Second hand flashgun compatibility?

Messiah Khan

Messiah Khan

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Alasdair Fowler
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Ive been reading the strobist blog in preparation for a shoot ive got coming up, and ive started to consider the idea of getting together a basic remote flash setup. So the question I have; What do I need to look for in order for it to be compatible? If I find and old second hand flash that has a pc conection and manual controls will it be compatible? Do hotshoe connections vary? Also what flashes are compatible with Nikons creative lighting system, ie can be triggered by my cameras preflash? Is it just the SB600 and SB800?

Edit; Using a Nikon D300 btw, if that makes any difference.
 
Hi MK - every piece of advice I've received from those more knowledgeable than I have said don't connect anything that's not specifically designed for Nikon digitals. So anything not called SB800, 600 or 400, avoid. I really wanted didn't want the expense, but am now getting used to the creative lighting setups. You can still use anything that will fire remotely (i.e. slave flashes that are not physically connected - I use a very basic portaflash system of one head & one modelling light) but I'd be very worried about potential damage to the cameras with anything else. Hope that helps?
 
If you want to use CLS then it has to be the sb600 or 800 (or 400 but a bit limited). If you want to use them off camera with pc, wireless triggers, optical slave, etc. then i think you can use any flash. You have to be careful using some older flashes (mainly Vivitar i think) on camera because of the high voltage. I think most flashes could be used on the camera hot shoe in manual mode. I currently have 1xsb800 & 2xsb600 + brolleys stands etc and i'm very happy with them.:)
 
You can use anything that can be remotely fired for manual off camera stuff whether you fire through a PC socket, or use a receiver which mounts to the flash's hot shoe.

AFAIK Ben is right about which models will work with CLS though.

For what it's worth I've got a minolta body, 1 Metz 54MZ4, 1 Nikon SB25 and an SB28. All work fine with cheapy ebay triggers (when the triggers themselves work). I've even read about people using old hammermead flashes connected to ebay triggers, just be wary about anything you want to attach to the camera. For convenience sake you might want to ust use SB6/800 so that if needs be you can safely attach one to the camera when you need to.
 
Thanks guys. Yeah, I think im leaning towards 2xSB600 for ease of use. Also just read a strobist entry about CLS vs Pocket Wizards which is making me lean towards CLS. If I was to go with that option, do you have any suggestions for brollies, stands and reflectors? Cheap as possible really. :)
 
Crikey, there are some things in this tread to scare me :eek:. I have a D70 and have been happily using my dad's old, old (probably late 80's/early 90's) flash and hadn't even realised that it could damage my camera. Happily, I haven't had any problems so far. I have just ordered an SB600 from Kerso (£120 + £10 delivery :thumbs:), so won't use the old flash on camera again! I will keep it as a second/slave flash though.

JimLin :)
 
NorthernNikon said:
You might eb as well going for 1 x SB800 & 1 x SB600 as the SB800 has, AFAIA, more commending capabilities.
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But that would cost more and I wouldn't be using either of the flashes as a commander anyway. The system would be commanded by the onboard flash of my D300.
 
i too - if i had a D300 (still a possibility yet ;)) would go for the SB800 and SB600, the SB800 can control upto 16 flashes iirc (4 on 4 channels) which is very impressive. Especially after seeing it in use by Wile E coyote's mate (is he coming to York?)
 
MK - you could PM Hacker re the stands - he was asking a similar question a wile ago but I can't find the thread. The beauty of the CLS is that you can use any support with some strong builders clamps (£1.99 from B&Q) as well as screw them onto a standard tripod thread; they come with little stands so any flat surface also works.
You wouldn't believe how Heath Robinson some of my setups are with clamps, gaffer tape holding brollies & diffusers to stands, you name it...!!!
HTH...Phil
 
I got portaflash light stands from tecno.co.uk, same stuff as seen in Jessops but about half the price, a shop called fotosupplies on ebay does really good 40" umbrellas at something like 2 for £20, Ive got 2 silver reflective brollies from them and two dual purpose (reflective and shoot through) from them. Umbrella brackets are pretty simple so ust hunt for them on ebay, not much point blowing a fortune on Manfrotto when el cheapo does the trick.
 
Messiah Khan said:
But that would cost more and I wouldn't be using either of the flashes as a commander anyway. The system would be commanded by the onboard flash of my D300.
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Are you going to the York meet? If so, I'd be interested to see what you can do with flashes and the D300's command menu. I have a feeling though that using an SB800 would give you more control though, but I could be wrong.
 
Alasdair,

Have a look HERE for information about flash triggering voltages. DO NOT use any old flashes apart from nikon ones on the d300 until you have checked the trigger voltage as you could very well fry the d300's circuits and it wont be covered by your guarantee!

I personaly wouldn't use the sb800/600's or any studio work involving people or animals. The recycle time is just too low, as is the firing time once the flashes have done all their pre-flashing to communicate the exposure etc. You'll miss the moment. For the amount of money you'll pay for 2 or 3 nikon flashes you can pick up a starter lighting kit. W/E have an interfit one that is only £199 and includes 2 flashes, sofbox, stands and brolly! I think I paid more than that for my SB800!!!!

CLS is great for me shooting interiors as I don't have to worry about lugging loads of kit around and they're discrete enough for me to hide in doorways, behind plants etc. Also good for when I do static studio stuff like macro and flowers.

Just my opinion, but I think you'd be best off with studio flash for studio stuff and keep an sb600 for doing environmental portraits and general day to day stuff!

hth?
 
NorthernNikon said:
Are you going to the York meet? If so, I'd be interested to see what you can do with flashes and the D300's command menu. I have a feeling though that using an SB800 would give you more control though, but I could be wrong.
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I am yeah. You got an SB800 so we can check it out? The SB800 probably can do more, but the D300 seems to do more than enough for me at the moment. And if it doesn't i'll just add an SB800 to the collection eventually.

Gandhi said:
*sniparoo*
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Cheers Gandhi. Too late now.. ive ordered 2x SB600, brollies, stands, diffusers etc. Yeah I realise for studio stuff, dedicated lights would be better. However im not sure how often im going to do studio work. I want to get a system thats versatile and that im likely to use often. Im quite excited about the idea of doing things like food photography, and some more commercial type stuff for my portfolio. I tried some of the lights at work (Decent Bowens ones), and they all seem to work fine via a synch cord. So i'll probably end up using a mix of studio flashes and speedlights. Thanks for the help though. :)

Edit; And hopefully I won't need a fast recycle time during this shoot as everything will be slow and considered. :thumbs:
 
Strobes and brollies turned up today;

img0126ks1.jpg

Well I had to try them out with an emo self portrait. :lol:
 
But where's the hat?;)

Bit too late for my advice, but I was going to suggest getting the flashes but hiring the various brollies and reflectors etc until you know what you prefer. I did this for a few well paying jobs some years ago and it ended up cheaper to keep hiring for one off jobs occasionally than it would have to have bought everything. Plus I didn't have to store them in the loft!
 
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