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01/11/2007 12:07:35 PM · #1 |
I need a real technical savvy geek for this question. I can't believe how unhelpful and inconsistant camera retailers can be! What happened to the day that retailers had experts who knew their product inside and out and could answer simple technical questions?? This is a bit long but I have to explain my question history so you understand the question.
I used to own a Minolta Maxxum 35mm camera and upgraded to the Konica-Minolta Maxxum 5D which was supposed to be compatible with the entire Maxxum line of products. Unfortunately my Konica Minolta 3000xi bounce flash was not listed as a compatible flash for my new 5D even though it was with the 7xi 35mm body I had. With me so far? Ok.
So I asked Kits Camera (where I bought the 5D) if the flash would work with the 5D even though it's not listed as a compatible flash. One person behind the counter said that if I tried to use that flash it could destory the camera by sending an electronic signal back to the body which could fry the electric componants. Another person behind the counter laughed at that and said that the flash cannot destroy the camera and that the worst that can happen is that it just won't work. He explained that if the flash unit out of the box says it can sync up to 1/1,000 of a second and yet it doesn't do that with the 5D that it would be listed as not compatible since the unit won't work exactly as it is advertized but that it doesn't mean it won't function perfectly well under 1/1,000 of a second.
So, thinking that sounded resonable I used the flash on my Minolta 5D but somewhere along the line, and I don't remember if it was before or after I used this flash, my 5D started acting strange and locking up on the first shot I'd take (with or without flash) whenever the camera was off for a few hours or more. I wondered, is it possible the flash unit did something to the electronics in the camera as the one saleman had said? The camera functioned great except the first shot lock up but the flash seemed to sync great! I loved it.
Recently I upgraded my 5D to the new Sony Alpha A100 which uses the same Minolta mount as the Maxxum (they bought out Minolta) and is compatible with Minolta lenses, etc. I decided I wanted to re-adress the original question. My 3000xi is not compatible with the Sony A100 according to Sony. My question is, can mounting my 3000xi bounce flash which is designed for the minolta hot shoe, damage the Sony A100 body or is it simply a matter of it may not work exactly as specified on the flash capability? I asked a Sony rep and he would only give me the company line, "Sony will not gaurentee products will work if they are not compatible." When I explained that my question is will it damage the camera he simply repeated that they cannot gaurantee it will work. When I got irritated and asked if he knew anything about digital slrs and flashes and whether or it not it could damage the body he got irritated and replied, "Yes, if you use icompatible products you will damage your camera." Honestly, I think the guy just wanted me to stop asking the question. LOL
SO, technical electronics wizards...do you think it is logical that my flash, designed for that hot shoe, can destory the electronics in the camera if I mount it to my A100 or is the worst that will happen is it just won't sync properly?
Message edited by author 2007-01-11 12:09:49. |
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01/11/2007 12:14:05 PM · #2 |
well, I had the same delima a while back. only it was with a nikon d70, after a while of looking and asking around I decided just to go for it. The flash fired fine and I thought all was well, until I upgraded my flash and tried to fire it off camera. the off camera feature on the nikon series is based off of the on camera flash. I had never used it since I started using my old flash and when I tried to fire it, the camera would think it was firing but it wasn't.
long story short, it's not worth risking it. just invest in a new flash, they are alot cheaper then a new camera.
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01/11/2007 12:15:14 PM · #3 |
| It's possible, yes. Some older flashes have a high "trigger voltage," It can be 200 volts or more. They can damage newer cameras not designed to accommodate that kind of voltage. There is information out there on some older flashes, and there should also, somewhere, be a spec on what your camera body can handle. It may take some doing to find the information. |
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01/11/2007 12:18:29 PM · #4 |
Trigger voltages can be very dangerous to cameras, but I don't see your flash listed on this page, so I'm not sure.
Basic answer? I think it's possible. Since it's a fairly new Minolta? I honestly doubt it. That is not a technically qualified answer, though. |
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01/11/2007 12:26:10 PM · #5 |
| Well so far the answers are surprising and that is that yes, the camera does send voltage down into the camera so theoretically it's possible to damage the camera. I'll do more research. Thanks! |
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01/11/2007 12:28:06 PM · #6 |
There is a real danger in using flashes that deliver more than a 6-volt trigger impulse, and a LOT of older flashes do. You can play it safe for about $40 and buy a Wein Safe-Synch, a well-respected product.
This page is informative: //www.botzilla.com/photo/g1strobe.html
R.
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01/11/2007 12:32:55 PM · #7 |
| Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE this community?? Thanks for tip and the article Bear_Music. You guys rock! |
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01/11/2007 12:35:58 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
You can play it safe for about $40 and buy a Wein Safe-Synch, a well-respected product.
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I've never seen a Wein Safe-snyc that will fit the Minolta non-standard hotshoe. And, with the safe-sync, you lose TTL functions.
To be honest, I would just scrap the old flash and go with something new, whether it be Minolta (sony), Sigma, Sunpak, etc.
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01/11/2007 01:29:28 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
To be honest, I would just scrap the old flash and go with something new, whether it be Minolta (sony), Sigma, Sunpak, etc. |
Actually digital (histogram, instant preview, etc) has made some older flashes even more useful than they were with electronic film cameras. For example I was able to find a sub 10v Vivitar 283, which is extremely useful (especially w/ a peanut slave) for fill, special effect, backgrounds, etc. And on the D70 (and maybe some other cameras with CCD shutters) it can even sync up to the highest shutter speed of 1/8000 second. |
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