Second hand flash - advice needed

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/10/2009 07:29:12 AM · #1

I just picked up a second hand flash at such a cheap price I couldn't not buy it. Only thing is I have no idea whether it will work with my camera.

It is a Miranda 630 CD (never heard of the make before). The box says "For use with most Canon A series, Chinon 4&5 series, Pentax, Olympus and Nikon SLRs".

I just wanted to check before I tried it - if it's NOT compatible with my camera, can I do any damage by trying it?

RamblinR

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

11/10/2009 07:37:23 AM · #2

I'm not an expert but having been on the strobist site I hear them talk about flashes with a high voltage rate and that if you put it on your DSLR it may damage the camera.

I'd do some major checking before I tried it or it may end up costing you a camera repair.

If it has manual mode which is adjustable you could purchase some triggers and use it off camera (which gives nicer non-direct lighting)

Message edited by author 2009-11-10 07:38:02.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/10/2009 09:03:52 AM · #3

Sounds like an older flash that should be used off-camera only, unless you are able to confirm it is safe. I have a handful of older Vivitar flashes that I use off-camera. I can trigger them either wirelessly with some inexpensive Cactus radio triggers, or with optical slaves that fire them when they see another strobe going off. The only ones I use on camera are the Canon 430ex and Quantaray XLF-50, which are designed for Canon digitals.

I caught my wife putting one of the Vivitars on my Powershot S5 a couple of weeks back. She assumed that I would have bought a flash that worked on the camera. A reasonable, but incorrect assumption. It didn't occur to me she would do that. I caught her in time, however.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/10/2009 10:02:11 AM · #4

It sounds like I got lucky. The only reason I didn't test it first was before there were no batteries available. It only dawned on me later that it could cause problems.

I recently bought a Canon 270EX. How would I go about using the two together? I've never used anything but built in flash before.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/10/2009 10:18:24 AM · #5

Easiest way may be to trigger it optically. I did a web search for that model and it appears to be similar in design to a Vivitar 283. Check if the flash has a small port on the side. It's called a PC port (Not sure what that stands for in this case) If it has one, you can buy a small optical sensor (a "peanut" slave)that plugs into this port and will fire the flash when it sees the one on the camera going off. They are pretty sensitive. You can restrict the light from your on-camera flash so it triggers the slave, but does not illuminate the subject. That's what I did on this recent challenge entry:

Slave was on my right (image was rotated 90 degrees ccw, so the flash location is the top, relative to the image orientation). The 430ex was on camera, pointed to the right and restricted by a snoot, so most of the light on the subject was coming from one direction.

Message edited by author 2009-11-10 10:19:26.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/14/2009 11:47:11 AM · #6

I haven't tried to find out any more about this flash yet. I think for now I'll concentrate on learning how to use the 270EX on camera before trying anything fancy. It had its first outing today, taking photos at my bonsai club meeting. Some of the photos came out pretty dark. I did a lot of experimenting and it will probably take a while for me to work out what settings are best in those conditions.

Camabs

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

11/14/2009 12:21:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Just google "cactus trigger". They work nearly flawless, and allow you to use any flash from any point you like, and as many as you like (although you will have to buy extra receivers ofcourse).

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

11/14/2009 12:22:02 PM · #8

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I caught my wife putting one of the Vivitars on my Powershot S5 a couple of weeks back. She assumed that I would have bought a flash that worked on the camera. A reasonable, but incorrect assumption. It didn't occur to me she would do that. I caught her in time, however.

I hope you reprimanded her and sent her back to the kitchen.

11/14/2009 12:37:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by JH:

I hope you reprimanded her and sent her back to the kitchen.

ROFL John, that's gonna raise the hackles on a few readers. I appreciate your Irish humour though...

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/14/2009 12:50:08 PM · #10

Originally posted by Camabs:

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
It sounds like I got lucky. The only reason I didn't test it first was before there were no batteries available. It only dawned on me later that it could cause problems.

I recently bought a Canon 270EX. How would I go about using the two together? I've never used anything but built in flash before.

Just google "cactus trigger". They work nearly flawless, and allow you to use any flash from any point you like, and as many as you like (although you will have to buy extra receivers ofcourse).

I don't know if that item is available in South Africa and I'm reluctant to order it with our less than reliable mail service. I suppose I will be able to find something similar though when I'm ready to buy. And hopefully be able to test it first, before spending any more money in the hope of using a flash that may or may not be in working order.

Just as a side note, that cactus trigger costs a lot more than I paid for the flash.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/15/2009 12:24:17 AM · #11

Check out this thread. Some useful info. As I note there, you can use that on camera if you get a voltage regulator.
Also pointed out in that thread is optical slaves, which you can use in conjunction with your flash as well.

11/15/2009 02:32:29 AM · #12

Gina, I'm going to order two of those Wein's in the next few weeks from B and H amongst a few other smaller items. They get shipped by USPS/UPS and arrive generally within a week and always well packaged and in one piece. So far lenses and bodies we've ordered were in 100% condition and generally 40% less than if bought local after all taxes and shipping were paid in full. PM me and I'll slip another one in the package for you.

Message edited by author 2009-11-15 02:34:27.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/15/2009 05:42:01 AM · #13

Originally posted by Magnum_za:

Thanks for the offer. I'm not really sure if it's worth the expense right now when I don't even know if the flash will work. I'll have to see if I can find out somehow.

Edit to add: It all seems a bit much for a flash I paid twelve rand for.

Message edited by author 2009-11-15 05:43:11.

11/15/2009 04:10:38 PM · #14

Those Weins are the only way of getting older SLR flashes to fire ON TOP of your hotshoe or with a bracket on the side with a PC Sync Chord and not blowing up your DSLR. Alternatively get a few of these to fire them off camera on a tripod or bracket and triggered by your popup flash. Make sure your popup flash does not rapid fire aka strobe (to reduce redeye). There are Wein's that ignore the strobe effect of popups.

My timetable just moved up, the Rand has strengthened again and ordering two Weins in the next 48 hours plus a few other odds and ends..I only really need one. PM me.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/15/2009 06:58:34 PM · #15

Originally posted by Magnum_za:

The Bid or Buy link is probably more the type of thing I should be looking at. Thanks. I do appreciate the offer, but I don't think those Weins are my top priority right now.

Message edited by author 2009-11-15 18:59:17.

11/15/2009 11:16:33 PM · #16

No problem. Remember those R89-00 jobs are OFF camera and triggered photo-electrically by your popup flash.