If you wish to use a generic non-dedicated flash unit on the Canon EOS camera, you will first need to check the triggering voltage of the flash unit. The Canon Speedlite flash units triggering circuits is not more than 6 volts. Furthermore, the Canon EOS 1, A2/A2E, 10s, 630; Elan, RT and Rebel also operate with 6 volts as the maximum voltage going through their triggering circuits. As such, you must make sure the generic flash unit also uses no more than 6 volts for their trigger.
Any trigger circuits which requires more than 6 volts could possibly damage the X-Sync contact of the camera, the shutter units or connecting wire. Damage might not be immediate and may result over a period of time. Furthermore the high voltage passing through the Camera connecting wire might also generate electro magnetic "noise" resulting in unwanted adverse effects on the camera. Errors can occur with metering, shutter speed, aperture size etc depending on the camera models and which part of the circuit layout is affected.
To test a Flash trigger circuit voltage level, you just need a simple voltmeter. This can be purchased at any Radio Shack stores. Just connect the positive lead to the positive of the PC contact of the sync cord and the negative lead to the ground of the PC sync cord. For those Hot Shoe mounted flash units, the positive lead should be connected to the middle of the shoe mount while the negative should be connected to the ground contact on the side of the lock nut. All Multimeters or Voltmeters have different setting for you to test the DC voltages. If you do not know the voltage, then it is best to start testing in the high range downwards.
To fire a Studio flash safely without a sync cord, use a Speedlite 420EZ or 430EZ with 1/32 power under manual flash mode. Ensure that the flash's optical slave trigger is activated before firing. You are actually using the bounce feature of the Speedlite 420EZ or 430EZ to direct the light to optical slave trigger. Alternatively, you can use radio slave triggers to fire the studio flash. Companies like Lindahl and Quantum Instruments sell radio transmitters that connect to the PC contact of the camera and a receiver to connect to studio flash power pack.
If the Studio flash does not work with the Canon EOS Camera, you have to check on the following listed below:
1. Make sure that the PC Socket adapter's shoe is not made from metal. Metal shoes will result in a short with the triggering circuit. To circumvent this problem, just use a Canon PC socket adapter made from Plastic.
2. The flash units polarities might be reversed. This can occur because of a diode which is connected to the camera X-Sync point to protect the Camera internal flash unit. To get by this problem, reverse the polarities of the Sync cord.
(3) If the above two solution still do not work, then the best way is to use the methods described above to fire studio flash safely.
Any trigger circuits which requires more than 6 volts could possibly damage the X-Sync contact of the camera, the shutter units or connecting wire. Damage might not be immediate and may result over a period of time. Furthermore the high voltage passing through the Camera connecting wire might also generate electro magnetic "noise" resulting in unwanted adverse effects on the camera. Errors can occur with metering, shutter speed, aperture size etc depending on the camera models and which part of the circuit layout is affected.
To test a Flash trigger circuit voltage level, you just need a simple voltmeter. This can be purchased at any Radio Shack stores. Just connect the positive lead to the positive of the PC contact of the sync cord and the negative lead to the ground of the PC sync cord. For those Hot Shoe mounted flash units, the positive lead should be connected to the middle of the shoe mount while the negative should be connected to the ground contact on the side of the lock nut. All Multimeters or Voltmeters have different setting for you to test the DC voltages. If you do not know the voltage, then it is best to start testing in the high range downwards.
To fire a Studio flash safely without a sync cord, use a Speedlite 420EZ or 430EZ with 1/32 power under manual flash mode. Ensure that the flash's optical slave trigger is activated before firing. You are actually using the bounce feature of the Speedlite 420EZ or 430EZ to direct the light to optical slave trigger. Alternatively, you can use radio slave triggers to fire the studio flash. Companies like Lindahl and Quantum Instruments sell radio transmitters that connect to the PC contact of the camera and a receiver to connect to studio flash power pack.
If the Studio flash does not work with the Canon EOS Camera, you have to check on the following listed below:
1. Make sure that the PC Socket adapter's shoe is not made from metal. Metal shoes will result in a short with the triggering circuit. To circumvent this problem, just use a Canon PC socket adapter made from Plastic.
2. The flash units polarities might be reversed. This can occur because of a diode which is connected to the camera X-Sync point to protect the Camera internal flash unit. To get by this problem, reverse the polarities of the Sync cord.
(3) If the above two solution still do not work, then the best way is to use the methods described above to fire studio flash safely.
About the Author:
Tim Harris is a canon camera enthusiast. For tips on choosing and buying cameras, do check out Canon OS Camera website. Camera 40D Digital Rebel XTI 3D Blog
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment