can i put a film slr flash on a digital slr camera?

Question

i have a canon film slr with an external flash that i want to put on a canon digital slr.

Answer 1

In general, the only flashes you should EVER put on the camera's hotshoe are the models recomended by your camera's manual. its that simple.

There is one main reason for this:

Trigger voltage.

OK, time to get technical. Trigger voltage is basically the signal your flash sends back to your camera to tell it that it has done it's job. There is actually a more technical explanation but this is a simplified answer. most flashes (especially off brand or non name brand) have differing trigger voltages. and with older flashes or cheaper ones this voltage can be rather high. I have measured voltages of up to 140V! And in some cases with flashes that have long production runs they can varry from 6V to 110V (look up Vivitar 283 voltages). This may not be the case with your flash, but you should still check it against the list of acceptable flashes for your camera.

Modern DSLR cameras have sophisitcated and SENSITVE electronics that can be adversely affected by high trigger voltage. Current flashes like the Canon Speedlight 430EX or the 540EX have safe voltages for your system. (But again, don't take my word for it check your manual). I have been told that in general, Canon flashes with an EX in the model title are safe for current Canon DSLR cameras.

Canon EZ flash models, or off brand flashes like Vivitar, may still have safe trigger voltages, but will not work in all modes. You can also test voltage of your flash by using a volt meter on the load setting, on the contacts to measure the trigger voltage, the lower the better.

So basically don't gamble with sensitive electronics, because if your cheapo flash fries your camera, it won't be covered under any warranty. Besides the newer flashes work seamlessly with you DSLR and will give you more satisfaction than a clunky mismatch.

Hope that helps. :)

Answer 2

You could buy a nice DSLR and a film SLR for the price of your photo happymeal camera. Digital camera makers design their digicameras to maximize the features or limits of their digital technology. At one point in time, 35mm cameras offered digital backs, but they were so clumbersome and pricy, only a few could afford them. Now, the companies make no-compromise designs - either digital or film in nature. As stated above, Hasselblad and Bronica (among others) still make medium format cameras with film and digital backs. Problem is, they cost as much as a used car. Some pros carry both a Digital and a Film camera on an assignment, if their client needs both.

Answer 3

It all depends on whether or not your film flash with fit into the hotshoe on the digital camera.

But since they both are from canon the flash should work on both without a problem.

Answer 4

Of course you can. It will not work but you can put it on there.
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