Can a third-party ring flash be added to Nikon CLS wireless control?
Asked 12/26/2010
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I have a Nikon camera and want to use Nikon CLS wireless flash control. I recently bought a Sunpak ring flash, but it does not support CLS. Is there any adapter or add-on that would let this ring flash work as part of the CLS system and be fired remotely from the camera?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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No, but both Metz and Sigma offer flashes which are compatible with the Nikon wireless flash system. They work differently — Sigma's acts as a controller, while Metz's works as one of the slaves, controlled by the on-camera flash.
I don't think you're going to have any options with the flash you have. While there are now some radio triggers (from PocketWizard and maybe others) that can transmit Nikon's proprietary TTL protocol, they require the flash itself to speak the protocol already. And even if that would work, you'd end up with a rather unwieldy bunch of connectors plugging it all together.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Generally, no. Nikon CLS requires the flash itself to understand Nikon’s wireless/TTL protocol, and a non-CLS Sunpak ring flash can’t usually be converted with a simple adapter.
You may still be able to trigger it, but not as a true CLS unit:
- use a PC sync connection with a hot-shoe adapter
- use a Nikon off-camera TTL cord such as an SC-28/SC-29 if the flash can be connected that way
- use an optical slave or a radio trigger to fire it manually
Be careful with older third-party flashes: some have high trigger voltage that can damage a camera hot shoe, so check compatibility first or use a safe-sync style voltage reducer.
If you want full Nikon CLS operation, you’ll typically need a flash designed to support Nikon’s system. Some Metz and Sigma flashes were mentioned as CLS-compatible alternatives.
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