Kako Hi-Beam 225

The Kako 225 is a proper old-school electronic flash from Japan, from a time when working out your exposure was part of the process.

There’s no TTL or automatic metering here. Instead, the calculator on the back gives you the aperture to use based on your film speed and the distance to your subject. Set it up, take the shot and carry on.

The tall, slim body gives it a distinctly vintage look, with a fixed forward-facing flash head and simple controls. There’s also provision for both battery and external power-pack operation.

It’s a nice fit for an older 35mm camera setup, particularly if you enjoy the more hands-on side of shooting film.

Best for

Classic 35mm cameras, manual flash photography, vintage camera setups and photographers who enjoy a more traditional approach to working with flash.

What to expect

The Kako 225 is very much a manual flash.

Rather than the camera deciding the exposure for you, the scale on the rear helps you choose the correct aperture based on your film speed and subject distance. ASA settings from 25 through to 400 are marked directly on the unit.

The head is fixed, so it’s primarily intended for direct flash rather than bounce or swivel lighting.

It’s simple, mechanical in feel and nicely suited to the slower, more considered way a lot of older film cameras are used.