hot shoe flash w/CL

[astrosecret]

I just picked up a vintage hot shoe flash (braun hobby 17bc) and it doesn't seem to be responding. I'm wondering how to rule out the camera being the cause of the problem-if the meter works, does that mean the hot shoe will as well?

 

[FrankS]

If the flash does not have an open flash test button, you can short out the flash by using a wire to connect the central ball contact at the bottom of the flash shoe with the contacts in the flash shoe rails. Or if you have an old camera with an all-metal accessory shoe, turn on the flash, let it charge, then try to mount it on the old camara. The all-metal accessory shoe will short out the flash.

 

[astrosecret]

yep, looks like it's the flash that's dead. thanks!

 

[Shane Guthrie]

I have a fancy flash for my Nikon – SB 900 – and would like to use it off-camera with my CL. What cable should I use? I really know little about this aspect of photography. I have seen though, that the speedlight works on the CL hotshoe if it's set to A mode on the SB900.

I'd basically like to put more distance between the speedlight and the lens, and anyway the huge SB 900 is unwieldy on the small hotshoe.