Don’t use old flashes with modern digital cameras!
I recently mentioned that I hooked up an old Suntax flash to my Canon 300D. Although completely manual, I was very happy with the results. I was interested in getting an adapter cable to use the flash off-camera, and while digging around came across warnings regarding using old flashes with new digital cameras. The voltages needed to fire the flashes are far higher than modern devices can support, and you're in danger of frying your camera. I knew my 300D supports up to 6V, and some googling turned up the voltage of my Suntax 9800A: 68V. I thought this was maybe a typo and meant 6.8, since my camera hadn't exploded. Then I saw this:
You also need to remember that the Canon Hot Shoe - PC circuit is limited to 6volts. Many third party flashes are much higher then this and require voltage protection, like a Wein Safe Sync. High voltage will fry your shutter over time. The excess voltage is converted to heat.
Bugger. I've used the flash a fair bit, and have been rather lucky, it seems. Hopefully there's no internal damage; it seems to be working fine at the moment, thankfully. I might ask for something compatible for my birthday, though - I like the results too much!
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May 12th, 2007 - 19:10
Ah I never knew that. Mercifully I have only ever used the integral flash on my DSLR
May 12th, 2007 - 20:32
Makes for interesting reading on a rainy Saturday afternoon
I would think there’s some chance of building up one of the circuits linked from the page you reference, such as http://repairfaq.cis.upenn.edu/Misc/strbfaq.htm#strboazp, in order to save your camera from the HV! If we’re lucky, there’s space inside the flash itself to house this extra circuit, so you’d still connect via the hot shoe etc.
There’re two Wein Safe Sync hot shoe > hot shoe adapters on eBay right now as well…though they do look a little chunky – and retro!
July 11th, 2008 - 12:42
Hi,
If your 9800A is actually a Suntax 9800AL, the trigger voltage would be less than 5V, typically 3.8V.
It would depend on how old your 9800A is.
July 11th, 2008 - 12:46
Interesting – thanks for the info! I’ll try to find out.
I’ve recently put the Suntax on a wireless trigger so I can use it off camera without having to worry, and it works very nicely.
July 11th, 2008 - 12:55
I am glad you found an innovative solution to it.