The Minolta Program 2500D is a surprisingly simple complex flash. For starters it will work with both Minolta film and digital cameras (see quote below for models). Secondly it wasn’t that expensive with a list price of $119. Thirdly it has two types of auto setting.
For some cameras you switch the flash to Through-The-Lens (TTL) metering. For all “D” type lenses and cameras (see Aden Camera quote’s footnote) you can use the Advanced Distance Integration (ADI) setting.
The difference between TTL and ADI is—
TTL reads the flash exposure off the film plane, so it is basically an average exposure of everything in the frame. This system can be fooled by white cats in the snow, white cats in coal mines, basically any white cat…(just kidding, black cats are also impossible) As a matter of fact with an averaging system white cats and black cats both come out the same grey tone—depending on their size in the frame of course.
ADI knows the distance the flash is from the subject (the lens when focused tells the camera and the camera tells the flash). Suddenly the flash exposes correctly no matter the reflectance of those pesky cats (or where they chose to sit).
There are still limitations to the 2500D. With all film cameras you can’t shoot closer than 1 meter—the results will be overexposed. You can’t shoot closer than 0.5 m with digital cameras for the same reason.
Also with film cameras you can’t use film speeds higher than ISO 1000 (again overexposure will get you). You can’t use ADI with any filters that have filter factors on the lens. For the same reason you can’t put filters on the flash when using ADI.
The off/on switch has two lights to its right. The far right will glow when the flash is on and charged. When you shoot the Auto light will light when using the TTL mode to indicate the flash has made the correct exposure. If you are too far away, or you are shooting black cats in coal mines (those cats are everywhere) the AUTO light won’t light telling you to either get closer or get out of the mine (take the cat with you, it isn’t its fault!).
Since the 2500D flash will tilt up, you again can’t use ADI while bouncing. Use TTL instead if the camera will accommodate that. Since cats don’t like bounce illumination (ask any of them) you are back to average grey cats no matter what they are coloured.
In case you are wondering about the extra height flash foot there are several reasons for that— Minolta has a flash foot unique to their cameras. It surrounds the camera’s mount. The flash locks on the mount too (released by a button on the side of the foot). Then they built a low light infrared flash illuminator into the foot too.
According to Aden Camera, the Minolta Program 2500D flash has—
“…a guide number of 82 in feet (25 in meters) at ISO 100. It provides flash coverage for lenses as wide as 28mm. It also features an ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) flash* metering and bounce flash head that effortlessly tilts 90° upward. Plus, this unit is compatible to both SLRs and digital still cameras for a complete flash performance in a compact flash package.
*Effective only when attached to the Maxxum 7, 5, 4, 3 and D lenses, as well as DiMAGE A1, 7Hi, 7i, 7 and 5 ”
Comments