Vivatar flash guns
 

I have an old Vivatar flash gun that i would like to use on my d50. After speeking with Stephan he mentioned that the Voltage of the unit may damage my camera. I have trried to find their website but i am unable to so i was wondering if anyone can tell me if they have a website or if they know the trigger voltage.

Ollie this may be of help.
http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

What model is it Ollie, that may help in answering the question.

Don

It is a 2800d

The website that Saphire pointed out shows it as 140-170 volts, but not if that is safe on my d50.

Ollie,

Thats going to damage your D50, keep that flash unit away from your camera.

Agree with Foxy there Ollie.

Don

Thank you both for your help. It was brought for the om10.

I'll "third" that opinion. It'll kill it very quickly.

A "good value for money" flash for use with modern dSLRs is the Sigma EF500 DG Super, this is available in a variety of fits, Canon/Nikon/Minolta/Pentax/Sigma and can be had for about £145. If you can't stretch to that, then there's the EF500 DG ST for £99, but this is a far more basic unit. The Super is worth the extra £45 in the long run.

Duncan

Trigger voltage
 

I had a Vivitar 283. Great flash but the trigger voltage was 270 volts. Killer for almost all cameras. I understand that the Ones marked china rather than japan are lower voltage but I have never owned one to test. Keep it and get a remote trigger for 2nd flash use. I sold mine on ebay and now regret it.:)

Ollie If you get you're self a sensor, see link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireless-Flash...QQcmdZViewItem you can use the Vivatar as a slave unit!

Slightly off topic
 

I recently bought an optical remote flash trigger. Much cheaper than wireless. Works with most flashes. It won't work with my Olympus FL-36 but I think this is a very low voltage unit. Only takes 2 AA batteries so must be about 3 volts. Most other flashes use 4 AA so will be about 6 volts. The optical takes its power from the flashgun. The one one the ebay link is the one I bought.

Am i right in thinking that i will still need a flash gun that will work for my D50 to work with a slave unit trigger? Or is it posssible to get a device that will sit on my hot shoe and remotly fire the flash gun?

One of these will do it. The optical one relies on the pop up flash on the camera or a small trigger flash.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/For-Nikon-Wire...QQcmdZViewItem

No, If you can turn off the pre flash on the D50 ( the D50 may have a setting to turn off the pre flash) then you can use the on board flash to trigger the Vivatar.

I will go and find my D50 manual and see if i can.

I was directed to this thread by Yelvertoft when I mentioned using my 46 year old flash gun (Nissin 400HA) with my Canon 20Da. I have since measured the voltage across the flash output when charged up and found it to be 196 volts!!

Fortunately my camera seems to have survived but I feel extremely lucky as it is effectively irreplaceable. (the a version is no longer made and is impossible to get second hand)

Anyone tempted to try out an old flash unit MUST check out the reference given by Christine in the second post of this thread and if the model is not listed then measure the output yourself.

As Yelvertoft has advised me you can get a wireless remote trigger that can safely work the flash.

Dave

It's quite easy for someone with a rudimentary knowledge of electronics and a deft hand with a soldering iron, to make a low voltage flash trigger capable of firing these old flashguns. I have made several of these over the years, many of which were incorporated into high powered portable flash units I built specially for bird photography.

Anyone requiring a copy of the circuit diagram is welcome.

nirofo.

You can use your high-voltage flash on your camera as long as you add a voltage filter. Options include:
Wein Safe-Sync Hot Shoe to Hot Shoe High Voltage Sync Regulator
Speedotron Safe Sync Hot Shoe Adapter

It's also worth knowing that Paramount makes voltage-protected sync cords.