Wow I just found my dad's old vivitar zoom thyristor 2500

[nate17]

It still works, I tried it on my rebel t1i

[nate17]

oh and let me know if you can find instructions on how to use it. :)

[DDCSD]

You might want to check the sync voltage before using it much more. Its probably fine, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

[dpds68]

Check this link

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

[breal101]

Here's a link to a site that lists your strobe trigger voltage:

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


It says your call but it looks higher than I would take a chance with.

[dpds68]

He should be OK as far as I remember Canon Camera Units are ok up to 250V

This should help

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=708165&highlight=Canon+Flash+Voltages

[DDCSD]

Here's a link to a site that lists your strobe trigger voltage:

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


It says your call but it looks higher than I would take a chance with.

According to Chuck Westphal of Canon, all current EOS models can handle up to 250V.

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0703/tech-tips.html

[breal101]

Isn't that through the PC sync port? I thought is was 6 volts through the hot shoe. Does the OP's camera have a PC port?

[DDCSD]

Isn't that through the PC sync port? I thought is was 6 volts through the hot shoe. Does the OP's camera have a PC port?

According to the article, it is the same on the hotshoe as through the PC port. I don't think the T1i has a PC port.

[breal101]

That's good to know, I learned something new today.:D It looks like the OP has a new free flash unit then. Cool. It looks like an update may be due on the flash trigger website.

[nate17]

So I should stop using it?. It works on my t1i.... I have already tested it!

[Sam|McGuire]

So I should stop using it?. It works on my t1i.... I have already tested it!
Yeah, sure it works but if the voltage is too high it can damage it.

[Mocows]

Yeah, sure it works but if the voltage is too high it can damage it.

Agreed, you can chance it (I did try an old Minolta Flash on my XSi) but just because you can doesn't mean you should.

[nate17]

oh... Damage the flash or my camera? Just in case I will stop using it. thanks for the help!

[gonzogolf]

Nate, not worth the risk of damage to your camera. Besides, you want a modern flash with ettl for on camera use anyway.

[DDCSD]

Odds are that it is fine to use on your camera. I have an old Vivitar 2600 that I occasionally use on my 20D. It actually works great in Auto mode. I measured the voltage and it was around 10V.

The reason I say you should test it is that I'm not responsible for your gear, and I don't want you to be mad at me if it burns out your flash circuit.

I personally would use it if I didn't have another flash unit. But in the end it is your decision, as you are the one that is taking the risk.

[Karl Johnston]

I wouldn't use it, I've heard a lot of third party flashes damaging the hot shoe of the canon cameras

[DDCSD]

I wouldn't use it, I've heard a lot of third party flashes damaging the hot shoe of the canon cameras

???

Where have you heard this from? How do they damage the hot shoe?

[Karl Johnston]

I can't remember, but I remember reading it somewhere. Maybe I'm wrong..though, if it were me then I'd be wary about damaging something if I used an accessory that wasn't made to go on my camera.

edit: i think it was on strobist, but here's a link to some similar subjects:
http://www.acecam.com/photography/2108.html
http://photo.net/photography-lighting-equipment-techniques-forum/00Pica

[nate17]

Thanks for the input guys, To play it safe I will not use it on my camera anymore.

[Leonard Wong]

bah. you don't want to use it on the hotshoe anyway. start learning off camera flash. Get a wireless trigger system then you no longer have to worry about the voltage. (as much) :)

[Karl Johnston]

Hm didn't think about that.. will it work, though?

[breal101]

Nate, if you're anything like me you might be feeling a little sick right now thinking you may have damaged your camera. I did fry the electronics in the first electronic film camera I had while using a Norman 200B with it. That's one reason for my caution in my first post. Just to ease your mind it took quite a while for the flash to fry my camera and the trigger voltage on it was 100 volts, a lot more than the one you have. In any case, don't throw it away, Leonard's advice using it off camera is good. You can trigger it with a radio trigger or with an optical slave and your pop up flash. The e-bay trigger should work fine with it and you don't have to worry at all about damaging the camera. Sorry if I confused you.

[dpds68]

Or you can use this

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245292-REG/Wein_W990560_Safe_Sync_Hot_Shoe_to.html

[gonzogolf]

Or you can use this

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245292-REG/Wein_W990560_Safe_Sync_Hot_Shoe_to.html

It doesn't make much sense to pay $50 plus shipping for a device to make an obsolete $15 flash safe to use on your $700 camera.

[dpds68]

His Cam Camera can Take up to 250V the Flash is what 15V but if he still wants safety I am just giving Options .

