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Rent NowThe Kalimar 175A Automatic Flash is a non-dedicated, non-TTL shoe-mount flash unit designed to work across a wide range of 35mm film SLR camera brands, offering photographers of the film era an affordable, versatile external flash for supplemental lighting. As a Kalimar-branded accessory manufactured in Taiwan, it was marketed as a budget-friendly alternative to first-party dedicated flash units.
The flash offers a guide number of 80′ at ISO 100, giving it solid output for a compact shoe-mount unit, along with an automatic exposure range extending to 30 feet. Two auto f/stop settings are available, allowing photographers to select an aperture and let the flash’s built-in sensor automatically regulate output to achieve correct exposure at that setting, a common automation approach for non-dedicated flashes of this era before through-the-lens (TTL) metering became standard. An easy-to-read calculator dial on the flash body helps photographers determine the correct aperture setting based on subject distance and film speed.
The flash head tilts upward up to 90 degrees, enabling bounce flash technique for softer, more flattering light by reflecting the flash off a ceiling rather than firing it directly at the subject. A PC sync terminal is included, allowing the flash to be triggered via a sync cord in addition to standard hot-shoe mounting, useful for off-camera flash setups or cameras without a compatible hot shoe.
Build quality reflects a straightforward, functional design typical of third-party flash units from this period, with a recycle time ranging from approximately 1.5 to 10.4 seconds depending on flash output and battery condition. The unit runs on 4 AA batteries and includes an instruction manual and PC sync cable.
Key Features
– Non-dedicated, non-TTL shoe-mount flash (compatible with most 35mm SLR brands)
– Guide number of 80′ at ISO 100
– Automatic exposure range up to 30′
– Two auto f/stop settings with calculator dial
– Tilts upward up to 90° for bounce flash
– PC sync terminal for off-camera triggering
– Recycle time of approximately 1.5-10.4 seconds
– Runs on 4 AA batteries
