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Using flash


ian_humphrey

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<p>Charles, Norton anti-virus says the link you provided is a fraudulent or known attack web page.</p>

<p>Since the Sunpak is a 'potato masher' style flash unit, the hot shoe-to-hot shoe adapter won't work,<br>

unless the adapter also has a PC sync-cord plug.</p>

<p>Marc</p>

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<p>The site below shows the trigger voltage for your particular flash is about 194 volts at the hotshoe pin. This high of a voltage could damage the electronics in your camera which was designed for about 6 volts, so no I would not try to use that flash mounted directly. <br>

There are adapters, one being made by Wein that can be used between the flash hotshoe and camera that reduce the voltage to a safe value for the camera.<br>

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html<br>

Wein Safe Sync<br>

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245292-REG/Wein_W990560_Safe_Sync_Hot_Shoe_to.html</p>

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<p>The sync cable will still send the high voltage back to the cameras hotshoe or PC connection and could cause damage. The PC connection on your camera may be able to take a higher voltage, but why risk possible damage to the camera if you're not sure. To be safe I would still recommend a device similar to the Wein Safe Sync even for a PC cord attachment. There are other ways to isolate the camera from the high voltage of the flash such as a wireless trigger.<br>

At the cost of the Wein, you may want to consider simply purchasing a new flash that has TTL compatibility with your Nikon.</p>

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<p>Marc- link is to B&H >photography>flash accessories>PC sync and hot shoe adapters> Wein 990-560. Norton gave you a false positive. Mark's link is the same as mine. Yes it has a PC socket.</p>

<p>ian- use a safe sync adapter. PC sockets and Hot Shoe center contact, the one that fires the flash, are connected to one another via the camera circuitry. Camera repair is in excess of $70 an hour + parts so a blown flash sync repair could run $150 easily, possibly more. The Wein adapter at B&H is $49. A new flash as powerful and versatile as the Sunpak $????.</p>

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It seems that modern EOS DSLRs can handle up to 250 volts through the PC socket (not the hot shoe).

 

http://dpanswers.com/content/genrc_flash_measuretv.php#tv

 

Assuming you are planning to use a Canon 7D and the sync voltage info on botzilla.com is accurate, it should work OK. Note that I have not used this combination, and at the end of the day, it may make sense to use a safe sync adapter just to be sure about this.

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<p>Whoever measured that Sunpak AZ3600 trigger voltage at 194v obviously used a cheap multimeter. I've got 4 of those flashes, and they all measure over 250 volts on the P-C connector when using a high impedance voltmeter.<br>

However, Sunpak made dedicated hotshoe adapters for a number of cameras. The <a href="http://whitemetal.com/canon/flash/SUNPAK_RS_CA_5_CANON_FLASH_REMOTE_SENSOR_522_FLASH2.htm">Canon-fit ones (model # R.S. CA-5)</a> seem to be among the commonest, and crop up fairly frequently used. This hotshoe adapter-come-remote sensor drops the trigger voltage to a much safer 11.5 volts. I'd recommend looking for one anyway, since it also increases the usefulness of the flash by allowing camera top control of auto-aperture mode.</p>

<p>BTW Ian, why is a question about the Canon 7D or Nikon D3100 being posted in the MF forum?</p>

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