Flash with digital cameras

I have already mentioned a few restrictions when using flash with digital cameras. This is a summary of these points:

With modern digital cameras (DiMAGE 5, 7, 7i, 7hi, A1, A2, A200, Dynax/Maxxum 7D and 5D, Sony Alpha DSLRs) TTL-OTF metering is not possible. This has a number of consequences:

For flash metering either ADI, pre-flash TTL metering or manual flash must be used. This means that only D flashes, the new macro flashes and Sony flashes are fully compatible with digital cameras. These are marked with “yes” in the “digital ready” column of the flash table. Earlier flashes only work in manual flash mode.
Wireless flash with ratio control is not available with the built-in flash. A possible workaround is using two remote flashes, positioned at different distances from the subject. You can trigger both remote flashes with the built-in flash, but the built-in flash will not contribute anything to exposure. Wireless ratio flash is possible with several dedicated flashes and several cameras (see the table of working combinations for details).
Only certain dedicated flashes mounted on the camera can act as a wireless controller, with certain flashes as the remote flash (see the table of working combinations for details).
Older non-D flashes will not fire in wireless mode, even when they are in manual mode.

Leserkommentare

#1: Kommentar von Hoang Trinh am 12. August 2009, 05:12:43 Uhr:
I have a Broun flash which work good with Nikon D40 (manual mode), but not with Sony A350 (also manual mode with flash adapter), it does not sync, the pics come out so blueish at speed 1/60, only at speed 1/4 then it come out ok. Do you know why? What should I do? Thanks Hoang Trinh

Michael Hohner antwortet:
I think the only solution is to buy a compatible flash unit.

#2: Kommentar von Dick Langridge am 10. Februar 2010, 22:03:34 Uhr:
When trying to use 2 flashes (5600HS D) wireless mode on stands (1 each side of camera) with my Alpha 350 one of the flashes doesn't always fire when I have the camera in portrait position. Is this due to shading by the lens or something else - and can it be overcome? Thanks

Michael Hohner antwortet:
The remote flashes have to “see” the control flashes from the camera to react to it. If there is no direct line of sight, it sometimes helps to have a reflective surface somewhere to get the control flash from the camera to the remote flash.

#3: Kommentar von Przemek am 11. April 2015, 13:50:56 Uhr:

Hello Michael,

I still got a Sigma EF-500ST flash that I used with my Minolta 505si.
On my 3 Alphas the flash doesn't fire although it communicates with the cameras (they recognize it, the flash zoom corresponds to the lens settings, the AF assist lamp on the flash is working). I don't expect to get TTL and would be glad if it at least fired in manual mode.
According to the specs only Sigma DG flashes are compatible with digital cameras but the fact the mine is talking to the cameras makes me think that there might be a way to get it to work (through a modification or an adapter).

As older Minolta flashes that are not digital-compatible do fire in manual mode I cannot think of a technical explanation why this Sigma shouldn't as well.

Do you have any suggestion?
Thanks in advance, Przemek

Michael Hohner antwortet:
I'm afraid I can't help you there. It's likely some incompatibility in the flash protocol, which Sigma usually reverse-engineers (incompletely) instead of licensing the information from the OEM.

#4: Kommentar von Errol Rojas am 29. Oktober 2015, 13:12:17 Uhr:
Hello there. I have a Sony A58. I saw your list of flashes. What I'm trying to ascertain is which Minolta flash is indeed compatible. Has anyone produced that list? If so can you point me in the right direction? Thanks. Errol

Michael Hohner antwortet:
As the above page already says, those in the flash table marked with “yes” in the “Digital flash” column are compatible. Of these, flashes with an iSO shoe need the Sony ADP-MAA adapter to be able to mount them on an A58. Also see the F. A. Q. list.