New DSLR / Old Flash? (Page 2): About 6 volts.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Budnjax wrote:

Forget it.....I have one of these sitting around, too. They are worth about $20 on eBay and are very obsolete compared to the technology in your Nikon...they also have a high trigger voltage which would likely ruin your camera if not used with a rather expensive adapter....

About 6 volts.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

kb6kgx wrote:

What about what was quoted from that website?

Ill repost it again here:

The "bozilla" link states the following for the Sunpak Auto 555:

Voltage demonstrated from 4.1v to 6.9v.

The person who posted the test results also stated:

"E-mail from Sunpak assured me that no cameras have ever been harmed by a 555."

Trust that?

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

I do like the idea of all of the programmed functions of the new flash units that are specifically designed to work with these cameras, just that the idea of shelling out $300-500 on a new flash when the ol trusty Sunpak would work not sure. Yes, its a thyristor type, and thats exactly how I used it back in the day. Just set the thing to f8 or whatever and shot away.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

kb6kgx wrote:

Ill repost it again here:

The "bozilla" link states the following for the Sunpak Auto 555:

Voltage demonstrated from 4.1v to 6.9v.

The person who posted the test results also stated:

"E-mail from Sunpak assured me that no cameras have ever been harmed by a 555."

Trust that?

dpanswers.com confirms the trigger voltage at 6 volts. I think I'll look around for something to disprove that. I mean, that's what we do, isn't it? Find information that has been reliable in the past and go to extreme measures to prove it wrong......

UPDATE: Sorry, I could find only one other listing, and that dared to confirm what we had already been told:

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/flash-external/127120-trigger-voltage.html#b 555 6 Volts

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

kb6kgx wrote:

I have a Sunpak Auto 555 potato masher flash that I still have only because it wasnt in my car when it got broken into and the bastard(s) stole my gear. Several point-and-shoots later, Im ready to get a DSLR soon. Im looking at the Nikon D7100. But this question applies to ANY current model DSLR.

Can I use the Sunpak on the new cameras? Itd be a shame to shell out hundreds of dollars if what I have will work fine.

Any pre-digital flash has a triggering circuit that has too much voltage for digital cameras. I am not very conversant with the Sunpack line of strobes, but if it is an older one, it is a safe bet that it will damage your D7100. Do a search on the web to see if you can find some info. D7100 or D7000 or any newer Nikon is too fine a piece of equipment to take the risk.

As a rule the older strobes are safe when used with a remote wireless sensor. No direct connection to the camera that way.

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

kb6kgx wrote:

I do like the idea of all of the programmed functions of the new flash units that are specifically designed to work with these cameras, just that the idea of shelling out $300-500 on a new flash when the ol trusty Sunpak would work not sure. Yes, its a thyristor type, and thats exactly how I used it back in the day. Just set the thing to f8 or whatever and shot away.

You can find variously labelled dedicated TTL flashes on eBay for as low as $35. I bought a Vivitar with adjustable head, IR auto focus and a guide number of 35 for around $50. Works great on my E-3.

I still use the big old thyistor zoom units as optical slave flashes. Those optical triggers are only pennies a piece and work 100% of the time.