Keks KF-01 flash looks like something right out of the 1990s

Keks has announced the KF-01 ($75), their first flash unit. This on-camera flash looks like it was plucked right out from the 1990s. But it’s not quite the plastic tat we may remember. The KF-01 is aluminium, with more recent flash tech inside it.

It’s still a fairly simple flash, though. It’s certainly not going to replace a Nikon SB-5000 ($546.95) or Canon Speedlite EL-1 ($1,099). But it’s not really supposed to. Of course, you can use it with modern digital cameras, but it was designed to work with film cameras.

Keks KF-01 – A new take on an old classic

The Keks KF-01 looks like it was pulled from the 1990s because it pretty much was. It’s based on the Contax TLA 140, released in 1996. This design, even for its time, was quite simplistic, but it allowed you to get some light coming from the camera for a bit of fill.

But it’s a modern take on the TLA 140. It has a cleaner and more present day design. Even things like screws become part of the design aesthetic, vs the utilitarian “because that’s where we needed to put them” approach of the Contax.

It works with any camera that has a standard hotshoe with a single centre trigger pin. This is most modern digital cameras with a hotshoe, although if you’re Sony or a Canon shooter with one of the new multi-function shoes with lots of tiny delicate pins, I’d probably check before trying it.

For most people buying this flash, they won’t be using anything like that. They’ll be using it with older cameras. Film cameras from the 1990s and earlier. This means a standard hotshoe. And for use with cameras without a hotshoe, it also has a PC Sync port.

It’s powered by a pair of AAA batteries. No lithium ion here. The company suggests that this is simply due to the easy availability of AAA batteries. . The company says you’ll get about 300 flashes on a full charge with a recycle time of 1.5-8 seconds, depending on power. And for power, it’s got a guide number of 12 and either full, half or third power level options.

I have to admit, when I first saw this flash, I was like “what?!?!” but the more I look at it and the more I read about it, the more I think I might need to get one for when I’m playing with my Nikkormats. It would go well with one of those little light meters they released earlier in the year.

Well, they’re shipping in December, maybe I can drop hints to “Santa”.

Price and Availability

The Keks KF-01 hot shoe flash is available to pre-order now for $75 from the Keks website during launch ($4.90 off its $79.90 MSRP), in either black or chrome, with free shipping. Shipping is expected to begin in mid-December.

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