[GerBee]

Play it safe and don't use it on your hotshoe ~ there are rated @6V [don't know about the 250V reference above] your flashgun is 9 or 10V trigger voltage ~ it needed to be much stronger than toady's cameras.

As mentioned you can use it safely off camera ... which is even better anyway. :) Good find.

[breal101]

This is what was actually said about trigger voltage in the article Derek posted earlier.

The trigger circuit voltage (TCV) rating for any EOS SLR is the same on the hot shoe as it is on the PC terminal (if the camera has one), but the acceptable TCV level varies according to the camera model. Incidentally, the main reason for the difference is the way the X-sync signal is generated. With the 250V cameras, the X-sync signal is generated electronically. With the 6V cameras, the X-sync signal is generated mechanically. There are no guarantees, but going forward I anticipate that most if not all future EOS SLRs will be safe for TCV up to 250 volts.


I take that as a maybe 250 volt max for all new cameras, not for sure guaranteed.

[Sibil]

Not worth the risk

[drh681]

nice going guys.
scare the kid out of learning to use an on camera flash with some considerable power.
the bottom line is...
Check the voltage for your self, that botzilla site has directions.
Your camera is safe with anything under 250 volts.
If you want to try it Off Camera with an Optical Trigger, you will want one that is "Digital"
The less expensive optical triggers will fire on seeing the pre-flash from your pop-up flash, and when the exposing flash fires the off camera flash will not be ready.

[c2thew]

yes you can use your flash. they are just trying to scare you out of using your old flash.

"scare the kid out of learning to use an on camera flash with some considerable power."

learn about the use of flash (bounce, diffusers, etc) and you will soon realize that your older flash does not offer the same consistency as dedicated canon flashes. i started with a flash much like yours and i learned alot through my experiences. it is definitely worth it to use your flash and experiment with light rather than to just put the flash away and wonder.

[msowsun]

It was already said once before in this thread, but it needs to be said again....

According to Chuck Westfall of Canon, all current EOS models can handle up to 250V.

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/iss...tech-tips.html

[breal101]

It was already said once before in this thread, but it needs to be said again....

According to Chuck Westfall of Canon, all current EOS models can handle up to 250V.

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/iss...tech-tips.html

First your link doesn't work, second look at post #28, that's what he actually said. It looks like he's parsing his words to me. If you look at the official Canon specs for that camera it doesn't mention trigger voltage at all. To err on the side of caution is better than advising him to damage his camera IMO. If you have a later and better definitive answer please post it I'm sure we'll all be interested.;)

[DDCSD]

Here is what it says in the T1i's manual on page 197:

Do not attach a high-voltage flash unit on the camera's hot shoe. It might not fire.


I personally wouldn't be all that worried about putting an ~11V flash on my hot shoe.

[scorpio_e]

Yeah, sure it works but if the voltage is too high it can damage it.

Agreed. Just because it works doe not mean that it will not do damage further down the road. TO me it is safer to err on the side of caution.

[FlashZebra]

First your link doesn't work, second look at post #28, that's what he actually said. It looks like he's parsing his words to me. If you look at the official Canon specs for that camera it doesn't mention trigger voltage at all. To err on the side of caution is better than advising him to damage his camera IMO. If you have a later and better definitive answer please post it I'm sure we'll all be interested.;)
This is the Canon flash forum, how many first hand accounts have you seen where users have damaged cameras from excessive sync Voltage.

If it is not showing up here, where is it showing up?

There is prudence, and then there is avoiding situations where no reasonable risk exists.

If you never go out of the house you definitely reduce your chance of being hit by a car, but is that a reasonable reaction?

You have a testimonial from a high ranking Canon USA technical representative, that you want to discount, and I am not sure what motive this technical rep would have to sling misinformation other that a pile of unhappy Canon owners if the info was not accurate.

And, if the info is not accurate, where are these camera owners with damaged cameras. If not on the Canon flash form, where do that hang out?

Any reasonable integration of this information points to 250 Volts as the safe sync Voltage for all Canon DSLR cameras introduced after the 20D.

