trigger voltage and the 10D

[nat869]

Hey there everyone,
Newbie to the Forums and an amateur photographer. I have been doing photos for a fitness model for awhile with a 2.1 mp Sony Mavica CD1000. The quality of the pic isn't great but I have tried to make do. I bought an Interfit 250s colorflash strobe and have been triggering it with a Wein Peanut Slave using the cameras built in flash. The model decided she wanted to start submitting photos to some of the magazines, so I knew it was time for a real digital slr camera, so after looking into it I bought the Canon 10D from B&H Photo along with two lenses. I figured I could just plug the strobe pc cable into the pc port on the 10D, but I saw some websites that said if the trigger voltage on the strobe is too high it can damage the camera. What is meant by this? I always figured the strobe was activated by some sort of a relay that used a little voltage from the camera to trigger it. Is this something to worry about? Thanks for any help.

[NILOLIGIST]

Hi,

If I am correct you need the adapter. Here is the link, I had to buy one. It makes the voltage low enough so that camera is not burnt out.

This is just one brand, there are several brands...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=227625&is=REG

NiL,

[cowman345]

What about a Vivitar 285 HV? Can this be used directly on a 10D hotshoe without problems?

-dave-

[RDKirk]

I bought the Canon 10D from B&H Photo along with two lenses. I figured I could just plug the strobe pc cable into the pc port on the 10D, but I saw some websites that said if the trigger voltage on the strobe is too high it can damage the camera. What is meant by this? I always figured the strobe was activated by some sort of a relay that used a little voltage from the camera to trigger it. Is this something to worry about? Thanks for any help.

Canons require no more than 6 volts sync (trigger) voltage. That's rather low--below the ISO standard of 12 volts. Most modern flash units don't go over 6 volts, though--but be careful with the Vivitar 283 and 285, though. They vary depending on where and when they were actually made.

You can test a flash unit with a DC volt meter that measures low enough. Just charge the flash and touch the posivite lead of the meter to the center terminal of the PC or hotshoe, and the negative lead to the outside terminal. The meter will show the sync voltage (unless you short it, in which case it will flash in your face).

If you flash shows too high a voltage, you can get a Wein Safe Sync that fits in the hot shoe (kind of pricey--about $55 at B&H). Check your flash first.