Can someone recommend a slave flash for the A80?

hgilmore · Oct 22, 2003

Hi everyone. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their input on this message board... it helped steer me to the Cannon A80 as my first digital camera. I've been a standard SLR user for many years and have a little bit of a photography experience... took a college class many years ago on B&W photography. I decided on the A80 because I was looking for a camera with manual settings that would allow me to be more creative with my shots. I've had it for about 4 days now and I love it.

Anyway... enough of the bio and babbling.... what I was really wondering is if someone could recomend a slave flash to go with this camera. I have heard a few people talk about them, but with so many to chose from, I'm lost. I am basically looking for something that will help me with low lighting conditions such as wedding receptions, etc. I would like something that is not too bulky. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money.... maybe $50 - $75.... is that unrealistic???

Also, how do these physically attach to the camera without a hot shoe?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Rob

jasmus · Oct 22, 2003

The DSF-1s may be a little bit more than you wanted to spend ($99), but I think it would do nicely for what you want. You would need a bracket that attaches to the tripod mount of your A80. Anyway, here are some links for more information:

http://www.srelectronics.com/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/dsf-1s.html

hgilmore · Oct 23, 2003

Thanks for the input jasmus. Looks like a possible option for me. Might be a little more than what I am looking for, but might be worth it. Any one else have any suggestions??

Also, I already have a flash for my SLR, but it does not have a slave option on it. It's a Cannon Speedlite and it works really well. Do they make an attachment that could convert this into a slave flash???

Thanks.

Rob

jasmus said:
The DSF-1s may be a little bit more than you wanted to spend ($99),
but I think it would do nicely for what you want. You would need a
bracket that attaches to the tripod mount of your A80. Anyway,
here are some links for more information:

http://www.srelectronics.com/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/dsf-1s.html

Abbazz · Oct 23, 2003

Try the Vivitar DF 200. For around $70 street price, it comes with a straight bracket. The flash head can be zoomed, rotated and tilted for bounce flash. Power can be set at full, 1/4, 1/8 or 1/16. This unit is a slave flash, meaning it is triggered by the camera built-in flash without any cable or hot-shoe. It can be used with any digital camera, because it has 2 different presets suitable for most cameras and can even "learn" the pattern of light pulses emitted by the built-in flash of your camera. Guide number for ISO100 is 28 (meters) or 92 (ft) giving you more light than you ever dreamed of.

I have been using the DF-200 for a while with a Powershot S50 and I am very satisfied with the results. Should be great with your A80 too.

Here's the link :
http://www.vivitar.com/Products/Flashes/flash.html#DF200

Abbazz

hgilmore said:
Also, I already have a flash for my SLR, but it does not have a
slave option on it. It's a Cannon Speedlite and it works really
well. Do they make an attachment that could convert this into a
slave flash???

Thanks.

Rob

jasmus said:

The DSF-1s may be a little bit more than you wanted to spend ($99),
but I think it would do nicely for what you want. You would need a
bracket that attaches to the tripod mount of your A80. Anyway,
here are some links for more information:

http://www.srelectronics.com/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/dsf-1s.html

Click to expand...

jasmus · Oct 23, 2003

You could get a Wein digital smart slave to attach to your current flash. Not sure of the price. If anyone knows, I would be interested as well! You can find some information on the manufacturer's website:

http://www.weinproducts.com/safesyncs.htm

If you do get something to attach to your flash, you have to get something that can handle pre-flash, unless you only want to use it in manual mode where you can disable the pre-flash. So the Wein attachment you would be interested in is: HSXLD

Howard Louie · Oct 23, 2003

I have a G2. But the slave unit I brought will work with any digital camera that uses the dual flash mode for flash photo. It provides a 200msec delay and trigger off of the second flash of the camera. I believe the A80 camera uses the dual flash mode. I have used it for providing additonal lighting in room environment shots. The guide no is only 52(ISO 100). But it serves its purpose for providing additional lighting. It is ideal for the G2 when I connect on external lenses. The external lenses block part of the lighting from the internal flash causing one corner of the image to be darker. By using the slave flash mounted to the hot shoe of the G2, I avoid this problem. The unit cost around $30 to $40 depending on where you buy it. Here is a photo of the flash unit:

hgilmore said:
Hi everyone. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for
their input on this message board... it helped steer me to the
Cannon A80 as my first digital camera. I've been a standard SLR
user for many years and have a little bit of a photography
experience... took a college class many years ago on B&W
photography. I decided on the A80 because I was looking for a
camera with manual settings that would allow me to be more creative
with my shots. I've had it for about 4 days now and I love it.

Anyway... enough of the bio and babbling.... what I was really
wondering is if someone could recomend a slave flash to go with
this camera. I have heard a few people talk about them, but with
so many to chose from, I'm lost. I am basically looking for
something that will help me with low lighting conditions such as
wedding receptions, etc. I would like something that is not too
bulky. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money.... maybe $50 -
$75.... is that unrealistic???

Also, how do these physically attach to the camera without a hot shoe?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Rob

hgilmore · Oct 23, 2003

Jasmus,

Looks like the HSXLD is $129.95. See link below:

http://www.omegasatter.com/v2/products/displayproduct.cfm?ProdID=2976

The HSD is only $69.95.

http://www.omegasatter.com/v2/products/displayproduct.cfm?ProdID=2963

Looks like the only differences are the range (HSXLD is 600ft. the HSD is 150 ft.) and the sunlight protection (HSXLD-yes / HSD-no). I would think that the HSD would be fine for what I'm trying to do. However, at that price, it might make sense to go with the Vivatar that Abbazz recommended. What do you think??

