It's not just digital cameras that can be affected, the high synch circuit voltage generated by many older, primarily US made, studio electronic flash generators can cause damage to the camera synch circuit and switch of those that employ electronics rather than the older mechanical components.

This is easily overcome by using an infrared slave generator on the camera and an IR slave on the electronic flash generator to trigger it. In addition it is often a more reliable way to synch studio electronic flash than using a direct cord connection.

OK, then I'm off shopping for such a device!

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Uh, such an OBVIOUS direction, but lots of help to this beginner.

Cheers!

d

Another solution is to purchase a sync cord from Paramount that has a built in voltage regulator.

Larry,

Does Paramount sell the cord with a guarantee that replaces the camera if the circuit is fried?

You can check with Speedotron re the voltage in their units,

but thay may be OK for later models. I would be very dubious re an older Novatron unit. The one I had was high voltgage (ca. late 70's)and would not use it for sure.

My Speedo Brown line was OK if the camera had a pc connection, but I would not use itdirectly with a hot shoe on an electronic camera.

I have an article on trigger voltage on my web site with some links for more relevant information.

Larry,

I think you will find that voltage alone is not the only concern, particularly with contemporary cameras with electronic synch switches that go through a circuit board. High voltage is even a problem with older purely mechanical synch switches because of arcing, but amperage can also be a problem with a camera synch that is electronic due to heat particularly in a studio situation if the electronic flash is fired repeatedly and rapidly.

Many makers of studio electronic flash in Europe and Japan abandoned using voltage to trigger the flash, and switched to electronic impedance sensing switches to fire the flash. This is not anything new, it was introduced over 20 years ago. But it adds to the cost of a flash generator so was not adopted by brands that sell on the basis of a low price. It is the same technology telephone line repair has used for a long time to locate where a break in a line has occurred.