External flashes

[wkrider]

I had read before that using an older flash with a DSLR can cause problems. Something to do with the power in the flash causing a surge that could damage the DSLR.... So this is not true? I just remember reading it somewhere and have never used my older flash with my DSLR for this reason.

I am going to search around the net to confirm this, I would hate to damage by brand new camera. Thanks for the info.

 

[donaldduck1967]

this page has some info


http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

 

[tinksdad]

Here's another interesting link

Looks like with the Wein Safe Sync Hot Shoe Adapter you can use that older flash with no problems.

 

[jann1033]

you are all wrong...it goes back to even before either...think paintings....:
(excess smilies added for your annoyance)

 

[fitzperry]

you are all wrong...it goes back to even before either...think paintings....:
(excess smilies added for your annoyance)

Excellent point!

 

[Groucho]

Well, my flash is "yes, probably" on that EOS list. The second link indicates that the Pentax DSLRs can take about 25-30v and my flash does about 6v, maybe a little under 7, depending on who's doing the measuring.

It looked like what happened when one of them got overpowered by an old flash was just that it needed a cold reboot (yank the battery) and a couple minutes to recover.

I used the flash quite a bit today, actually (good timing!) for my son's second birthday party. It works fine on the Lightning McQueen cake I made and the train table I built him. Again, much nicer than the onboard flash. It'll do until I dig up the money for a P-TTL one. It's awful nice to have ceiling bounce again! I just wish that I had bothered trying it before, or researching the issue more.

 

[barrie]

Just thought I'd throw this into the mix - I have the 400 and am very pleased with it, especially considering the cost difference. I like the size of it - I think it is less intimidating to people on the other side of the camera. It fits easily into my case and doesn't add much weight to my camera. And I like how simple it is to use.

The only drawback I have found is the problem already stated of not being able to bounce flash in the vertical position, but truthfully, I haven't found this to be much of an issue.

I played with both of them and I'm glad I got this one. I can always trade it later if the vertical bounce becomes more important to me.

Just thought you should hear at least one argument for the 400 for balance.

 

[photo_chick]

I have an old Canon 299t spedlite that I have been holding off on trying on the Rebel XT. It is supposed to have a trigger voltage of about 5v from what I can find. Don't know if I have the nerve to put it on my XT yet!

 

[fitzperry]

Just thought I'd throw this into the mix - I have the 400 and am very pleased with it, especially considering the cost difference. I like the size of it - I think it is less intimidating to people on the other side of the camera. It fits easily into my case and doesn't add much weight to my camera. And I like how simple it is to use.

The only drawback I have found is the problem already stated of not being able to bounce flash in the vertical position, but truthfully, I haven't found this to be much of an issue.

I played with both of them and I'm glad I got this one. I can always trade it later if the vertical bounce becomes more important to me.

Just thought you should hear at least one argument for the 400 for balance.

Thanks! It was sort of amusing that not one person had spoken up in favor of the 400. I think they all just feel compelled to disagree with Ken Rockwell.

 

[wkrider]

Well I just tested the voltage on my Focal DT-5000 Zoom flash since it was not on the list. It reads at 3 volts so I guess I am ok to use it.

 

[KrazyPete]

Thanks! It was sort of amusing that not one person had spoken up in favor of the 400. I think they all just feel compelled to disagree with Ken Rockwell.

For the record I don't hate Ken Rockwell. I always read his reviews before I buy stuff. I don't base my decision solely on what he has to say. But, I do take it into consideration.

Did you buy a Flash yet? What's it going to take for you to pull the trigger?

 

[fitzperry]

For the record I don't hate Ken Rockwell. I always read his reviews before I buy stuff. I don't base my decision solely on what he has to say. But, I do take it into consideration.

Did you buy a Flash yet? What's it going to take for you to pull the trigger?

Well . . . unfortunately we owe a little more on our taxes than I was anticipating so I'm feeling kind of guilty about spending the money right now. But we have a couple of trips planned for June (not gonna let a little (big?) tax bill spoil my vacations! ). I may wait until closer to that time before I take the plunge.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I have a Pentax k100d and am looking into purchasing a flash. Does anyone have recommendations?

 

[ukcatfan]

That is farther down the road for me, but here is what I know. There are two Pentax brand units available and two Sigma units available. I believe that the Sigma models are not completely 100% compatible, but for the most part are. I think there is one thing that they cannot do correctly, but do not quote me on that. Generally people go with the Pentax ones. It comes down to the strength and if you want to be able to bounce in portrait orientation for picking one. Note that the flash must be a P-TTL type. A TTL will not work correctly.

Kevin

 

[Groucho]

I believe that some of the Sigmas needed an update to work with K10Ds, and there was no easy way to tell if one you're buying will need it. I think they were upgrading them for free, but then you're stuck shipping it back and forth.

I would probably lean towards the Pentax just to make sure there won't be future issues, but if Sigma was standing behind their stuff, promising free compatibility upgrades and the price was a good bit cheaper, I might end up going that way. Theoretically, a flash should be a lot simpler than a lens and there shouldn't be as much danger of ending up with a junky one.

 

[AKLforever]

Ok, I got the camera today, K100D, and love everything about it so far, shot about 30 or so shots to test low light, with flash and so on. I notice theres a red tint to all the non flash shots. And the less light you have, the more redish iy seems to be. I tried a couple of things in the camera, but was wondering if this is something you fix on your PC or is there a trick to adjust something on the camera?

thanks all

 

[Groucho]

You definitely shouldn't be getting a red tint. Hit the Fn button and check the white balance... it should be set to "AWB" which is Auto White Balance.

If it is already set to AWB, maybe you could post an example? That sounds pretty strange. I'd say there's maybe a problem with the camera itself except that you're saying that it works fine with the flash, so I'd lean more towards it being a setting rather than an actual hardware problem.

 

[AKLforever]

I feel like a total moron, lol, the 6 foot floor lamp we have has a slight red amber tint to it, and its the light source, LOL.
So, I then took the shade off and it works fine now, HAHAHAHA. WOW, ME <-------moron, lol

 

[Groucho]

It's amazing how the eye adjusts to these things... I just recently read a little on this topic on a photography book from the '80s, and it mentions how our eyes primarily look at color as compared to other things... ie, something that's orangy-red can look red next to something black but orange next to a deeper red... but that's not the way the camera works.

In your case, your eyes subconsciously adjust to the red tints so that you don't even notice it, but when the camera sees it, it's a lot more obvious.

Either way, I'm glad that it was an easy fix.

 

[ukcatfan]

I am glad you figured it out, but now is a great time to mention RAW. If you use it, instead of JPG, you have more to work with to correct it when you do something like this.

Kevin