Hot shoe flash
May 11, 2017 23:28:46 #
Hi, my name is Vicki, and I am a beagle mom. I am getting back into photography after years away. I have recently bought a Nikon d3400 with numerous lenses. The question I have now is about using a hot shoe flash. The one that came in the original kit does not adjust. I have an old (1980's)) vivitar zoom thyristor 2500 hot shoe flash with an adjustable head.(so I can keep the flash out of my soon-to-be first grandchid's eyes). Is it ok to use this flash with my new camera? How would I keep the built in pop- up fllash from firing at the same time as the hot-shoe? Need some help as baby Alex is due any time! Thanks for any help and please go easy on me ! Vicki, beagle mom.
May 11, 2017 23:51:37 #
I am not familiar with the D3400 but there should be a button on the front that looks
like a lightning bolt. If you hold that button down it should bring up an option screen
that you can turn off the pop up by rotating the menu wheel.
Because there may be voltage problems between the older flash attachment and newer
cameras I suggest a newer flash attachment.
Others could suggest newer flashes.
like a lightning bolt. If you hold that button down it should bring up an option screen
that you can turn off the pop up by rotating the menu wheel.
Because there may be voltage problems between the older flash attachment and newer
cameras I suggest a newer flash attachment.
Others could suggest newer flashes.
May 12, 2017 00:04:45 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
To be honest with you, I would not use a flash unit from the film era 1980s. Some of those older flash units give out higher voltage, and could damage your D3400. You could get test equipment to see if the voltage is safe, but it is too bothersome. Just buy you an inexpensive new or used flash unit that is compatible to your camera. If you expect to take many indoor photos, you should get a external flash unit, because Nikon reduced the light intensity on the pop up flash on the D3400, to extend battery life. Buy a Yongnuo, Sunpak, Bower, or Neewer flash unit. All inexpensive. Or EBay. And welcome to the forum. Good luck.
May 12, 2017 06:33:47 #
One of the better generic flashes is the Yongnuo YN685-N. A lot less expensive than a Nikon and for most of us that use Yongnuo's do the same job.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1247484-REG/yongnuo_yn685_n_yn685_wireless_ttl_speedlite.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1247484-REG/yongnuo_yn685_n_yn685_wireless_ttl_speedlite.html
May 12, 2017 06:38:07 #
Don't use the old Vivtar flash. As was already stated, the higher voltages could damage the camera. I would recommend getting a Nikon SB-500 flash. It has plenty of power and has LED lights to assist when shooting video. The camera will recognize that there is an external flash mounted and the pop-up flash won't pop-up.
A great book to get is Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Flash Photography".
There was recently someone who had a similar question. She said that she's not supposed to use flash a lot with the infant. I recommend one of the continuous LED light kits. B&H photo has a couple of two-light continuous LED light systems for $135. They come with the light fixtures, stands, and umbrellas.
A great book to get is Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Flash Photography".
There was recently someone who had a similar question. She said that she's not supposed to use flash a lot with the infant. I recommend one of the continuous LED light kits. B&H photo has a couple of two-light continuous LED light systems for $135. They come with the light fixtures, stands, and umbrellas.
May 12, 2017 06:45:35 #
Something else to think about is flash unit design. Most good ones have an adjustable head, meaning you can point the flash directly at the subject or rotate the head to straight up and bounce light off the ceiling. I think you will like the results with bounce light and new born grand-kids.
The learning curve is short, a few practice shots around the house and you will understand how handy the flash is.
Ken
The learning curve is short, a few practice shots around the house and you will understand how handy the flash is.
Ken
May 12, 2017 07:23:33 #
mas24 wrote:
To be honest with you, I would not use a flash uni... (show quote)
I use a lot of flashes from the 80's on my digital cameras. They are Nikon SB-15, SB-16b, Minolta 320x, Canon 199a, 177a. However, I measure the trigger voltage before use. I wouldn't use the Wein safe sync as it's too expensive.
May 12, 2017 07:58:59 #
beagle mom wrote:
Hi, my name is Vicki, and I am a beagle mom. I am ... (show quote)
That can be a damaging situation - maybe. These links might help - old flash/new camera.
http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/using-older-electronic-flash-digital-cameras-what-works%E2%80%94what-doesn%E2%80%99t#e0r5XD1ycZcdFdfF.97
http://www.instructables.com/id/Use-old-flashes-on-new-DSLR-cameras./
May 12, 2017 08:29:11 #
buddingfatographer
Loc: Nashville
beagle mom wrote:
Hi, my name is Vicki, and I am a beagle mom. I am ... (show quote)
You can turn off the flash or stay out of auto... use program auto (P) at least to keep the flash down. I have the 3400 and bought an Altura flash and love it... it is now 59$ on amazon. With it on the camera the flash can't come up anyhow...
https://www.amazon.com/Altura-Photo-AP-N1001-Speedlite-Auto-Focus/dp/B00KEYPTO4
May 12, 2017 11:34:17 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
Yongnu makes a line of low cost decent quality TTL flashes that you can use on-camera and for bounce flash. Put one in the hot shoe and the popup flash is automatically disabled.
May 12, 2017 11:54:12 #
beagle mom wrote:
Hi, my name is Vicki, and I am a beagle mom. I am ... (show quote)
Vicki, the Vivitar flash has a trigger voltage of 10,95V to 14,5V. The D3400 can handle up to 250v so I think it's ok.
If you use a scene or automatic exposure mode, the flash will automatically pop up when you try to take a picture in low light. If you want to control when the flash pops up (or to keep it closed) set the camera to P, A, S or M mode.
My suggestion is to not bother with this flash. Your best flash pictures will be when you turn the flash around and bounce it off a wall - this will give you very nice, flattering light. Pointing the flash directly at the subject will result in very harsh light and shadows. You can get, as has been suggested, an Yongnuo flash. Even the least expensive manual flash will work the way you need it to. The thyristor will limit the amount of light hitting the subject, and you can turn the head around and tilt it up and down to avoid the harsh light.
The attached photo is an example of softer, bounced lighting.
May 12, 2017 19:45:21 #
The Yongnuo YN685-C (as I shoot with Canon gear) works as good as a Canon Speedlite at a lot less cost and I'm sure a lot less than a Nikon flash. The YN685's have a built in receiver (no transmitter) so that saves you if you're using it off camera. That paired with a YN622-TX attached to your camera can run up to 3 flashes all able to be set to different settings. I own 2 YN685's and the Flash controller the total cost was under $250.00. The total cost less than a Canon Speedlite flash. I'm not a professional but I am very happy with the results I get with this setup.
May 13, 2017 02:58:10 #
beagle mom wrote:
Hi, my name is Vicki, and I am a beagle mom. I am ... (show quote)
The trigger voltages on the Vivitar 2500 are as follows:
10.95V, measured by J. Mark Morris,
14.5V from Lou McLaughlin
These voltages are a bit high for many cameras; for others, they're borderline. Only one of our resident experts can answer your question. However, you can use the flash with many RF devices or simple optical slaves. Good luck!
May 13, 2017 07:15:46 #
One thing about the Vivitar flash is that you won't get TTL metering. When using a flash designed for TTL metering, the camera will instruct the flash to fire a few pre-flashes. The camera will get a meter reading on the reflected light, calculate a final flash output level, and then fire the final flash.
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