Need Some Help With A200 And External Flash

[Buggerlugz]

Hi I am a complete newbi I have just bought a A200 and a friend has given me a Vivitar flashgun and an adapter for hotshoe.I have looked in the menu in the camera and looked in the manual but cany find how to change the settings to use the Vivitar flash can anyone please help
Thanks

[PWhite214]

The adapter for the camera hotshoe is probably similar to the FS1100, which allows the use of "single contact" flashes. This eliminates any possibilities of automatic exposure (called TTL metering for the flash). So shoot in manual, adjust your aperture accordingly. Shutter speed should be set at 1/125.

BEWARE, many older flashes have a high contact voltage that will damage your camera. Check the flash specs before you use it. I made a relay isolator to allow me to use older flash units with my radio triggers and cameras to prevent expensive repairs.



I bought the relays on EBAY, the battery holders and plugs etc at a local electronics store.

By putting only 3 volts (2-AAA batteries) the camera circuits are protected.

Phil

[Buggerlugz]

Hi Phil thankyou for your reply I am not electronicly minded so I have no idea what the photo means.The adapter is this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/brand-new-Flas...item3a564586d0
the flashgun is this one http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/camer...2800.html.This has 4 aa batteries will I still need that adapter that you showed I could probibly get someone to make it for me
Thanks Again

[PWhite214]

I looked at the manual for the Vivitar 2800. It does not give the voltage. That is why I made the isolators for mine. Basically, the part of the relay that is attached to the battery (The Coil) connects to the PC sync connection on the hotshoe adapter. BTW, yes, you will need it for the A200. The wires from the contacts 'fire' the flash when connected to the PC sync socket on the side of your flash. Plan to use the flash off your camera, if you mount that flash directly on the hot shoe adapter, you might burn up the circuits in your camera, which could be very expensive to fix.

It might be a lot easier to purchase a flash made to work with the Sony DSLR, even though they are pretty expensive. Some of the older Minolta flashes work in manual, (no TTL compensation), they can be found for reasonable prices on EBAY.

I hope this helps,

Phil