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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Need a trigger for old flash(es) for D90/D80
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Showing posts 1 - 15 of 15, (reverse)
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11/11/2009 02:25:56 PM · #1
Hi techphobes! I have scoured the web and can find no PDF manual or reference to a SunPak GX8R ring flash.
There are 3 sites (one in Dutch) that mention it (if you don't bother about auction sites).
I gather it's guide number is 8 (based on the little info I found online that SunPak seem to use the model number GX8R as a reference to the guide number) and the 4 x 1.5v C Cells (6v) battery housing has a dial for three intensity settings. It's a complete set and will work on my lenses.

Why I need to pick your collective brains is this: I am looking for a hot shoe adaptor or remote trigger that works with the Nikon Commander mode via the popup but fires the SunPak via a PC-sync terminal. The Ring Flash works 100% and I'm not spending another $400 or more on new ring flash gear just to start experimenting with Macro.

Hotshoe based: Will this or this or this work? I don't want to fry the guts of the camera...even though the max power (on battery) can only be 6v. The battery pack has an AC input but I have no idea what voltage it pumps out through the PC sync chord if any. My understanding is that it is just an open connection that gets closed during the trigger phase but still carries voltage.

I also have an old Minolta Auto 132x Flash (for fill in) that I'd like to trigger via the D90 (either via a hot shoe mounted trigger with PC-sync terminal or light activation from popup on D90 or wirelessly from the Commander Mode) off camera to work on my lighting technique and have one more option rather than my single halogen and pop-up with diffusers.

Thank you in advance for your expertise.

Message edited by author 2009-11-11 14:32:15.
11/11/2009 02:28:31 PM · #2
PS: Right now I cannot get an SB600/800/900 for a decent price locally (even on auction) and will save to get a new one from B&H, but that will take time as I am now maxed out and the bank manager thinks I own a Camera Store...

Message edited by author 2009-11-11 17:07:44.
11/11/2009 04:38:08 PM · #3
A lot of the old flashes have sync voltages of 200V+ and will fry your camera if you attempt to connect them directly. The safest thing would be to buy a slave trigger for the flash and use your pop-up flash to trigger it.
11/11/2009 05:07:12 PM · #4
Thx Konrad! I'm aware of that (200+v and need to test them to see what they push out) but will not dare to connect direct to the hotshoe of the camera. Do you know of a good system that will trigger those two flashes I mentioned on a tripod using the PC Sync Cable via the Nikon Commander built into the D90?

Message edited by author 2009-11-11 17:07:36.
11/11/2009 06:34:53 PM · #5
You could go with radio triggers or just a basic optical slave. An optical slave will wirelessly fire the flash it is connected to when it sees the light from another flash, like the flash of the D90 (you have to turn the TTL/CLS stuff off)
11/11/2009 07:06:48 PM · #6
The only thing(s) that will work are sb800,sb900 (sb600 if it has a sync port)
as far as i know - no one has made an independant trigger that reads the preflashes of commander mode

if you can live in SU-4 mode a small sync device will work

(i've got the same issue withthe AlienBee ring flash)
11/11/2009 11:02:40 PM · #7
You've got some options... but none of them use the Commander Mode since as ralph said that's Nikon proprietary (except for RadioPoppers/upcoming PW's... but probably more than you want to spend).
You should be able to connect your ringflash to your hotshoe with one of these Wein SafeSync's. Then, depending upon what you're aiming for with your other flash, you can have a long PC sync from it to the flash or you can get an optical slave for this other flash. All flash controls will be manual.

Message edited by author 2009-11-11 23:42:04.
11/11/2009 11:26:44 PM · #8
Thanks so far for responses! I completely missed that Wein SafeSync while bloodhounding at B&H. It's perfect! Will look at the Radio Poppers as well. Thx!

Message edited by author 2009-11-11 23:27:34.
11/11/2009 11:41:43 PM · #9
Originally posted by Magnum_za:

Thanks so far for responses! I completely missed that Wein SafeSync while bloodhounding at B&H. It's perfect! Will look at the Radio Poppers as well. Thx!


