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janetsphoto's picture
Submitted By: janetsphoto
Joined: Sep 13 2005
Posts:
New digital SLR and old flash units?
Posted: December 9, 2007 - 3:28pm

After being a film user for many years, I am finally ready to purchase my first digital SLR. I have decided on the Pentax K10D, but before making the purchase, I need to resolve some issues regarding the use of flash.

I need to know about on/off camera flash with the K10D. I am accustomed to shooting weddings with a medium format film camera on a flash bracket, with the camera and flash connected by a cord. I am hoping to be able to do more available light shooting with the digital camera, but I will still need flash when light is low. I have several flashes, mostly Vivitar 283's, which have always served me very well. I read on another forum that ANY flash can be used with the K10D as long as older flashes are connected wirelessly due to voltage issues.

This raises the following questions in my mind:
1) Should I attempt to use my old workhorse 283's with the K10D?

2) I've been looking at radio transmitters, and they look like they will work fine with my studio monolights, but none seem to have the right type of tip for connecting to a Vivitar 283 flash. If that is the case, how could I even attempt this means of using my existing flash with the K10D? And, by the way, will radio transmitter units connect to other brands of (non-studio) flash?

3) I realize that film has much greater latitude than a sensor, so -- even if I am able to use my current flashes -- will the output be precise enough to ensure good exposures with a digital SLR?

4) If I need to upgrade to a new flash, should I go with the pricier Pentax brand or another brand (Sunpak, etc.)? I know that the Pentax flashes require a two-part connection for off-camera flash (though this seems needlessly complicated and raises the cost). What about using other brands for off-camera flash? How well do they work, and how can I use them off camera?

I realize I'm asking a lot of questions, but I have not seen this issue addressed elsewhere and I need to know the answers before taking the plunge and making my purchase (which I hope to do soon). I will appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

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David B. Brooks's picture
Submitted By: David B. Brooks
Joined: Apr 19 2011
Posts:
#1
Re: New digital SLR and old flash units?
Posted: December 9, 2007 - 4:44pm

There is no reason to go to the expense and possible difficulties by using a radio transmitter remote with your Vivitar 283's. An infrared shoe-mounted generator on the camera should trigger simple IR sensitive slave receptor triggers connected via a PC connector to the 283.

Upgrading to the companion Pentax flash with off-camera cord, however will provide the advantage of TTL exposure control of the flash output that can be set for full primary exposure or at different lower levels to be used as flash fill, a nice convenience which will assure more consistent exposure control.

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Larry Berman's picture
Submitted By: Larry Berman
Location: Pittsburgh
Joined: Mar 7 2005
Posts:
#2
Re: New digital SLR and old flash units?
Posted: December 10, 2007 - 5:53am

Here's the deal on the Vivitar 283. The older 283 generated 283 volts and the new version generates 7.8 volts. I had a conversation with Gary at Paramount Cords about this just the other day. He gave me the voltage figures and said that the way to tell the difference is that the older 283 was manufactured in Japan, and the newer one in China. Look for the country of manufacture on the bottom of the unit.


Quote:
This raises the following questions in my mind:
1) Should I attempt to use my old workhorse 283's with the K10D?

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