Flash for DSLR

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Bob - 17 Dec 2006 10:32 GMT

can I use a "normal" flash gun on a DSL such as a SB26 on a Nikon D80 ?
in addition can I use studio flash heads with a DSLR D80 or D200

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Ed Ruf (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!) - 17 Dec 2006 11:40 GMT

>can I use a "normal" flash gun on a DSL such as a SB26 on a Nikon D80 ?
>in addition can I use studio flash heads with a DSLR D80 or D200

http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=
OiHXIlpi&p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_page=1&p_cv=1.178&p_pv=2.309&p_prods=1
9%2C309&p_cats=178&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=19&prod_lvl2=309&cat_lvl1=178&p_sea
rch_text=flash&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl

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Bob - 17 Dec 2006 17:33 GMT

Thank you thats has answered a lot of questions
I will use the SB26 in maual mode set at the minimum setting pointing away
from the subect .. the flash will be enough to trigger the studio flash
heads. avvoiding the use of any cables. the other option is the As15 as
stated .
the Sb26 cannot be used in full TTL mode with Nikon DSLR's

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>>can I use a "normal" flash gun on a DSL such as a SB26 on a Nikon D80 ?
>>in addition can I use studio flash heads with a DSLR D80 or D200
>
> http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=
OiHXIlpi&p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_page=1&p_cv=1.178&p_pv=2.309&p_prods=1
9%2C309&p_cats=178&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=19&prod_lvl2=309&cat_lvl1=178&p_sea
rch_text=flash&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl

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oehlers@singnet.com.sg - 18 Dec 2006 04:33 GMT

>>can I use a "normal" flash gun on a DSL such as a SB26 on a Nikon D80 ?
>>in addition can I use studio flash heads with a DSLR D80 or D200
>
>http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=
OiHXIlpi&p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_page=1&p_cv=1.178&p_pv=2.309&p_prods=1
9%2C309&p_cats=178&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=19&prod_lvl2=309&cat_lvl1=178&p_sea
rch_text=flash&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl

I tried a SB24 with my D70s. Despite what I understand the above link to say,
I don't think the two are truly compatible. The flash fires, yes, but my
photos came out terribly overexposed. Flash set to Auto and the camera on P.

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Harry Oehlers
oehlers@singnet.com.sg

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DoN. Nichols - 18 Dec 2006 04:58 GMT

According to <oehlers@singnet.com.sg>:

> >>can I use a "normal" flash gun on a DSL such as a SB26 on a Nikon D80 ?
> >>in addition can I use studio flash heads with a DSLR D80 or D200
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> I don't think the two are truly compatible. The flash fires, yes, but my
> photos came out terribly overexposed. Flash set to Auto and the camera on P.

    Is it possible that your ISO is set to "auto"? If so, the ISO
can change between the time you start to press the shutter release and
the time that the flash fires (usually changing in the direction of
greater sensitivity), so that could be the cause of the overexposure.
I'm not sure whether the SB24 can read the ISO from the camera body (I
know that the SB800 can), but if the ISO is changing during the taking,
then the SB24 has stale information, and overexposure is highly likely.
You might try checking the EXIF data from the overexposed image to see
what ISO it was taken at. You may need to switch to manual ISO for the
flash to work in "auto" mode.

    Good Luck,
        DoN.

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oehlers@singnet.com.sg - 19 Dec 2006 15:30 GMT

>According to <oehlers@singnet.com.sg>:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Good Luck,
> DoN.

I'm sure I set the flash to the same ISO as the camera, which was 200. But
it's worth looking again. One thing, though, my camera's exposure correction
is set to +3 steps, and I didn't change it. This might be the culprit if the
connection between the camera and SB24 is one of simply triggering the flash.

I never had an exposure problem at this setting when using my daughter's
SB800. The guess the D70s/SB800 sync-ing controls things as they should.