Here is a vital link to this info that Mike was point you to:

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0703/tech-tips.html

Enjoy! Lon

[breal101]

Lon, if you read what Chuck said carefully you might see my concern. He says looking forward most if not all ...... does that look definitive to you? I actually experienced a burned out flash system with a Minolta camera some years ago and I remember a post here recently where a member claimed that his camera was damaged by using a Vivitar 285HV on the hotshoe. That flash apparently is listed as having a lower trigger voltage than the one in question. So yeah I'm urging caution until Canon themselves not a tech rep's somewhat nebulas statement can confirm that the camera in question is capable of handling the voltage. Take note of the way trigger voltage is measured, different meters can give entirely different results. Also note that the resistor in between the capacitor and the trigger coil can leak voltage. Up to 400 volts. I never said that the camera can't handle it, I just urged caution as did others. Let me ask you this are, are you willing to buy a new camera or pay for repairs if Nate's camera is damaged. I most assuredly am not.

[Karl Johnston]

Bottom line: Try it...though don't get panicked if it hurts something. Chances are it won't but you never know :p
I don't use non epson paper on my epson cause it voids the warranty if something rare happens when it does choke up on you and damages your printer. Sure you can, everyone does it, and you get great results too..but I don't want to risk it

[FlashZebra]

Let me ask you this are, are you willing to buy a new camera or pay for repairs if Nate's camera is damaged. I most assuredly am not.
Of course not, but I also would not want to inhibit his use of a flash unit that by any reasonable integration of the available information is not an issue. Are you willing to purchase him a flash unit of you have subtracted that utility for no real cause?

The ability to have a flash in hand that you can use is not something to discount just over unnecessary fear.

Again stay in the house if you want no possibility of being hit by a car.

As an aside "Also note that the resistor in between the capacitor and the trigger coil can leak voltage. Up to 400 volts."

This would be true for any electronic flash unit, so prudence would dictate never to use any electronic flash.

I read the POTN flash forum almost every day. I personally have never seen one firsthand account of a flash unit with sync Voltage less that 250 damaging a Canon DSLR released since the Canon 20D. I have certainly seen posts alluding to such damage, and other such hearsay, but I personally have not seen anything I would consider a firsthand account with reasonable data provided. Possibly you can point me to this information.

Where is this pile of burned out Canon bodies if we cannot find one that has reasonable info to back up this suspicion?

Enjoy! Lon

[breal101]

Actually, I don't use a flash plugged into a digital camera ever. I use a radio slave which is much safer in my opinion. I have a Balcar flash which according to the trigger voltage site has 208 volt trigger voltage, safe to use on my 5D? Nope, it also has reverse polarity, I won't even use a PW with it, I use the cheap e-bay triggers because if it burns them I'm not out that much. Yep, I'm cautious but I haven't lost another camera to a flash since I lost the first one either. Just something I learned over the years, once burned, twice shy.

[c2thew]

"Where is this pile of burned out Canon bodies if we cannot find one that has reasonable info to back up this suspicion?"

seriously.

[DDCSD]

Actually, I don't use a flash plugged into a digital camera ever. I use a radio slave which is much safer in my opinion. I have a Balcar flash which according to the trigger voltage site has 208 volt trigger voltage, safe to use on my 5D? Nope, it also has reverse polarity, I won't even use a PW with it, I use the cheap e-bay triggers because if it burns them I'm not out that much. Yep, I'm cautious but I haven't lost another camera to a flash since I lost the first one either. Just something I learned over the years, once burned, twice shy.

How many of those receivers have you fried?

[breal101]

How many of those receivers have you fried?

None. Strangely enough my PWs have given me more trouble than the e-bay triggers. Each has gone in for repair and they're only used as transmitters with Dynalite packs with built in receivers which thankfully have worked perfectly.

[nate17]

wow I did not know this post would generate such a conversation! :D

[drh681]

one last note:
The "Tech Tips" article is from March 2007.
The camera's User Manual will have the information on the safe trigger voltage.
you may have to read carefully in the flash section because it is going to be one line.

[GerBee]

"Where is this pile of burned out Canon bodies if we cannot find one that has reasonable info to back up this suspicion?"
seriously.

Not a reasonable question because Canon used dedicated equipment and 3rd party vendors released their own dedicated equipment or adapters to suit the Canon.

What we are looking at is a phase change in a "standard" to a lower voltage trigger on some models and a generic high voltage flash trigger 3rd party unit pre-dating this change and being well obsolete by the time the two units come together.

In other words they are separated in the technological evolution by over 20 years & perhaps much more, therefore the evolving users would have upgraded their technology and we'd not have a clash and potential incompatibilities, your thesis could make sense if everybody had one of these old flashguns say in 1989 and Canon introduced the EOSXT with its 6V sync trigger ~~ yup, betchya they'd have been a great hullabaloo and many dead Canon cameras ... :)