Canon 430EX & M8 = "Fried" M8?

[RobertW]

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I've been avoiding the Leica 24D flash cos it doesn't tilt or swivel. Today I thought I'd try out my 430EX (tilts & swivels) on the M8. I put the flash in Manual mode and powered down the power to 1/64 its minimum setting and it seems to work fine. For bounce flash I set it to 1/32 and that works well.

 

Has anyone heard of "damaging" your M8 by putting Canon flashes on the M8?

 

Thanks for you input..

--

Rob

[GarethC]

You're a brave man trying it then posting the question. Next time I'd suggest you reversed the workflow

 

I'm no expert but if you have any doubts then a Wein Safe Sync should regulate the voltage so that you don't smell burning as you light up your subject.

[Olsen]

These new Canon flashes should be safe to use. I have used my Canon 550EX on my M8 with no problem. More controversial; I have been using, quite extensively actually, my two 30 years old Vivitar 283 on my M8 with no ill effect either...

[marknorton]

It used to be the case that flashes presented a high open-circuit voltage to the camera; grounding it caused a high voltage pulse to be generated on the flash tube trigger electrode. This ionised the xenon gas causing it to become conductive and, poof, off went the flash; the energy store in the flash capacitor is discharged very rapidly through the flash tube.

 

These flashes got a reputation for cooking cameras and fingers. Modern electronics in both the camera and the flash both protect against damage - Insulated Gate FETs in the flash prevent the high voltage being presented to the hot shoe in the first place; high voltage transistors in the camera allow even old flashes to be used without problems.

 

Here's a picture of the inside of the camera top. Trace the connection from the centre contact and you see a direct connection to a high voltage transistor and also a direct screw contact from the flex print to the hot shoe ground to prevent nasty currents circulating and spoiling your day.

 

In other words, don't worry about it.

 

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[RobertW]

Thanks Gareth, Olsen & Mark for sharing your experience and knowledge. I learned that Canon's newer EX flashes 420 and 430 (550 etc) put out less than 6 volts. So I'll use the 430 which tilts and swivels in future...

Thanks again

 

Rob

[RobertW]

Hi Olsen

 

You mentioned you were sometimes using the Vivitar 283 . Here's a link to an article that advises the 283 might discharge high voltage that could damage if connected directly to the hot shoe... Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages

 

Thanks again,

Rob

[Olsen]

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Hi Olsen

 

You mentioned you were sometimes using the Vivitar 283 . Here's a link to an article that advises the 283 might discharge high voltage that could damage if connected directly to the hot shoe... Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages

 

Thanks again,

Rob

 

Yes, quite a few here have linked me to this page, but I have the positive experience of actually trying out my two 30 years old Vivitar 283 - excellent flashes by the way, on my M8 with no ill effect. Don't worry, it works fine! I feel confident that what Mark Norton writes; '...high voltage transistors in the camera allow even old flashes to be used without problems...' is correct. My M8 is about the only one here that has not been to Solms....

[charlesphoto99]

I've also used my Vivitar 285 HV with no problems. I posted it on here and everybody thought I was insane and linked to the same article. I couldn't believe that people were using the Wein safe sync with the SF 24 and Nikon NC17 cord. I would really hope the M8's electronics were more solid state that that.

 

Thanks for the validation Mark. Your bravery in dissecting an M8 has been the voice of sanity on many rumours and issues.

[fishblimp]

Is the voltage issue now a moot one? Does the poster who posted the image of the electronics of the M8 still stand by his claim that I can use my Vivitar 285 HV or my Canon Speedlite 430 EX without causing a problem on the m8?

 

Or, should I go ahead and get an SF 24 after all?

[JumpStart]

I did buy the SF 24, and I am very happy with it. One of the joys of this camera is it's light weight and compactness. The SF 24 maintains that joy, and with the diffusers it ships with, I am very pleased with the results.

 

Good luck with your decision

[orjanf]

Is the voltage issue now a moot one? Does the poster who posted the image of the electronics of the M8 still stand by his claim that I can use my Vivitar 285 HV or my Canon Speedlite 430 EX without causing a problem on the m8?

 

Or, should I go ahead and get an SF 24 after all?

 

I'm using the EX430 and EX550 on the M8, so far without any problem.

They are low voltage units and I see no reason to expect any damage.

You can as has been suggested here tape over the unused contacts on the hotshoe.

The EX430 is smaller and lighter but has no way of reducing the output so you're stuck with the full power.

I will buy a dedicated flash as soon as someone makes a smallish one that at least tilts and preferably also swivels.

[Guest V64]

Using a Vivitar 283 on an M8 with Wein Sync I noticed that when I dismounted it it fired when the centre hot contact touched one of the other two contacts at the backedge of the camera shoe. Are these contacts also protected against high voltages?

 

It is difficult not to be paranoid about these things!

[Shootist]

Using a Vivitar 283 on an M8 with Wein Sync I noticed that when I dismounted it it fired when the centre hot contact touched one of the other two contacts at the backedge of the camera shoe. Are these contacts also protected against high voltages?

 

It is difficult not to be paranoid about these things!

 

 

What fired when you dismounted it, Camera, Flash or both? Did you turn both the camera and flash off, or at least the flash OFF!!, before you dismounted it?????

[Guest V64]

Ed,

 

The flash fired, and I had turned it off, but not (I think) the camera. With the 283 with its thyristor control I find that even after I switch it off I can (off camera) get it to flash using the flash test button, several times (typically three or four) before it finally discharges.