Thanks again for your input.

Rob

jasmus said:
You could get a Wein digital smart slave to attach to your current
flash. Not sure of the price. If anyone knows, I would be
interested as well! You can find some information on the
manufacturer's website:

http://www.weinproducts.com/safesyncs.htm

If you do get something to attach to your flash, you have to get
something that can handle pre-flash, unless you only want to use it
in manual mode where you can disable the pre-flash. So the Wein
attachment you would be interested in is: HSXLD

jasmus · Oct 23, 2003

Howard Louie said:
I have a G2. But the slave unit I brought will work with any
digital camera that uses the dual flash mode for flash photo. It
provides a 200msec delay and trigger off of the second flash of the
camera. I believe the A80 camera uses the dual flash mode. I have
used it for providing additonal lighting in room environment shots.
The guide no is only 52(ISO 100). But it serves its purpose for
providing additional lighting. It is ideal for the G2 when I
connect on external lenses. The external lenses block part of the
lighting from the internal flash causing one corner of the image to
be darker. By using the slave flash mounted to the hot shoe of the
G2, I avoid this problem. The unit cost around $30 to $40 depending
on where you buy it. Here is a photo of the flash unit:

I was wondering if this flash would work, I'm glad to hear that it does. I guess this basically answers your question. If you want an inexpensive flash that just give some extra light, then this Sunpak Digital Flash. However, if you want something with a little bit more control over light placement (such as a swivel head) and output, then the Vivitar is for you! Here is a link where you can view both: http://www.therollbar.com/CP_FILES/cp_flashes.htm

hgilmore · Oct 23, 2003

Howard,

This looks like the winner for me. Is this something that I can find at an electronics store (Best Buy, etc.) or a Camera store, or do I have to order it online. Would like to use it this weekend and was hoping to pick it us somewhere??? Thanks again!!!

Howard Louie said:
hgilmore said:

Hi everyone. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for
their input on this message board... it helped steer me to the
Cannon A80 as my first digital camera. I've been a standard SLR
user for many years and have a little bit of a photography
experience... took a college class many years ago on B&W
photography. I decided on the A80 because I was looking for a
camera with manual settings that would allow me to be more creative
with my shots. I've had it for about 4 days now and I love it.

Anyway... enough of the bio and babbling.... what I was really
wondering is if someone could recomend a slave flash to go with
this camera. I have heard a few people talk about them, but with
so many to chose from, I'm lost. I am basically looking for
something that will help me with low lighting conditions such as
wedding receptions, etc. I would like something that is not too
bulky. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money.... maybe $50 -
$75.... is that unrealistic???

Also, how do these physically attach to the camera without a hot shoe?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Rob

Click to expand...

Howard Louie · Oct 24, 2003

HI Rob;

I brought mine at the local Wolf Camera store. I went to their web site and they don't carry it any more. I know that Wolf Camera and Ritz camera store are the same now. You might try them as well. Otherwise, you will have to mail order for one.

hgilmore said:
This looks like the winner for me. Is this something that I can
find at an electronics store (Best Buy, etc.) or a Camera store, or
do I have to order it online. Would like to use it this weekend
and was hoping to pick it us somewhere??? Thanks again!!!

Howard Louie said:

hgilmore said:

Hi everyone. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for
their input on this message board... it helped steer me to the
Cannon A80 as my first digital camera. I've been a standard SLR
user for many years and have a little bit of a photography
experience... took a college class many years ago on B&W
photography. I decided on the A80 because I was looking for a
camera with manual settings that would allow me to be more creative
with my shots. I've had it for about 4 days now and I love it.

Anyway... enough of the bio and babbling.... what I was really
wondering is if someone could recomend a slave flash to go with
this camera. I have heard a few people talk about them, but with
so many to chose from, I'm lost. I am basically looking for
something that will help me with low lighting conditions such as
wedding receptions, etc. I would like something that is not too
bulky. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money.... maybe $50 -
$75.... is that unrealistic???

Also, how do these physically attach to the camera without a hot shoe?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Rob

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

chas3000 · Oct 24, 2003

yes -- look at Wein Digital Peanut Slave Sensor for about $35

hgilmore said:
Also, I already have a flash for my SLR, but it does not have a
slave option on it. It's a Cannon Speedlite and it works really
well. Do they make an attachment that could convert this into a
slave flash???

Thanks.

Rob

jasmus said:

The DSF-1s may be a little bit more than you wanted to spend ($99),
but I think it would do nicely for what you want. You would need a
bracket that attaches to the tripod mount of your A80. Anyway,
here are some links for more information:

http://www.srelectronics.com/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/dsf-1s.html

Click to expand...

butch burton · Oct 24, 2003

Have a S50 a couple of Vivitar 285's so bought the Wein digital peanut and a holder-holder from B&H for about $13 to hold the camera and flash-peanut works just fine. Have a wedding to take pics of-be interesting to see how it works with other flashes going off.

chas3000 said:
hgilmore said:

Also, I already have a flash for my SLR, but it does not have a
slave option on it. It's a Cannon Speedlite and it works really
well. Do they make an attachment that could convert this into a
slave flash???

Thanks.

Rob

jasmus said:

The DSF-1s may be a little bit more than you wanted to spend ($99),
but I think it would do nicely for what you want. You would need a
bracket that attaches to the tripod mount of your A80. Anyway,
here are some links for more information:

http://www.srelectronics.com/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/dsf-1s.html

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

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Can someone recommend a slave flash for the A80?

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