Dangers of plugging portrait flashes into my SLR???

[Scott Lynn]

I am looking to clear up a concern and some
rumors.

Over the years I have heard mention of the
possible damage that can result from using
off-brand flashes with my camera (which happens
to be a Canon ELan II) Anyway, I have also
heard that the "electronic" connection between
a modern camera and flash is not the same
as the mechanical connection of just closing the
circuit through a PC cord. The modern cameras
send more information, and possibly generate
the signal to flash differenly. So...

1) What are the dangers of use a flash that
isn't dedicated to my camera? (provided the
flash fires correctly, apparently)

2) What about plugging my portrait light
setup into my 35mm camera? Is there any
potential for long term damage or wear
to the flash contacts?

3) Does anyone know how to hook a PC cord
into an Elan IIe for less than $1000?
(more like <$20 I hope)

Thanks
Scott

[Al Denelsbeck]

Scott Lynn wrote in message

Hey Scott,

[This may look familiar. This is a slightly modified copy of my earlier
response to this NG on the same question, and may turn up under a Deja
search]

A word of warning based on an article I
read. Per "Phototronics" editor James Bailey, in the May 1999 issue of
Popular Photography (pp 60-63), newer Canon EOS cameras are reported to be
limited to six volts or less, regarding the capacity of the hot shoe. If the
camera comes equipt with a PC terminal, they're rated much higher, as in 150
volts. But the hot shoe restriction applies to both hot-shoe to PC adapters
and non-dedicated aftermarket flashes. A great deal of strobes and studio
flashes feed a lot more than six volts through the system - six is actually
pretty low on the scale.

Also per the article, Wein markets an adapter called 'Safe-Sync' which
will reduce the voltage to an acceptable level. For hot-shoe-to-PC
applications, you're looking for model # 990-550, and runs about $46.00.

Okay, not $20, but closer to it than $1000, anyway. Hope this helps.

- Al.

--
Remove 'onspam' for direct reply.

[Scott Lynn]

Not bad at $46, I am going to look for the article at my library.
I scanned through the back messages to see if a current answer
was already here, but that is a reflection on my scanning abilities,
I guess.

Thanks for the info.

Scott

[Richard Cochran]

Some flashes use a high voltage in the
trigger circuit. Some cameras are sensitive
to this, and the electronics will fry with
even a fairly low voltage. Canons are
especially known for sensitivity to this
problem, though all the other makes
of computerized cameras have it to varying
degrees as well.

Most modern flashes are OK with any
camera. Most old non-computerized
cameras are OK with any flash. It's
the combination of an old flash on
a new camera that causes disaster.

Wein makes a product called "safe-sync"
that lets you plug a high-voltage flash
into a sensitive electronic camera
safely. If you're not sure, then get
one of these or something equivalent,
because if your flash fries your camera,
your camera will likely need a very
expensive repair.

For specific camera/flash combos, you
can call the camera maker to find out
the maximum flash trigger voltage,
and then use a digital voltmeter to
measure the voltage on the flash's
trigger contacts. If the measured
flash voltage is higher than the
camera maker recommends, don't plug
the flash into the camera.

--Rich