I think I'm going to have to eat my words on the Radiopopper/PW comment though. I don't think they will work unless the flash is already able to accept Nikon's CLS system (which I highly doubt they would). The reason is because they just "translate" the IR pulses into radio and then transmit via radio to the other units, where they re-emit the IR pulses to the receiver. So if the flash doesn't understand the pulses... no bueno. Sorry about that. That Wein should still work and the PC sync option vs. optical slave is feasible. Just make sure you aren't around other flash photogs if you use the optical slave unless you like burnt plastic.
11/12/2009 01:02:47 AM · #10
Konrad, Ralph and Derek, points noted and thankyou for your trouble in responding. It would seem with the general lack of response to this thread in the past 24 hours (besides yours) that this either is a non-issue to most Nikon users as they have SB series flashes and Gold Mastercards :) that I'm going to have fun finding a solution. On further research Wein Products make respiratory protection products! Maybe I'm going to hyperventilate when I see what it's going to cost to get old kit working on new DSLR's! Still, it might be worth it for us "3rd World" residents with limited budgets and greedy retailers.

I've got working flashes, and am not scared to go manual rather than TTL metering. It's also good for the environment not to bin working gear, never mind my pocket. I am in the process of developing "something" that will cater partially for the less fortunate in my country who have NO money but heaps of talent and live in poor but photographically speaking, subject rich areas that are not seeing the light of day (parden the metaphors and innuendos). There are heaps of old tech items available online and, coupled with a "cheap" D40 or D40x, you may soon see images from this part of that world that are rarely if ever seen, and help a few people in the process.

Watch this space, if I get it right, I'll report back! Please keep the advice coming!

Message edited by author 2009-11-12 02:11:56.
11/12/2009 01:31:19 AM · #11
If you're interested, seriously check out Strobist. You've probably seen people link to this here before, but honestly, you can get lots of info from not only that site but also the Strobist Flickr group. Lots of talk about the various remote options, which will work with whatever flashes you cobble together. Lots of options, all the way from the Cactus V2's on up to Cybersyncs and PW's.
11/12/2009 01:34:51 AM · #12
You could purchase one of these for your flash

Flash triggers reasonably priced

Make sure you order the Nikon one as you can use it as a remote for your camera as well as a flash trigger so very good value for money. You may need to contact them to ensure it will work with your flash as I don't know the model.

I have these and they are great. The only thing is, the flash must be able to be used in manual modes and you must be able to adjust the lighting - Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc.

Cheers

Message edited by author 2009-11-12 01:37:54.
11/13/2009 04:29:57 PM · #13
Originally posted by Magnum_za:

It would seem with the general lack of response to this thread in the past 24 hours (besides yours) that this either is a non-issue to most Nikon users as they have SB series flashes and Gold Mastercards :)
Ek is 'n student so ek maak doen met wat ek oorals kan opgrawe :)

I have a Nikon SB-25 and a SB-26 that I picked up really cheap on Gumtree. Neither do the new CLS triggering. I fire the SB-25 with a slave like this and the SB-26 has a similar slave built in. I fire them with the pop-up flash on my camera set to low power manual mode (the power is set just high enough to trigger the other flashes without affecting the photo). The flashes work in full manual but there are no clumsy cables to deal with. Optical triggering does unfortunately have some issues outside in full daylight, but is pretty much the cheapest way to go.

Old gear works fairly well on modern cameras. If you use optical or radio triggers then it does not really matter what make of flash you use. Nikon has great lens compatibility, with most old manual focus lenses being usable on modern dSLRs (just do your research as certain lenses can damage some cameras). I personally use an approximately 30 year old manual focus Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI lens that works spectacularly on my D200.
11/15/2009 12:14:32 AM · #14
Konrad dankie! Ek is op die selfde bladsy as jou. Ek het items wat heeltemal goed genoeg was vir my 20+ oue kamera's en wil dit nou gebruik op my DSLR. Ek was al op Gumtree maar tot dusver was ek te laat of te dom. Op die oomblik soek ek 'n 105mm soos joune en eBay is propvol met hulle. Daars een daar vir $200 wat nie AF maar MF is. Hy sal werk vir makro of portrait vir my. Groete, H

Message edited by author 2009-11-15 01:38:08.
11/15/2009 04:56:57 AM · #15
Originally posted by Magnum_za:

Konrad dankie! Ek is op die selfde bladsy as jou. Ek het items wat heeltemal goed genoeg was vir my 20+ oue kamera's en wil dit nou gebruik op my DSLR. Ek was al op Gumtree maar tot dusver was ek te laat of te dom. Op die oomblik soek ek 'n 105mm soos joune en eBay is propvol met hulle. Daars een daar vir $200 wat nie AF maar MF is. Hy sal werk vir makro of portrait vir my. Groete, H

My manualfokus 105mm f/2.5 AI lens (wat ek op eBay gekoop het) is nie 'n makro lens nie.
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