Nikon flashes on Canon

[sara]

Does anyone know if one can use a Nikon flash on a Canon camera?

Basically asking this because I need a flash by Thursday and the only person I can think of is my landlord who has a Nikon camera and I think he has a flash.

Because I called Calumet and it's £25 / day to rent which is fine...with a £400 deposit, and then I was like fffffffff :bang:

 

[Mackinaw]

What kind of Nikon flash on what kind of Canon camera?

Jim B.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Sure you can (usually) the only issue is that you will have to use the Guide Number scale on the Nikon flash instead of any TTL functions.
This is how I've always used flashes. i have a Nikon SB25 and SB26 and have used them with Contax, Canon, Fujica and now Leica. I think the Nikon flashes are superior to the Canon units in user interface and consistent flash output. Depending upon the Nikon flash, you'll probably have the ability to set it on Auto and the flash will give you a basic exposure for the distance that the flash thinks it is from your subject.
Don't worry, you'll do fine.

Phil Forrest

 

[jarski]

basic TTL might work, not knowing flash unit or camera.

 

[sara]

I don't know what flash it is yet but I mean an auto setting is fine, as it is what I used last time - but obviously will be photographing in film as well...

But yeah I'll check it out hopefully tonight.

 

[jarski]

googled a bit and any TTL probably is no avail. using with film might result many wrongly exposed frames.

 

[gavinlg]

TTL won't work, you'd be manual only.

 

[Range-rover]

I use a Sunpack 422D on my Canon 5d, but I use a Wein adapter with it to protect
it for any overload that might happen with these old flashes on new digital cameras.

range

 

[RichW]

Just bought 3 flashes for my Canon 5D - they are Yongnuo YN 560 II's, very cheap and powerful!

while researching flashes I found out most types work on most systems but only same name brands will give you TTL metering, if you dont mind working with manual flash then Nikon should work on Canon

Cheers, Richard

(oh yeah and as below - be careful with flashes meant for pre-digital cameras on modern digital camera bodies)

 

[cosmonaut]

Be careful. Some older flashes use higher voltages. You might blow your hot shoe. Use the right tool for the job.

 

[rommelgc]

I think the auxiliary contacts on the foot of the Nikon flash and the top of the Canon accessory shoe is not compatible. The contacts might not actually line up but if they ... well make contact ... your camera and the flash might get funky. Not enough to make them explode or something. If you want to use the Nikon flash, tape up those auxiliary contacts (leave the big middle contact alone) and use the flash in manual mode.

 

[yossarian123]

You should be fine. Either manual or Auto mode will work. I don't think you need to worry about the sync voltage on Nikon flashes, they should all be low enough for canon.

 

[martinsmith99]

I use Nikon SB-28s on my 5Dii. There will not be any TTL, but they do have a useful auto feature (you set the aperture on the flash to match the aperture you're shooting at and the flash sensor calculates the power output). I think the modern Nikon flashes also have the auto feature.

 

[mugget]

I have used a Nikon SB-24 on a Canon 1DMkII. Worked fine (as in no damage to either item, nothing blew up). Of course no TTL, but if you just want a flash, it'll make a flash!

Once you know the exact flash/camera combo I would do a quick Google to see if anything turns up. I think generally people have already tried all these combinations and it would be rare that your equipment could be damaged - but Google should show something up if that's the case.

 

[sevo]

I think the modern Nikon flashes also have the auto feature.

None of the current ones have it! As far as I can make out, the SB-600 and SB-800 were the last Nikon flashes (at least the last marketed in Germany) to have a camera independent auto mode, any other "digital" flash from Nikon will not have any form of automatic exposure control with film cameras other than the F6.

 

[sara]

It's a erm, Nissin Mark II Di622.

So is it safe to use on my camera then?

Edit: I found this, http://www.nissindigital.com/en/compatibilitychart.html
I'm guessing it's okay...

 

[sevo]

Well, safe is one matter, functional would be another. Going by the user manual downloadable from that site, that flash only has digital TTL and manual modes - TTL only working on the corresponding brand's digital camera bodies, so the Nikon version will not do TTL on your Canon.

It should work on manual (unless your camera body is somehow limited there) without damaging the camera or flash, but if you haven't already used a similar flash in all-manual configuration, you should really spend a few hours familiarizing yourself with manual flash operation before you go out shooting anything relevant with it. All manual with digital is easier than with film as you can check exposure on the display and histogram, but it nonetheless has to be learned, even more so if you cannot afford to lose lots of time or shots in the actual session.

 

[sara]

I didn't use the flash in the end............

I just don't like using flashes because I've never used them argh.

Sevo, I've used a flash before, I can't remember if it was auto or manual but I controlled it and photos came out beautifully.

Nevermind, that's done. Over and out!