ggttc Loc: TN

First of all let me say that if I have used ANY flash 2 times in the last 2 years its been a lot...

So here goes...I have a speedlite 199a for my AE-1

Any way shape or form I could use that off camera with an sx50?

I read that it does work with 60d's and it doesnt work etc...TTL and thyristor (spelling?) seem to be key words.

My wife wants to experiment with flash...if it were film...no problem...but digital I am lost.

Thanks in advance.

Larrie Loc: NE Ohio

Just off the top of my head No. The contril voltage will likely damage your SX50

ggttc Loc: TN

Thats my first thought...and I would be seriously hesitant to try anything.

But the info on the net is sketchy at best...I know ex flashes will work...but are you confined to those?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Good advice, Larrie; control (trigger) voltage is the most common cause of cameras destroyed by flashes. But, in this case, Canon rated the 199a at 6 volts and the flash was measured at less than 5 volts. So the main problem will be loss of any automatic and/or remote capabilities. BUT, thanks, Larrie, for letting people be aware of the danger. Did you use the chart at:

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

ggttc Loc: TN

Thanks much...the chart is very much what I was looking for.

When searching the net for specifics all I found was a great deal of disagreement on the issue...nothing concrete.

kegler Loc: N. E. Indiana

I was in the same conundrum with a old "Popular" handle mount flash, that I used during my old 35mm days, and was told on here that you could use an isolator to keep the flash from damaging the camera. Never did get any further with it due to some medical problems in the family but will get back to it soon (I hope)

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

You didn't mention your budget but for what it's worth, I just took receipt of a Canon 270 EX II. IT takes two AA batteries and has bounce capability to 90 degrees. It's definitely compatible with the SX 50. Canon had them on sale for $149.00.

Timaloha Loc: Cape Cod, MA USA

About three months ago, my SX50 lost all flash function and all the control categories on the menu screen related to flash all greyed out. I had no idea how that could have happened and I eventually sent it in to Canon for repair (they were nice enough to send me a refurbished one). Until I read this thread I had no idea a speedlite could damage my camera and I now remember that at some point I was given a Canon 580EXII Speedlite (6v) and I put it on and tried it out. It worked and I took it off and forgot all about it. Did the speedlite mess up my flash function? Every other feature worked fine.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Don't know about messing up the flash function but it seems that using a 580 EXII on an SX 50 might be a bit of overkill.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

The old style flashes have a central pin and a connection to the edge of the shoe. Between the two the flash gets triggered. Any other pins there may be are flash dependent.

The problem with the old flashes is that their high voltage ends up going through the camera frying the circuits. That's because the flash trigger was usually just a mechanical switch whereas in today's cameras it's often a semiconductor.

So, there is a solution. Get yourself a Wine Safesync (not sure how to spell Wine but that's what it sounds like). Place this between the shoe and the flash and you can take pictures all day without harming the camera. In fact you can then use any flash from the past and your camera will be protected.

Timaloha Loc: Cape Cod, MA USA

Thank you Bugfan!

ggttc Loc: TN

Thanks everyone for the info! I have been searching for reasonable answers off and on for quite a while.

Finally some pertinent information...I'll go with the ex flash...and check out the wine syncflash...Moguls chart is a keeper for future reference

Thanks again.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

It's highly doubtful that your 580 or any other Canon flash with a trigger voltage 6 volts or less could damage your camera (see note below). The only other danger might come from a flash which has a contact layout to the camera and which somehow discharges a high capacity capacitance charge through a critical circuit in the flash control system. Obviously, this won't happen with the matched pin system between the 580EX and your SX-50 UNLESS (and this is a warning to everybody) your flash was on OR CHARGED when you mounted it to your camera and sliding the front flash contacts over the rear set of camera contacts can create a situation as described above. NEVER, NEVER mount any flash that is on or may have a residual charge to any camera. You may get away with it thousands of times, but if you do it and some setting on the camera and/or flash are wrong - ⚡⚡⚡ ZAP ⚡⚡⚡

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

"Sadly, Canon's "EZ" and "EX" flash units use different TTL schemes. Despite the nearly-identical names, the "EZ" strobes (which use a system called "A-TTL") can only be used as full-power-manual strobes with pure E-TTL cameras like the G1/G2 or the D30."