Old Flash - usage option for digital camera?

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valve90210

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Scott
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Hi all, I've got myself an old flash gun and want to use i with my camera (a Panasonic FZ20) but have read that the trigger voltage is much too high ('ve tested and got a figure of 69volts, not, I understand that digital cameras shouldn't have a trigger of more than 24volts...

To use this Flash, as far as I can see, there are options

1) Buy a safe sync, which would allow me to safely use the flash with my camera...However, they are pretty expensive, and seeing as I've not used an external flash before, I don't want to spend much on something I might hate using.

2) A rather Long winded option: Buy a hotshoe tripod mount, buy a slave trigger, mount the flash on the slave trigger, on the tripod mount onto the tripod.... However, this would mean I'd have to use the on camera flash all the time if I wanted to trigger the external flash right? Would this be a problem/ annoying?

I mainly will be shooting product shots but would like to also do some portrait photography too, so would the use of the direct face on flash rather defeat the point of having the external flash?

3) Sell the flash and give up with the idea of trying out flash photography and just stick with lighting using old desk lamps with home made softboxes on them???

Are there any other options? Or does anyone have any thoughts or advice?
 
Another option is to get hotshoe to PC adapters and a cable and you could trigger the external flash without using the onboard flash.
 
As you are a newbie I will forgive the 1000 thread on this subject. If you are a bit handy the cheapest is DIY adaptor. I will photograph one to show how easy it is,
 
I use wireless triggers, either Ebay El cheapos, or get some of FITP, he advertises on here, can get much more creative with 2 or 3 flashes.

Dave.
 
f1charlie said:
Another option is to get hotshoe to PC adapters and a cable and you could trigger the external flash without using the onboard flash.
Click to expand...

Surely though the hig trigger voltage would still be connected to the camera if I use the syncing lead ***?

I had planned to use cables to trigger the flash but having read about the trigger voltage figures I needed to isolate the flash from the camera.
 
Doh, that's true :bonk:.

I had an FZ-20, but I forgot that the flashes I had had trigger voltages below the danger threshold.

It's still early, that's my excuse for engaging fingers before brain!
 
classcams said:
As you are a newbie I will forgive the 1000 thread on this subject. If you are a bit handy the cheapest is DIY adaptor. I will photograph one to show how easy it is,
Click to expand...

WOuld be interested to see what is involved in making a diy adapter...

dizidav said:
I use wireless triggers, either Ebay El cheapos, or get some of FITP, he advertises on here, can get mutch more creative with 2 or 3 lashes.

I did look on the ebay for wireless triggers but the ones I was looking at said they weren't suitable for use with high trigger voltage flashes...
Click to expand...

I don't really want to spend much because I've not done any flash photogaphy before and I don't want to buy a load of stuff to find I really don't enjoy using the flashes etc.

If I went down the route of a cheap slave trigger (would they be ok with a high trigger voltage?) and triggered it using the cameras built in flash, would I still be able to get some nice portrait pics, or would the front on flash be a problem?
 
An adaptor circuitry is so simple,uses 5 components. The blackman in the woodpile is getting hold of an external hotshoe . They are as rare as hens teeth. Jacobs sell an adaptor that may do the job, I will have to check. Cost £3.99. Triac £1.22. the rest pennies.
 
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