Jens, A lot of digicams use a prefire (similar to P-TTL) to determine the flash intensity in advance of the actual exposure. The prefire is usually too small and too close to the main firing to notice its presence with your bare eyes. Thus, attempting to slave an external flash will not only see the slave unit firing pointlessly BEFORE the moment when it is really needed, but it's presence during the prefire will stuff up the camera's own flash setting.
A slaved unit can function properly with some digital cameras, but only the more advanced models like an *istD, and provided the flash IS NOT in P-TTL mode. Most P&S digicams don't provide for external flashes or manual flash exposure, so whether they'll work or not with a slaved flash is a matter "suck it and see" as we say in Australia, AKA you'll never know until you try. I have seen advertised an accessory module that allows correctly synched slave operation with P-TTL type systems, by way of a user settable delay circuitry. Regrettably, I don't remember the manufacturer's name. regards, Anthony Farr ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jens Bladt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sorry to bother you all agian. Thought you'd like to know this: > > I found out that old slave flashes only will work well with my digital SONY > DSC F717 at VERY SLOW SPEEDS (longer than app. 1/2 sec.). That's when using > the built in camera flash. > How is this with the *ist D, I wonder? > > If I use an external flash like my - much liked - Pentax AF280T, the old > OSRAM slave flash works fine at any speed, even on AE. I guess it's the same > with studioflashes and triggering camera flashes on most digies? > I don't understand why (???) - but my test results are hard evidence! > Cheers > > > Jens Bladt > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt > >
