Flash questions! Help!

CRIS510

New member
I have an external flash unit which is called Vivitar Electronic Flash 2000. This flash was handed down to me by my father. But the thing is i don't know why this flash over exposes all my pics i take with it.? I only use it when I do night club photography. I was wondering if I need a newer flash or if I just attach a diffuser to solve my problem.
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
Try using the manual settings. Your camera isn't going to detect that flash, so you'll have to make any adjustments yourself.

Also try bouncing the flash by not pointing the flash head directly where you're shooting.
 

ohkphoto

Snow White
If you don't have an instruction manual for the flash, you can find one here.

There should be a scale somewhere on the flash that tells you what f-stop to use depending on distance from subject and iso for the flash to operate on automatic (NOT iTTL). For either manual or automatic, you will need to figure the distance in determining f-stop because this flash is not set up for TTL (Through The Lens metering)

A diffuser will help, and like Anthony said, so will bouncing it.

Good Luck and Best Regards
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Something you should know about. There is information on the internet about this unit having a trigger voltage of 56 volts. The electronic flash trigger in your camera is only 4-5 volts. Indications are that the 56 volts will eventually damage the camera. The information is that this flash was designed to be used with the older mechanical flash triggers where the higher voltage was not a problem. I don't know for sure if this is fact. There is no telling what you will find on the internet. However to be safe I would send a question to Nikon and ask if this flash is compatible with your camera.
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
A very good point, Mr. Bautsch...you beat me to it. I happened to be researching that very notion this morning and see that you've already posted it.

Personally, I would cease and desist with using this flash on your camera completely before you cook something.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Anthony we think alike. Before attaching any third party electronic device to your Nikon it's advisable to check the compatibility with Nikon. Even if Nikon can't say yes or no I still would not hook it up to the camera unless there is good information from other users who confirm it's OK. Very good advice, cease and desist and confirm compatibility.
 

ohkphoto

Snow White
There is information on the internet about this unit having a trigger voltage of 56 volts. The electronic flash trigger in your camera is only 4-5 volts. Indications are that the 56 volts will eventually damage the camera.

WOW! 56 volts sounds like a lot! What is the trigger voltage on an sb-900, out of curiosity (I couldn't find it anyplace.)

I had forgotten about this caveat (not using third party speedlights) until now. Could this flash be safely used remotely (e.g. pocket wizard --transmitter on camera, receiver on flash)?
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
I don't really know the trigger voltage of the SB900. Just guessing it's probably no more than the other SB series flashes. I'm guessing at 4-5 volts. I understand that there is a hot shoe adapter that will allow the safe use of the flash. It can also be used with remote flash triggers. I would still check the compatibility of anything I plugged into my camera. Better safe than sorry.
 

Fotojo

Senior Member
Hi Helene
Use this remote would be his best option, or he can also pick up a Wren Hot Shoe adapter that provides protection against the higher voltage. He definately should not be putting directly on camera.
 

johnwartjr

Senior Member
Agreed on the shoe adapter, I think I have used a Wein product that has a diode in it that prevents the reverse voltage flow through the shoe - some studio strobes can create a lot more than 56 volts!

Don't want to fry a nice camera to save a few bucks on a flash.
 

shakman

New member
I have recently bought a Bower SFD35N for my D40. I have manual lenses attached to my D40 and I have been using them in M mode with great pleasure. However, when I mount the flash it tells me that "The flash is in TTL mode. Use another setting or switch to CPU lens.". It also shows 'r07' in the viewfinder when I try to click the shutter. The flash does not fire and neither does the shutter unless I turn the flash off. The flash has only BL/STD mode and neither of the settings refer to non-TTL flash.

I switched the Auto ISO off, the built-in flash is in Manual mode. I am am not sure what else I can do? Suggestions please!!!
 

Fotojo

Senior Member
Shakeman from what I read about this unit on the Web it is fully Automatic only. There is no way to switch it to maual shooting so the camera will always flash the error code and not fire with the manual lens you are using. I would think your only option, if you want to use your manual lens would be to get the flash off camera. Get a set of Interfit Strobies ($50.00) and fire it wireless, which will give you a lot of flexiability. But with the added expense you are getting close to the price of Sb-600. There are a lot of folks on here with tons know how so maybe somebody has something else hope this helps you out.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Fotojo, is right. If you don't have a manual mode on the flash then it's not going to work with manual lenses. I don't know of any other solution than what is suggested by Fotojo.
 
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