Don't Kill your modern camera with an old flash gun!

Hamish Gill

Hamish Gill

Tech Support (and Marketing)
Our mate Larry recently pointed out to one of newer members that using an old flash on a modern camera is potentially fatal to the camera!

This is basically due to high voltages in the trigger circuit that can damage modern cameras.
Older mechanical cameras from the same era as these type of flash guns could handle these high voltages. Modern digital cameras are filled with electrical gubbins that can be damaged by these voltages.

With this in mind it is wise to be very careful when selecting an older flash to use on a modern camera.

My personal recommendation has always been to use a Nikon flash of some sort as they tend to work off lower voltages.
My personal preferance is for the nikon sb20, its a great little flash gun with planty of features and is nice and small!

SB20backviewpanel.jpg


more info and source of image

Larry also provided a useful link that contains voltage info here

reading between the lines ... sticking to flash gens with a trigger voltage lower than 6v seems to be the safest bet!
 
Although old flashes with any trigger voltage can be used if you use them off-camera with a cheap wireless transmitter/ receiver (and probably give you better than on-camera) :-)
 
Watch out with that you could have problems! The majority if not all Nikons SLR's can handle around 250V. Some other brands can also handle high voltages but some cannot and you should get confirmation from the manual yourself rather than rely on others. Cheap wireless triggers usually have very low thresholds of around 12V as they use low voltage semiconductors in the switching circuit.
 
Thanks for all this help guys, I am new to flashes, looks like that Toshiba creates 15V, I think I might go with a newer flash option such as those studio kits I saw on the bay of E as even the cheap controllers they are using should work ok for the lower power cheaper flashes lol.

Anyone got any thoughts on those kits I linked to above at all? I am tempted just to have a single flash though if I were to use one.
 
Anyone got any thoughts on those kits I linked to above at all?
Click to expand...
Can you post the link here? :)

Edit: I found the link! They only have a GN of 45 and the flash duration is quite long (action water photos probably won't be possible) and they're also mains powered so studio only.. But they're cheap.

If you want eTTL (iTTL on a Nikon?) have a look at the Yongnuo range e.g. http://www.lightingrumours.com/yongnuo-speedlite-yn560-iii-radio-enabled-flashgun-review-3338 (although I'm not sure if that model has eTTL).

The cheapest way to test the water is to use the pop-up flash on your Nikon to power an optical slave attached to your off-camera Toshiba flash (Konig light stands are about £9).
 
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oooh, just a thought.... does the 3100 have remote flash mode/slave/commander mode??
I'm sure you could pick up a decent Metz Meccablitz AF ** flash for less than a 100 bucks! :)
AND, you can mount it (Nikon compatible of course) straight on the hot shoe too!! Bonus!!

Then, for a studio set up, mount the flash onto one of these (I have one and they brilliant)
Lastolite Tilthead with Hotshoe (2402) - Wex Photographic

Then, get a brollie.... cheap as chips....... BOOOOOOOMMMM!!! sorted :):):):)

Can't go wrong there hey? :)
 
Dan Cattermole said:
oooh, just a thought.... does the 3100 have remote flash mode/slave/commander mode??
I'm sure you could pick up a decent Metz Meccablitz AF ** flash for less than a 100 bucks! :)
AND, you can mount it (Nikon compatible of course) straight on the hot shoe too!! Bonus!!

Then, for a studio set up, mount the flash onto one of these (I have one and they brilliant)
Lastolite Tilthead with Hotshoe (2402) - Wex Photographic

Then, get a brollie.... cheap as chips....... BOOOOOOOMMMM!!! sorted :):):):)

Can't go wrong there hey? :)
Click to expand...

Why not just use the hotshoe to tripod socket adaptors etc? I will have a think about flashes, they will be off camera so could go for a slightly larger flash maybe something with one of those model lights?
 
David Mitchell said:
Why not just use the hotshoe to tripod socket adaptors etc?
Click to expand...

If you want studio lighting/brollies etc, I don't think a 'hotshoe to tripod socket' will accommodate that.
Besides, I'm revealing my set up in which you originally asked for in your other thread.

As mark mentioned, if your after a model light etc, you may be a bit stranded due to the requirements of power supply.
With and off cam flash, hotshoe brollie adaptor, brollie and tripod that can be acheived for less that 100 quid, you would be as flexible to go anywhere, anytime.

This is a mate of mine in a wasteland at least a mile away from electricity.


Wasteland Pose by dajoolzcat, on Flickr

Think flexibility........
 
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Thanks Dan for bringing me to my senses, studio lights are....for studios, I have no clue where I would be taking photos which is why I was looking at wireless options. I will have a look into the setup you have, makes sense to have something portable and easy to put into a smaller carry bag.

I wonder what those LED flashes are like compared to 'proper' flashes.
 
David Mitchell said:
I wonder what those LED flashes are like compared to 'proper' flashes.
Click to expand...

I've not tried those before.... Interesting to see if they're any good.
At a wedding I did back in December, the videographer was using one of them on his DSLR.....
I never asked him if they were any good.... Drat!
Looked like a right chunk too!
 
Dan Cattermole said:
I've not tried those before.... Interesting to see if they're any good.
At a wedding I did back in December, the videographer was using one of them on his DSLR.....
I never asked him if they were any good.... Drat!
Looked like a right chunk too!
Click to expand...

I think they seem to work ok, I guess they would be useful for model lights as well as a flash due to the low power consumption etc.

I will check out some reviews on them, need to find a remote that doesn't need a sync cable first though lol
 
The 'remote' looking object is the on that goes on top of your camera, that there becomes the transmitter.
Then the item at the top with the hot shoe is what the flash goes on (eBay item picture) ... That set up does not need a cable.... However, if you require a trigger for the shutter on the camera, that's where you may need the cable, and that's where the remote, becomes the remote. :) The great thing about this gadget is that you can use it both ways.
Does you 3100 not have an input?
 
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Dan Cattermole said:
The 'remote' looking object is the on that goes on top of your camera, that there becomes the transmitter.
Then the item at the top with the hot shoe is what the flash goes on (eBay item picture) ... That set up does not need a cable.... However, if you require a trigger for the shutter on the camera, that's where you may need the cable, and that's where the remote, becomes the remote. :) The great thing about this gadget is that you can use it both ways.
Does you 3100 not have an input?
Click to expand...

Its got a GPS input which I use for the cable release but doesn't have the standard sync port as most of everyone elses cameras have on the forum. The D3100 is an extry level camera and its doing pretty well with the photos its taking, but it doesn't have things like non CPU lens metering, auto bracket or the sync port, those are the features I have found are missing. But I have only found them to be missing now that I am getting more into shooting and understanding how to get the image I want - hence asking around off camera flashes etc.
 
David Mitchell said:
Its got a GPS input which I use for the cable release
Click to expand...
Isn't that the input port that you'd need?
Are you familiar of the two way design of this??
Hahnel Combi TF Pro Remote Control for Canon Review - YouTube
Your model is completely compatible as shown on their website. Not seeing any reason why it wouldn't.
Hahnel Innovative Accessories

Amazon too showing that its ready for yours also.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hahnel-Combi-TF-Wireless-Nikon/sim/B003QGE2XQ/2

I had one of these for my Olympus e600 which is very entry level in the DSLR world of matters with technology as advanced as a Commodore 64.

Come on David, surely I've talked you into it now??! :)
 
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