Flash adapters

Hi from Down Under,


I have a Nikon SB-21 Macro Speedlight, with the Nikon AS 14
Controller, which I use for macro photography with my old FE2. For
many years I have been happy to use the Nikon for macro work, although
I have owned a Canon EOS 100 for 12 years or so, (which I think is a
lovely camera) as they are of course both film cameras.


However, I have at last succumbed to the digital age, and bought a
Canon 300D, because all my EOS lenses will fit.


I figure that I shall probably buy a macro lens for the Canon, but
wonder if it is possible to use the Nikon flash unit with a Canon
camera? I realise that the hot-shoe configuration is different, but
maybe someone manufactures an adaptor or converter that will connect
the two.


Does anyone have any good ideas, or can a home-made converter be made
up easily?
I should be very grateful for any ideas.


Happy New Year,


Mike

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 22:16:05 -0800, lordfordoflobo wrote:

Hi from Down Under,


I have a Nikon SB-21 Macro Speedlight, with the Nikon AS 14
Controller, which I use for macro photography with my old FE2. For
many years I have been happy to use the Nikon for macro work, although
I have owned a Canon EOS 100 for 12 years or so, (which I think is a
lovely camera) as they are of course both film cameras.


However, I have at last succumbed to the digital age, and bought a
Canon 300D, because all my EOS lenses will fit.


I figure that I shall probably buy a macro lens for the Canon, but
wonder if it is possible to use the Nikon flash unit with a Canon
camera? I realise that the hot-shoe configuration is different, but
maybe someone manufactures an adaptor or converter that will connect
the two.


Does anyone have any good ideas, or can a home-made converter be made
up easily?
I should be very grateful for any ideas.

This is relatively simple to do. I wouldn't mount the flash onto the Canon
body because of the different terminal configuration. What you can do is
buy a synch cable and fire off the flash off-camera in manual mode.

Alternatively you could buy a slave and set the camera's onboard flash to
minimum output in manual mode. This will provide enough light to fire the
Nikon from its slave but not affect your picture.

I'm assuming of course that your SB-21 has a synch terminal and manual
mode. And I am also assuming that you have some sort of flash meter.

Roxy,

Thanks for your suggestion. One thing that has been pointed out is
that the Nikon flash is for use with OTF metering, and with a digital
camera this won't work. As I shall probably purchase a Canon
body/Nikon lens adapter for my 105 Nikkor macro lens at about $30, I
shall have enough cash to purchase a dedicated EOS D ring flash, even
though it still won't be totally automatic.
I might try your suggestion temporarily anyway.

Mike

On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 00:28:13 -0800, lordfordoflobo wrote:

Roxy,

Thanks for your suggestion. One thing that has been pointed out is
that the Nikon flash is for use with OTF metering, and with a digital
camera this won't work. As I shall probably purchase a Canon
body/Nikon lens adapter for my 105 Nikkor macro lens at about $30, I
shall have enough cash to purchase a dedicated EOS D ring flash, even
though it still won't be totally automatic.
I might try your suggestion temporarily anyway.

Mike

You need to bear in mind that Nikon flashes do not meter themselves unless
in Auto mode. With TTL metering the camera is the worker bee and the
flash is controlled by the body electronics. You certainly aren't going to
get any kind of OTF metering from a Nikon flash on a Canon digital camera!

I have a little hot shoe mount that I sometimes use. It only conducts from
the centre point so what I can do is put it on a camera shoe and then
slide any flash on top of it. It effectively blocks all signals from the
other contacts on your hotshoe. I can't recall where I got it from.

On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 00:28:13 -0800, lordfordoflobo wrote:

Roxy,

Thanks for your suggestion. One thing that has been pointed out is
that the Nikon flash is for use with OTF metering, and with a digital
camera this won't work. As I shall probably purchase a Canon
body/Nikon lens adapter for my 105 Nikkor macro lens at about $30, I
shall have enough cash to purchase a dedicated EOS D ring flash, even
though it still won't be totally automatic.
I might try your suggestion temporarily anyway.

Mike

You need to bear in mind that Nikon flashes do not meter themselves unless
in Auto mode. With TTL metering the camera is the worker bee and the
flash is controlled by the body electronics. You certainly aren't going to
get any kind of OTF metering from a Nikon flash on a Canon digital camera!

I have a little hot shoe mount that I sometimes use. It only conducts from
the centre point so what I can do is put it on a camera shoe and then
slide any flash on top of it. It effectively blocks all signals from the
other contacts on your hotshoe. I can't recall where I got it from.