Slave Flash for SD400

[Charles Laigo]

Aside from the Canon-built slave flash, are there any other types that'll work with the SD400?

My slave flash which works fine with my two Fuji prosumers simply won't work with the SD400.

Any guesses?

-Charlie

 

[David Gard]

Look at the Metz Mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital slave ...

http://www.metz.de/en/photo_electronics/mecablitz_28_CS-2_digital.225.html

I have one that I use with my S60 (I posted a "review" of the CS-2 last spring, you might still be able to find it).The CS-2 has a photosensor for measuring light reflected from the scene and adjusting flash power. It's "easy" mode should be compatible with the SD400... You can get a manual PDF from the link above.

There are other digital slaves from Vivitar, Phoenix, Sunpak, Digislave, and others... but many would dwarf your camera [the Metz is about the size of the old S400, so is a little larger (mostly in thickness) than the SD400].

--
Dave Gard
http://www.pbase.com/gard

 

[C Williams]

you have to get a slave trigger that will ignore the preflash of the sd400

 

[Charles Laigo]

Thanks for the replies folks.

Looks like the pre-flash of the SD400 is the reason why my old slave flash won't work (Fujis don't have pre-flash?).

The Metz seems like an excellent option. This "easy" mode and "self-learning" mode might indeed ensure that it works with all my digicams.

Thanks again!

-Charlie

 

[Mark Durgee]

I've got the SD450, but I'm assuming the controls are the same as your SD400...

You can set the flash exposure lock by setting flash to "on", hold the shutter button down half way and focus on your subject, NOW also (yeah hard to do!) press the ISO button and the flash will prefire and lock the exposure. Any subsequent shots will NOT fire the preflash because the setting is locked in the camera. If you press the ISO button again or change zoom you will cancel the flash lock.

My point here is that by using your existing slave and locking the flash exposure you should at least be able to get the slave to work and see if it makes your photos any better.

I may have missed a step or two in explaining how to lock the flash exposure setting, in that case double check with the manual. Let me know if it works as I'm thinking about getting one also.

 

[Charles Laigo]

Whoa!

Sounds like a rather novel solution to my problem. If this works it'll save me the moolah I would have spent on another slave flash.

I'll try this (I'm printing your post first) then get back to you folks.

Tnx!

-Charlie

 

[sidewinder]

I had a Vivitar DF120 slave flash and it worked great when I had the SD400. Its very compact and works on two AAA batteries. It also comes with a stand and a camera mount.