Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Newbie question: flash compatability

  • 18-06-2008 12:24pm
    #1
    DonkeyStyle \o/
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,145 ✭✭✭


    Hey, hope someone can give me a clue here...
    My dad has a few old flash units from his previous film SLRs, I was wondering if I could somehow make use of these on my 400D without frying the hotshoe or something.
    What's the general idea behind flashes made for different brands anyway? Is there some kind of data link that the camera uses to send instructions to the flash, and there are different standards?
    One of the old flashes I have my eye on has a whole moxy of dials and switches, so I'm guessing if I could get it to fire at all, I'd at least have something to play with.
    I'm not sure if they'll even fit on my canon, as I've been hesitant to try it.

    Does this sound like a really bad idea to anyone? :confused:


Comments

  • #2
    melekalikimaka
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 10,686 Mod ✭✭✭✭melekalikimaka


    Any time you connect the flash to the camera, whether by hotshoe or other PC connection, you can fry the camera (or at least cause damage, which isn't always immediate) if the sync voltage of the flash exceeds the limits of the sync voltage of the camera.
    one option is to use the called "eBay triggers". Is a small and cheap wireless trigger (to put on the hotshoe or pc connection) and receiver (you must have the right connection to your flash).Using a wireless trigger does not physically connect the flash to the camera and is safe regardless of the voltage of the flash. Using a hot shoe or a sync cord physically connects the flash to the camera and in not safe.


  • #3
    digitalbeginner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 379 ✭✭digitalbeginner


    You can find out if an older flash is compatible with Digital SLR's at this link http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

    Dave


Advertisement