Studio Flash with D30

[Stemmy]

I have read that using a D30 with some studio flash units can damage the cameras hotshoe. Is this correct and if so what are the ways round this problem?


www.wedding-photography.org

[justme_dc]

there are a number of wireless solutions available that don't have dangerous voltage levels.

The pocket wizards are amazing!
http://www.pocketwizard.com/

There is also the wein infrared system.
http://www.weinproducts.com/ssr.htm

Either of those systems work well. Both have minor draw backs. I currently use the wein ssr jr.

I would like to get pocket wizard eventually as it is better suited for outdoor/long distance triggering.


There are about a million reviews of both products online.

hope that helps. good luck to you.

[mpross]

I use Alien Bees with my D60 without any problems. But don't know if the D30 is different.

[daveh]

Alien Bees have a 6 volt trigger so there's no issue with them. There are some flashes (mostly very old designs I think) with trigger voltages in the hundreds of volts.

If you have one of those, Wein has a voltage limiter gadget.

[robertwgross]

Basically, it is not that hot shoe itself that might be damaged, but the electronics that drives the hot shoe connection. It is intended to be used with Canon flash units, which have a trigger voltage around five volts. If you use something close, like five or six or seven volts, I doubt that there will be any problem. If you use a strobe with a 170-volt trigger, then you may be causing the camera to fail.

If you have that hot-trigger problem, then there are several systems that you can put in the middle to lower the hot trigger voltage to something like five volts that Canon can withstand, and several other posters have already mentioned some systems.

Personally, I did not want my hot-trigger equipment to burn up my Canon, so I purchased the 550EX flash and the transmitter unit. If I need more light, then I will purchase more 550EX units, or else 420EX units.

By the way, I have a Vivitar 252 flash for sale.


---Bob Gross---

[DAMphyne]

I believe this is what happened to my D30, the PC input won't set off any flash, even a hot-shoe adapter wont produce any flash.

I have a Novotron 240 Kit, they worked fine for about 8 months, then the camera refused to set them off. Also my 420EX, and the built-in won't give proper exposure(under-exposed), it's as though they aren't able to use "Full Flash".

Are these symptoms of the electronics being damaged?
My only choice is to send the camera in for repair, which won't really tell me the cause of the problem, just what was fixed.

Is there a way to find out what voltage is produced by my Novotrons?

Will I still need a voltage regulator or wireless release if I go to the 10D?

Will I survive this change-over to Digital?


Digital Set Me Free http://www.damphyne.com/

[daveh]

damphyne wrote:
Is there a way to find out what voltage is produced by my Novotrons?

If it's not listed in the manual or web site, and the manufacturer won't tell you, then you can use a volt meter to measure it yourself.

[soumya63]

Check my website for a trigger voltage conditioner circuit.

http://www.mitraphoto.com/SafeSync.jsp


www.mitraphoto.com