Canon 430EX & M8 = "Fried" M8?

baycrest

baycrest

Established
Local time
3:24 PM
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
198
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:eek:" your M8 by putting Canon flashes on the M8? :eek:
Thanks for you input..
 
Canon Flash on an M8

Canon Flash on an M8

I've never heard of an issue, but you might want to find out what the flash trigger voltage is on he flash and M8. There is a great product called a Wein Safe Sync, which biases down high-voltage flash voltages for todays low-voltage cameras. Brad
 
bherman said:
I've never heard of an issue, but you might want to find out what the flash trigger voltage is on he flash and M8. There is a great product called a Wein Safe Sync, which biases down high-voltage flash voltages for todays low-voltage cameras. Brad
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. I also went to the camera store and learned that other owners are using Canon Speedlite 550EX, and older Vivitars. No problems at all. I'll just slap on the 430EX and keep snapping :p

Rob
 
430EX has a low sync voltage - otherwise it would fry the canon dslrs, which only tolerate low voltage. Be more careful with the old vivtars etc that will certainly kill a canon and maybe the Leica as welll

Mike
 
The M8 has a high-voltage circuit protecting it. If you feel unsure use a Wein sync
 
The only flashes I would be worried about (and maybe unnecessarily, but my knowledge of these electronics isn't extensive) are the ones like Nikon where the contacts all line up with the ones on the M8. However, the Canon flashes with no external sensor seem like not the best choice in terms of usability.
 
Please advise your result - i too have a 430ex and been thinking the same thing for indoor shots when light is just too low. thanks in advance.
 
Or, get an ebay wireless trigger and stand the 430 in a conder pointing at the ceiling. You can chimp the exposure on the M8:) You'll also need to set custom function x to stop it turning itself off.

Mike
 
The nicest flashes to use on the M8, in my experience, are the old Metz Z and MZ series, set to "A" They are sold on e-bay for next to nothing.
 
Well, I tried the 430EX and I can say that it didn't seem to fry the M8 at all :eek:)
However, it's certainly not the best solution. There are two problems:
1) manual flash settings only. I can only set the flash power to any given fraction of it's total output (e.g. 1/16 for fill flash, or 1/1 for bounce flash). As others have already pointed out, the 430EX does not monitor it's own flash output and automatically cut out once a certain exposure value has been acheived (e.g. -1/3EV).
2) it is ridiculously oversized for the M8.

But the bottom line for me is that it does work to some degree if you have time to chimp and re-shoot, and since I've only ever used flash to shoot a wedding recenption for a friend, I think I'll keep hold of it until I have a satisfactory lens lineup and can spare the money for a smaller flash unit. I do value the ability to bounce falsh indoors though... and I don't see many small units with this ability. Also, the 430EX takes AA bateries, which is very handy.

Which remote trigger do peopple use on the M8? Do you mean a Pocket Wizzard or the Canon IR remote?
 
Last edited:
Any 1970s or 1980s automatic flash unit with an "A" mode will deliver much more useful results than a Speedlite. They're also available for next to nothing; for my Metz 32CT3 I paid something like 20 EUR, it measures its own output, and you can choose three different intensity levels for automatic flash. Just set your flash to any of the three target apertures, set the same aperture on the camera and there you go. Easy as pie, with bounce flash and everything.

I'm not even getting into SCA-3000 flashes and the various possibilities offered by putting different SCA adapters under the same flash to get extended TTL flash capabilities with different cameras.

Philipp
 
My 550EX often is used on my M8. Good power and improved recycle time with the Canon external battery pack. Yes, only manual.... I will use a flash meter but it is cumbersome. As rxmd said, the older flashes with "A" mode are very convenient. For that, I have a Sunpak 422D which includes "A" modes as well as a manual mode with 1/1 to 1/16 power setting. The power is less than the 550EX and recycle time slower.
 
myM8yogi said:
I think I'll keep hold of it until I have a satisfactory lens lineup and can spare the money for a smaller flash unit. I do value the ability to bounce falsh indoors though... and I don't see many small units with this ability. Also, the 430EX takes AA bateries, which is very handy.
Click to expand...


Another plug for the old Metz flash:
Compact (relatively),GN 32, motorzoom, tilt/swivel, SCA system 3502M5 for the M8, AA batteries or Lithiumbattery, not expensive as they are a 10 years old.
 

Attachments

  • metz_mecablitz_32_mz_3.jpg
    metz_mecablitz_32_mz_3.jpg
    6 KB · Views: 0
ONe possible issue with the 430ex and the cheap ebay wireless triggers is that some of them cause random flashing that can be a bit awkward to eliminate - check before buying - or be prepared to try different channels, foil shielding and pc lead to hotshoe adaptors

Mike
 
Guys - can't find any 3502M5 on fleabay. What other models are worth looking? i have no idea how metz name their models so any further info welcomed. These old units with "A" sounds ideal.
 
boy_lah said:
Guys - can't find any 3502M5 on fleabay. What other models are worth looking? i have no idea how metz name their models so any further info welcomed. These old units with "A" sounds ideal.
Click to expand...

I got a couple of Metz 32 MZ-3 for my Ms, Pentax 645N and other cameras and when I really need the power, nothing beats the 45 CT3 (for me)...

For current Metz M8 compatability go to: http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/sca-adapter.html and just choose your combination from the drop-down menu...

For the older "A" units, adapters needed and functionality overview just look at this Metz pdf: http://www.metz.de/fileadmin/fm-dam...ctronic/SCA_Archiv/SCA_Adapter_Archive_GB.pdf

Hope this helps...
Cheers, Michael

PS: Just search for "SCA 3502" on the bay (advanced search, Europe or Worldwide) and you'll find a couple of 3502M5 adapters listed...
 
Last edited:
I use the 420EX and have never had issues. Just recently I bought a Wein Safe Sync but that is overkill, it just puts me in my happy place.
 
Jaapv - is it right then that the M8 can really be used with any flash?

I have only used the studio flashes so far, but I have got a handful of old ones lying around. Two metz-es as well...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom