dca@iedl02.UUCP (02/13/84)
Close...but no cigar. One should not be too restrictive when discussing what the term "dedicated" means. In some cameras, true, it refers to a feedback quenching effect generated in the camera from off the film metering. Canon doesn't have this but nonetheless it does do other things beside just set the X-Sync mode. a) lights a flash ready light in the viewfinder when the flash is up to charge (essentially the same as setting X-Sync mode). b) The speedlight 199a has three power settings each of which requires a different aperture setting on the lense. The ASA of the film is set on the flash and the proper aperture is conveyed to the camera due to its dedicated circuitry. Also the 199 has a shutter speed overide which allows the use of shutter speeds below 1/60 (on an A-1 anyway) with the flash and the flash will compensate accordingly. Enough said, personally I think dedicated flashes are wonderful things. To bad it doesn't send the ASA of the film that would certainly be nice also.
ted@teldata.UUCP () (02/17/84)
***** One annoying feature of the Cannon A-1 and the 199A flash is the "flash ready" indication does not update while you are pressing the button to view the viewfinder display. This means, if you are waiting for the flash to recharge you either have to monitor the ready light on the flash unit or keep cycleing the viewfinder display on and off.