Can you use a flash from before the digital era on a DSLR?

I just received a used canon rebel xt. I also have an old Minolta image CZD-70 which I received 20 years ago but never used. Seems to work fine in that the flash does go off. So far I only played with the camera in auto setting and everything is way overexposed with the flash. I am assuming that is because of the settings on the camera and not because of the flash. Is this a correct assumption?

So basically the question is, What is the downside of using this flash considering it is off brand and not made for a digital camera?

Thanks

1) The voltage on the pins might be too high for the camera circuit; many people have reported frying their DSLR's by hooking an older flash to a new camera. There are ways around it, though.

2) You won't get TTL of any kind with it, but if you're willing to work in manual (aka old school), no reason you can't use it.

Until I can expand/upgrade next month (crossing fingers), my favorite flash at the moment is a Minolta auto320x. I trigger it with Cybersyncs and use it in manual mode. Works fine.

If you can provide name and model number of flash, we can look up trigger voltage. Depending upon model, some old Minolta flashes have very high trigger voltages, too high even for the high voltage capable dSLRs (unlike the older low voltage AF Canon film SLRs which cannot take any high voltage unit)

If the flash has an acceptable trigger voltage, and it has an Auto mode (using a photosensor in the front of the flash), it can be very easily used with modern cameras. The only issue might be the hot foot contact configuration, where the pins are not compatible and would need to be taped over, leaving only the central large trigger contact and the contact at the edge of the hot foot for triggering flash.

Wilt, would you get accurate TTL that way, auto mode with older units? It's been my understanding that you generally can't...correct me if I'm wrong....

Dave, the auto mode on an older flash would not give you TTL metering.

dave63 wrote in post #10407000
Wilt, would you get accurate TTL that way, auto mode with older units? It's been my understanding that you generally can't...correct me if I'm wrong....

Film TTL flash units are generally NOT compatible with current digital TTL, as they work on totally different principles. If you try even a Canon TTL flash on Canon dSLR, the flash will only fire on full power all the time...it does not know how to emit a low power preflash, nor does it understand the command from the dSLR about how much power to output during the trigger of main flash output. Many (but not all) TTL flash units do have an Auto mode, using flash's photosensor to determine when to shut off the output of light.

dave63 wrote in post #10407000
Wilt, would you get accurate TTL that way, auto mode with older units? It's been my understanding that you generally can't...correct me if I'm wrong....

Not ttl, but the old auto thyrister style of auto, the flash fires until enough light fires back and hits the onboard sensor on the front of the flash.

Wilt wrote in post #10406964
If you can provide name and model number of flash

It's a Minolta Image CZD-70. tried to look it up but didn't find anything in my google search.

It isn't listed here:
http://www.botzilla.co​m/photo/strobeVolts.ht​ml

Either measure the trigger voltage with a voltmeter or keep it off your camera. There is a very good chance you are going to fry your camera.

Given the relatively low cost of some decent third party flashes like the YN's. Not worth the risk of sticking an old beater of unknown quality on your camera.

What would be a good flash to get? My main use in importance and not in usage time of this camera is to improve my pictures of the kitchens I build for my website. Before I was just using a cheap P&S camera without much thought. As I am getting more and more business from the site I wanted to improve upon then.

my crappy pics for reference nykitchenreface.com/ga​llery

right now I have the XT along with the 50mm f1.8 and the 18-55 is.

Haven't even used it on any kitchens yet. I am planning on using the wide angle part of the 18-55 for most of this work.

Probably need more equipment to do it very well. I am just trying to do it better.

So what flash would you guys recommend?

Also I and my new camera thank you. I did not even think I had a chance to hurt my camera with the old flash.

From a Dec 2005 post: "Hi, I have a manual image czd-70 flash that was made for a manolta camera.
I have used it on my rebel 300d but now that I have a 20d and know a little
more I'm a little leery to put it on there. I want to use it to trigger
strobes. Does anyone know if there would be any voltage problems with this
setup or any chance of frying the 20d? The flash is at least 10 years old."

While no one has answered the question, the fact that the post was sent by someone who had used the flash on a 300D, which pre-dated the Canon (20D, 350D and later) dSLR ability to handle 250v, is itself de facto proof of compatible flash trigger voltage.


Here is an adapter which 'gets rid of' the proprietary contacts, leaving only the flash trigger contacts...
http://www.flashzebra.​com/products/0128/inde​x.shtml

truestorytravis wrote in post #10407017
Dave, the auto mode on an older flash would not give you TTL metering.

Wilt wrote in post #10407040
Film TTL flash units are generally NOT compatible with current digital TTL, as they work on totally different principles. If you try even a Canon TTL flash on Canon dSLR, the flash will only fire on full power all the time...it does not know how to emit a low power preflash, nor does it understand the command from the dSLR about how much power to output during the trigger of main flash output. Many (but not all) TTL flash units do have an Auto mode, using flash's photosensor to determine when to shut off the output of light.

Ah, good. For once I was right in my understanding about something.

domat wrote in post #10407353
What would be a good flash to get? My main use in importance and not in usage time of this camera is to improve my pictures of the kitchens I build for my website. Before I was just using a cheap P&S camera without much thought. As I am getting more and more business from the site I wanted to improve upon then.

my crappy pics for reference nykitchenreface.com/ga​llery

right now I have the XT along with the 50mm f1.8 and the 18-55 is.

Haven't even used it on any kitchens yet. I am planning on using the wide angle part of the 18-55 for most of this work.

Probably need more equipment to do it very well. I am just trying to do it better.

So what flash would you guys recommend?

Also I and my new camera thank you. I did not even think I had a chance to hurt my camera with the old flash.

I would suggest canon 430ex if you want OEM. If you are a bargain shopper look at the YN467 on ebay. Ettl capable flash for under $100.