Canon F-1 (new) and Albinar flash (Dumb, therefore longish)

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Call me cheap. I've always used a simple manual flash set-up with my Canon. It is cheaper, and a manual does not hinder me with what I enjoy shooting. Plus, I actually enjoy doing the computations myself rather than having the quench tube do it for me. Now to the hard part. At the thrift store I found an old Albinar Model 91 CAN-IR for 3 bucks. My first reaction was cover up the "eye" to make another manual unit! After taking it home, it occured to me what the CAN in the model stood for! Duh! Does anyone here know how this particular dedicated flash works? The Light sensor in the front has different diameter holes that you align by the film ASA rating. I think I could use this feature to 1/2,1/4,1/8 etc. the amount of light compared to another flash. Is that correct? There is a switch on the back for "Automatic" or "Programed". The "Auto" I think I understand, that is, the flash "says" to you, "Because you told me that you are using ASA 200 film, when you shoot a picture 25 feet or closer I'm telling you to put the f-stop ring to f4. "I will then put an exact f4's amount of light out there and you will get a good exposure, no matter what".(numbers made up!) Is that a correct assumption?? The "Programed" is a mystery to me. Any help there? Also on the back there is a multi position switch marked with f-stops from 2 to 22. Will this change the light output? Or more simply, what does that do? Another thing on the back. There are a series of l.e.d.'s under a frosted glass that are also referenced to f-stops from 2 to 22. They come on for a few seconds after the flash fires when the flash is set to "Programed", indicating-----what? My Canon has three contacts in the hot shoe. This Albinar also has the same three contacts. When I put the flash in the hot shoe, select "Programed", and then half-way press the shutter button, a separate flash tube apart from the main tube fires under a red colored window in the front. I suppose this refers to the "IR" in the part number. Any ideas on this? Is this red-eye reduction or exposure calculations to take place in the flash?
I guess it's time for me to get out of the Dark Ages with regards to flash units. Please do excuse my ignorance in this area of photography. Any info you care to pass along will help. Thank you in advance for your time and effort.

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Topic - Canon F-1 (new) and Albinar flash (Dumb, therefore longish) - cheapskate 12:55:43 04/09/02 (2)

Re: Canon F-1 (new) and Albinar flash (Dumb, therefore longish) - rer 02:58:59 04/10/02 (0)

Re: Canon F-1 (new) and Albinar flash (Dumb, therefore longish) - The caT. 02:57:27 04/10/02 (0)

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