-700 and the CLE rangefinder camera, for the most accurate exposures possible. This system was originally invented by Minolta, and since licensed to many other manufacturers. Auto daylight fill-in flash with the X-500 (X-570) using the exposure lock. Fully auto program flash operation on the X-700. Also works on the original Minolta AF SLR cameras (the 5000AF, 7000 AF and 9000 AF) with standard hot shoe fitting, but NOT any later Dynax, Maxxum or Alpha models such as the 5000i or 7000i – see below. All flash units should be discharged and switched off before fitting to the CLE.
It's NOT suitable for Minolta or Konica Minolta Dynax/Maxxum/Alpha AF and digital cameras, which have a different type of flash shoe. Adapters are available for non-TTL operation, but a large flash like this might be unstable. Please check our other listings for flash units for Dynax/Maxxum film cameras.
Other cameras including digital
The flash is generally NOT suitable for other makes of camera with dedicated flash features, but it can be used on cameras with a standard hot shoe, in manual or normal auto modes (but not TTL). This includes many digital cameras with a standard (single contact) hot shoe such as the popular Fujifilm S20 Pro, S7000, S602, S602 Pro and 6900Z, Panasonic DMC-FZ10, FZ20, FZ30 (non-dedicated on the FZ50 and FZ100) and DMC-LC5, Pentax EI-2000 (HP C912) and EI-3000, and many others. It will work on cameras such as the Fujifilm S9500, S9600, S100FS, S200EXR and HS10, but won't fully cover the widest angle settings below 35mm equivalent, unless you use bounce flash.
NOTE: Many older flashguns have high trigger voltages – sometimes hundreds of volts – which can theoretically damage modern electronic cameras. We've tested this flash and it has a low trigger voltage of 5.5v which should be suitable for most cameras. This is well within the ISO 10330 standard of 24v, Pentax's stated limits of 25v or 30v for DSLRs, and even the most voltage-intolerant cameras usually specify up to 6v.

