flash newb seeks help

[BruceC]

I picked up this flash at the fleamarket for a few dollars and I have no idea how to use it. What do the numbers on the back mean? Any input?

http://gslcms.com/abcshots/My_junk/img_3328.jpg

http://gslcms.com/abcshots/My_junk/img_3327.jpg

[cgratti]

What is the voltage of the flash? I am not sure, but I think you may damage your camera and/or flash if you go beyond the limits of the voltage.

Ask around before you use it, most people here would know more about this. Your absolute best bet is to spend the money and get an Canon flash. The 430EX is well worth the money.

[Curtis N]

The first thing you should be concerned about is trigger voltage. This website (http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html)lists trigger voltages for a number of flash units and explains how to measure yours if it's not listed. If your camera is a Digital Rebel (300D) you shouldn't use a flash unit with a trigger voltage over 6 volts. The Digital RebelXT (350D) is good up to 250 volts.

Can you post a cleaner shot of the back of the flash, or maybe a closer crop of the shot you posted, so we can get a better look?

[NewbieXT]

The top numbers should be where you set your ISO (film speed). This will align the number of the f-stop up with the distance you are shooting. On older camera you would set the shutter to 60 (1/60 sec) then you would focus your lens. the focal ring had the distance marked on it so you could tell how far the subject was from you. once you got this distance you would set the f-stop to match the back of the flash. That's all. This is not as easy to do on a newer camera because there is nothing on the lens to tell you how far away you are focusing. You can guess the distance an probably be just fine.

Also as I'm sure you know there are two sets of numbers for the distance m=meters, ft=feet. I am not trying to sound condescending but I usually think too much info is better than not enough. Saves time.

Hope this helps.

[NewbieXT]

Can't really see enough to tell if there is something I've missed.

[BruceC]

Thanks everyone. Got lucky then, because I just stuck it on and used it. Seems to work fine. I just got done checking the voltage and I found 2 posts that gave me 3.24v. Oh yeah this one was not on that website btw. Here’s a better pic.

http://gslcms.com/abcshots/My_junk/img_3337.jpg

[BruceC]

alright, after messing around with it tonight in the back yard I think I understand how it works now. thanks again.

[Curtis N]

On older camera you would set the shutter to 60 (1/60 sec) 1/60 was flash sync speed on most SLRs awhile ago. With your Rebel you can set your shutter at 1/200 or slower.

This is an auto thyristor flash with one automatic setting and full power manual. In auto mode you can use it within the distance range indicated. Set your ISO, then set your aperture according to the orange arrow.

In manual mode, you need to set the ISO, then use the aperture that corresponds to the distance.

Now this is an educated guess: Since the front of the flash says it's "multi dedicated", I'm guessing the "P C M ..." letters on the slider near the battery compartment are for designating which brand of camera you're using it with. This was for automatically setting the aperture on the camera, but will not work with modern cameras. You'll need to set your ISO and aperture on the camera manually.

[NewbieXT]

Yeah I have no idea what the top slider is for but in manual mode it should work like I posted above. Not sure if the auto will work with a new canon, because your camera will probably just assume it is a manual flash because it is pre-ettl.

[Curtis N]

Not sure if the auto will work with a new canon, because your camera will probably just assume it is a manual flash because it is pre-ettl.When the camera is in manual mode, it does just what you tell it to do. Auto-thyristor flash units like this work fine in auto mode with DSLRs, as long as you set the camera's exposure correctly. With an auto-thyristor flash, it measures its own light through its own sensor and turns itself off when sufficient light has been generated. It's completely different than TTL film or E-TTL digital systems which require communication from the camera to the flash.

I have an old Canon 177A Speedlite that works fine in auto mode on my 20D. This technology is still used in some of the more powerful and expensive flash units sold today.

[Titus213]

Thanks everyone. Got lucky then, because I just stuck it on and used it. Seems to work fine. I just got done checking the voltage and I found 2 posts that gave me 3.24v. Oh yeah this one was not on that website btw. Here’s a better pic.

I hope those two posts were on the hotshoe and not in the battery compartment...:lol:

[BruceC]

yeah it was on the hotshoe.