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oehlers@singnet.com.sg

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Greg "_" - 17 Dec 2006 14:28 GMT

> can I use a "normal" flash gun on a DSL such as a SB26 on a Nikon D80 ?
> in addition can I use studio flash heads with a DSLR D80 or D200

The thing you have to be careful of is trip voltage, higher than the
makers suggested voltage can fry your camera,....even if its a
cumulative fry. Any DSLR with a hot shoe or a PC connector "should" be
able to be adapted to "at the least" fire an existing flash in manual
mode. Your flashes automatic features will vary based on how you have to
adapt it.

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Michael Benveniste - 17 Dec 2006 15:16 GMT

On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 09:38:23 -0500, "Greg \"_\"" wrote:

>The thing you have to be careful of is trip voltage, higher than the
>makers suggested voltage can fry your camera,....even if its a
>cumulative fry.

I hate sync cords, so I try to avoid using them for studio lights
in the first place. My first choice is a radio trigger. Failing
that, my fallback is to use optical slaves, triggered by an SB-30.

Since the D80 doesn't have a PC sync socket, to use sync cords you have
to add a hot-shoe mounted accessory. Nikon recommends the AS-15, which
doesn't offer any protection against the trip voltage problem. I
recommend a Wein Safe-Sync instead, which does offer such protection. I
use one even though my cameras do have a PC socket.

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Greg "_" - 17 Dec 2006 17:36 GMT

> On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 09:38:23 -0500, "Greg \"_\"" wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> recommend a Wein Safe-Sync instead, which does offer such protection. I
> use one even though my cameras do have a PC socket.

I don't like being tethered either,....I use a radio slave sytem. In a
church- at weddings optical slaves are less desirable.

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DoN. Nichols - 18 Dec 2006 03:23 GMT

According to Bob <nospam@hotmail.com>:

> can I use a "normal" flash gun on a DSL such as a SB26 on a Nikon D80 ?
> in addition can I use studio flash heads with a DSLR D80 or D200

    Sure -- if you are willing to do without TTL flash metering.
Those will not work on any digital because of the difference in light
reflection characteristics between the sensor in a digital and the film
around which the TTL flash metering was originally designed. Nikon uses
some reduced output pre-exposure metering flashes to get the information
using the SB-800 or SB-600.

    Set up for manual exposure and manual flash control and you are
fine. Just don't expect the convenience of TTL flash metering.

    And before considering connecting the studio flash heads to the
camera -- check the manual for the camera and for the flash (or measure
the flash at the PC contact with a voltmeter), because trigger voltages
over something like 150V will damage the internals of the digital SLR
cameras. Also, flash units which put a negative voltage on the center
pin of the PC contact will also damage the camera's internals. If you
have some kind of relay so the original trigger inputs to the flashes is
handled by the relay, and it is triggered by the camera at low voltage,
you will be fine.

    You will also need an accessory to provide the PC socket from
the hot shoe on top of the camera. I think that it is called the MB-18,
but check (all of the above) for yourself in your manual, as I am
working from my memory of my D70 manual.

    Enjoy,
        DoN.

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bob - 18 Dec 2006 09:27 GMT

Can I just measure the voltage from the sync lead ?

> According to Bob <nospam@hotmail.com>:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> Enjoy,
> DoN.

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DoN. Nichols - 19 Dec 2006 06:22 GMT

According to bob <nospam@hotmail.com>:

> "DoN. Nichols" <dnichols@d-and-d.com> wrote in message

> > And before considering connecting the studio flash heads to the
> > camera -- check the manual for the camera and for the flash (or measure
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> > handled by the relay, and it is triggered by the camera at low voltage,
> > you will be fine.

> Can I just measure the voltage from the sync lead ?

    Yes. Check for positive on the center pin, and less than
whatever your camera's manual specs for the maximum safe voltage.

    Be careful -- it is a bit of a zap if you get your fingers
across it.

    Good Luck,
        DoN.

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