Pre digital flash gun suitability

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Doog

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Dougie
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I still have two flash guns from the late seventies both working as fas as I know. A Sunpak 3600 Thyristor and a small Olympus unit. I've heard that the new digital cameras dont like these old units due to electrical trigger mismatch but wondered if they could be triggered by Yongnuo radio triggers, or is there still the same issue with comparability? Any help gratefully received. :)
 
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Mmmm, still confused by it all. I'll see if I can find my instructions for the Yongnuo triggers. That might have some info. Thanks anyway. :)
 
I think I've read some where that you shoudnt use a flash with a trigger voltage over 12v with the yongnou triggers. Your sunpak flash has a trigger voltage of 194v so I wouldn't use it.
 
I use two 3600's with Cactus V4 triggers and have done for a couple of years, no problems. HTH's
Cheers.
 
Bluetooth said:
I think I've read some where that you shoudnt use a flash with a trigger voltage over 12v with the yongnou triggers. Your sunpak flash has a trigger voltage of 194v so I wouldn't use it.
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It depends on the trigger set, one of the older Yongnuo models (it might be the CTR-301? you'd need to check) has internal circuits to protect against the higher trigger voltages of older flashes.
 
The 622 Yongnuo triggers can take take serious voltage (up to 300v) through their PC sockets - NOT through their hotshoes.

I have a Sunpak 3600 tato masher somewhere, cracking guns.
 
It is a serious tattie masher Kris. :) Interesting info from all of you. I haven't had a chance to look for the instructions yet. I would really like to put this unit into use again.
 
Recalling, I have two of them.

Be careful with the battery caddy cover. It 'slides' slightly to lock the battery caddy in place, but was notorious for snapping off the lugs. One of mine is like that.
 
Steve Smith said:
The component responsible for triggering the flash in a Cactus trigger is rated at 400 volts.


Steve.
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Thanks for that Steve. Where do you get that info from? Just to add, i've also used the 3600 with my 1D (classic) connected by PC lead, to use the 500th sec sync speed!
 
Silver pixels said:
Thanks for that Steve. Where do you get that info from?
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By taking apart my Cactus trigger, finding the part number and looking up the data sheet.

It is my opinion that the same or very similar component is used in all digital cameras with their manufacturers quoting a conservative 250v rating with a 400v device. I recently read about a Sony camera which rates its flash contacts at 400v.

These devices are so cheap that it would be ridiculous not to use one in any camera design. In fact, if you take the 6 volts maximum often quoted by the paranoid, it would actually be impossible to find a component capable of triggering a flash with such a low maximum voltage rating.


Steve.
 
Interesting.... thank you, i'm very much obliged .
 
You could always use a cheap optical trigger (about a tenner) to actuate the old flashes. You would of course need to use the on board flash or a radio triggered flash to trigger the 1070's jobbie.
 
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