amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

What flash on what camera?

Many vintage flashes have been tested and are safe to use on the most modern cameras. For example, many Canon and Nikon are now rated to be able to handle up to 250V trigger voltage. Older electronic cameras were the problem, some of which were rated as low a 6V. A minimum standard of 24V was put in place a few years ago... but most manufacturers are far exceeding that and shielding electronics to tolerate a good deal higher trigger voltage.

There are a few old flashes that exceed 250V. But most don't.

There's a compilation of tested flashes here: http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Even if there's been no testing done on the model of flash you want to use, it's pretty easy to test yourself with a standard VOM meter. Those can be bought pretty cheap any number of places. Search online for "how to" web pages or videos, to see how to test a flash.

If your flash is listed above with a high voltage... higher than your particular camera is rated to handle... Then, yes, a $50 Wein Safe Sync is one answer: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245292-REG/Wein_W990560_Safe_Sync_Hot_Shoe_to.html.

It also may be possible to use a radio triggering system to isolate the flash from the camera. But then you have to check that the radio receiving unit can tolerate the flash's trigger voltage.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

You just have to be careful that the shoe is of a voltage reducing type and not just a standard shoe

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

Forgive my ignorance but why would you want to mess with using an old flash on a modern digital camera?

gmw12 Loc: Indianapolis & Windsor/UK & Montreux/Switzerl

I use this one from amazon.com:


JJC Standard Hot Shoe Adapter with Extra PC sync connection Port & 3.5mm Mini Phone Connection Port for Connecting Cameras to Additional Off-camera Flash, Studio Light / Strobes or Other Accessories

works fine with my old Braun flash.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Yours is not an "ignorant" question- it makes sense and is worth a bit of discussion.

So...you go out and buy an up-to-date modern digital camera so why bother with a virtually " antique" flash unit?

For the average shooter who just uses flash occasionally in low light or wants to get into more advanced flash techniques, my advice would be to simply buy a modern Speedlight same as your camera make or one of the good aftermarket units made by Godox, Yongnuo, Metz- etc. You will have all the dedicated exposure automation, bounce, and modification potential, no need for special adaptations and safety for your camera's circuitry. Speedlights are compact and easy to carry around or mount atop the camera.

So...I like speedlights, I even use them professionally on certain jobs. Some of the "old school" units, however, are awesome. Many are extremely powerful, have larger "softer" working lamp heads, user changeable flash tubes, interchangeable reflectors and can be used in the bare-bulb mode. There are modes that were made by manufacturers that most of the new folks never even heard of- some are still in production like Lumedyne, Norman and Quantum. Oldies but goodies are still out there made by Ascor, Braun, Metz, Ultrablitz, Mecablitz, Hershey, Hieland, Hico, Dormitzer, and Mighty-Light.

Many of those old "bazookas" pack quite a wallop- and some go as high as 800-watt.seconds- the average speed light is 80 to 100 w.s. With that kinda power you can shoot at low ISO settings, bounce or modify your flash and still have sufficient depth of field. Of course, you might need to brush up on your MANUAL flash exposure determination methods- flash meters, guide numbers, estimating distances and setting apertures, etc.

Also...if you have one of those Safe-Synch adapters you can use many of the older studio type systems and monolights that are still available on the used market at reasonable prices.

On the other hand, if you just have one of those old Vivitar units or one of the many off-brand models with no particularly desirable features, monstrously high trigger voltages, and possibly limited remaining longevity, the price of the adapter is not justified.

Of course, you can measure the trigger voltage with a voltmeter or multimeter- if you have one and know exactly how to use it and where to probe for the reading, trigger the unit via radio slave or use it as a second flash with a simple photoelectric trigger, however, all of this requires time and possibly more investment. If you make a mistake or proceed without the Safe-Synch, that can be a costly error. There is also the possibility that when all is said and done, the old unit if it was frequently used in the past, may have a carbonized flesh tube which will cause color shifts and soon burn out. If it has been dormant for many years, it may have deformed capacitors which may also limit its power output and longevity.

BebuLamar

Myself I don't use the safesync. I have many old flashes and I check their sync voltage and if they are high I simply don't use them. Among my flashes only a Rollei unit which has 170V sync voltage and an old Vivitar 283 (made in Japan version so it's very old) which has 270V. I don't use these 2.
Since I don't have the Wein safesync and I understand that it uses the sync voltage to function (it has no battery) I wonder if anyone try to use it with a flash unit with low sync voltage? Does it work? Of course a flash unit with low sync voltage you don't need the safesync but if you use it does it work? I suspect that it may not work because the sync voltage is too low to power it.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

You need to tell us what camera your using if its a Nikon they make one.

BebuLamar

Nikon doesn't make one, not one that is safe to use with a flash that has high voltage sync.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

yes they do I have one part # AS 15 I have it in my hand right know had it for year look on ebay I use it with my metz 60 ct4 and my 45 ct4 for years never found a flash it did not work with.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

The Nikon AS-15 does not regulate the voltage from the flash

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

what flash is he using ?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

He didn’t say

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

what flash are you using?

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

Thanks. I just have a few old flashes. I think I’ll still keep them stored away and stay with the speedlite.

BebuLamar

The 60CT4 has low voltage trigger. I have the AS 15. The purpose of the AS 15 is to use with camera that only has hot shoe with flash that only has PC sync. It has no high voltage protection like the safesync.