Question: old flash on Canon DSLR

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

I have some new old stock flashes, and one of them is the Praktica 632LCD flash.
Now: somebody wants to use this one on his Canon, i think it is a 400D, which has 5 contacts.

We live too far apart from each other to simply give it a try, does anybody here have experience with old flashes on Canon digital?

I know that it will not communicate and adjust flash power, but that is not the point. If he can manually use some functions, that is perfectly okay.
The question is: will it work at all. The flash has 3 little contacts, placed in a triangle.....

i am only familiar with the Sony/Minolta flashes.... and just want to be sure that i send him a working item!

Thank you!!

Excalibur · Expire: 2014-04-21

Well you better check the output voltage as DSLRs are more delicate than old film cameras for old flashguns........IMO (not an expert on digital stuff) that 6v would be ok as my electronic Canon film camera has a matching Canon flashgun at that voltage.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

There is no voltage issue, he has checked that on a website, so he says...

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

elliott · Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 170

Even if a site says it is safe, always check for yourself, they could have changed the design at some point.

The only contacts that matter are the center point and the ground at the side of the shoe.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Okay thanks!

The flash has a trigger voltage between 4.5 and 6 volts.

Jesito · Expire: 2015-01-07

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

The 400D should be ok up to 250 volts.

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

The 10D and 350D were of the same generation and only coped with up to 6V on the hotshoe. Canons after that had a greater tolerance, up to 250V, as Martin says.

To get back to the use of the flash - if it's a thyristor gun, it will work in thyristor auto mode - set the camera in manual, say 1/60th and f:8 and fire the gun in auto.

On the back of the gun should be a chart with sliders (some guns have active sliders, in that they'll actually adjust the power settings; most guns have simple dumb sliders which are just a setting guide for the user).
Set the camera according to what the sliders say for ISO/ASA , distance and aperture and see how it goes.

If it's a manual-only gun and has no thyristor control, or its control depended on the TTL function of the old film camera, then it will fire a full-power burst and all you can do is adjust the lens aperture to suit that, at say, 1/60th or 1/125 or whatever the sync speed of the camera is.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Ok , thanks a lot! it is a thyristor gun, so this should most probably work all right!

Thanks for thinking with me here!

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

msowsun · Joined: 01 Mar 2012 Posts: 16

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

gill · Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 44 Location: Lahore

I searched the whole forum but found no answer If already asked i regret. I avoid to open a new thread and thought to put my request here .I have Metz 60CT1/2 and want to use on Sony A330. I have Wein Safe Sync and located Yongnuo YN-H3 adapter which is perhaps for old Minolta flash. There are lot of hot shoe adapters for sony on ebay. I will appreciate if compatible/economical hot shoe adapter for above combination is advised. Thanks in advance.

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4744 Location: Cheshire, England

OK to answer your question. Assuming the voltage is Ok (4.5v I understand).

On the rear panel, switch the flash to Auto mode, plus there is a little switch just above the shoe, select M. This turns off all the connector pins. If you are using the remote trigger/sensor and hand grip select M on the trigger.

Attach the flash, if you are using the grip make sure the extension trigger/sensor is attached to your cameras hot shoe. Put your camera into Manual mode, select the fastest flash sync shutter speed. If you're not sure, be safe and select 1/50th of a sec.

Now I'm not too sure of this bit so bear with me. When switched on, the LCD panel ought to tell you which aperture to use with a given ASA/ISO, select that aperture. The panel tells you the safest nearest or farthest distances. That can vary with the ISO selected. The flash computes the exposure itself by measuring the amount of light reflected from the subject.

Now if the info I have given you above is not 100% correct regards selecting the aperture, select ISO200 on the camera and take a series of pictures at f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8 at a distance of say 3 metres or 10 feet. Whichever is the best exposed, then use that aperture.

If you are using the grip the trigger/sensor mounted on the camera will calculate the exposure where ever the flash is pointing. I use a brolly or reflector or bounce it off the ceiling he sensor will automatically adjust the output of the flash. Increase the ISO to allow you to use it to best effect.

I use lots of old flashguns on my Nikon DSLR's I don't worry about the voltage because i use a Wein safesync

gill · Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 44 Location: Lahore

[quote="philslizzy"]OK to answer your question. Assuming the voltage is Ok (4.5v I understand).

Thanks Philslizzy of detailed reply. I want to use Metz flashes on hot shoe of a330 instead of wireless triggering. Wireless triggering become useless when lot of photographer are working around. I have CTR 103 P triggers and off camera doing fine. In another thread someone is reported Pixel hot shoe adapter TF 325 and issue of voltage of difference of each flashes. I have asked him to use with Wein safe sync if every flash is sync. with this hot shoe. waiting his reply.