Your name wrote:
Hi All

I have a Pextax MZ-50 (aka. zx-50) and a (cheap)Phoenix 80DZA multi-
dedicated auto flash.


So this is an auto flash.



I set the flash on auto Red which sets the flash output as if you are
using f/2.8, (blue is f/5.6).


My question is since the Phoenix flash is reconized by my camera why is
the exposure and aperture automatically set exactly as if the pop-up was
on.


If it's an auto flash all the camera really does is fire the flash. The
flash it self decides when enough light has left the flash. If it's a
manual flash then it just dumps out a certain amount of light. The camera
isn't really involved. My guess is the camera has a default flash program.
That program sets the aperture and shutter speed.



And since the pics were well exposed, would setting the camera at 1/60 or
1/90 and f/5.6 aperture in manual mode on my camere make the pics under-
exposed.

What speed does does your camera sync it's flash at? You can't go faster
then that. Going slower lets the normal light show up more in the photo. But
that only really matters to the background. If you set you're lens to F/5.6
and tell the flash that then the flash will put out more light. The problem
is if the thing you want lit by the flash is too far. I think you said GN
of 60 feet with 100 speed film? At F/6 [to keep the math simple] the flash
will reach out to 60/6 or 10 feet. Faster film will help it reach further.
Opening the lens to F/2.8 will help also.



normally with the phoenix flash and the pop-up flash the exposure is 1/30
to 1/45 and f/3.5 to 5.6.

Could someone explain whats exactly going on?

The shutter speed doesn't really matter for the foreground. By using a
slower speed you get better backgrounds. The camera designers are using the
widest open aperture they can because they know the pop-up flash isn't that
strong. They are using the slower shutter speed to give you better results.


Or would getting a TTL flash be better?


Well it shouldn't hurt and it can help with some things. In auto mode
you're dealing with how good the auto sensor on the flash is. Main thing is
to understand how things work. When the flash or ttl is likely to be fooled.
How to over come those failings.

Nick