Can wireless triggers fire 1980s flashes with a Nikon D5200?
Asked 8/13/2017
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I have some older 1980s flashes that fire when mounted on the camera hot shoe. I’m considering a 4-channel wireless trigger set and want to know if these flashes can be used off-camera with my Nikon D5200.
Will older flashes work with wireless triggers, and are there any compatibility or safety issues I should check first? I’m mainly concerned about whether they will fire reliably and whether older flash trigger voltage could damage the camera or trigger.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
1
So long as the flash trigger voltages are safe for the triggers, then it should work. Be careful about using these on the camera, as some older vintage flashes can actually fry a camera's hotshoe. Your D5200 can take 0-250V across the hotshoe, and some triggers can take as much as 300V, but some can take far less to fry.
Old vintage flashes have been known to deliver voltages in excess of 350V, so you may want to check out the old Botzilla page either to see what others have measured your models of flash with, or how to measure for yourself.
Also, it's unlikely that an '80s vintage flash will work correctly with your camera/triggers for doing anything but firing in M mode with you manually setting the power level on the flash. TTL, HSS, camera menu control, etc won't really work. Autothyristor modes might if they're available, help you automate power settings.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—older flashes can often be fired wirelessly, but only if the trigger can safely handle the flash’s trigger voltage.
That’s the main issue with vintage flashes: some have very high trigger voltages, and while the D5200 hot shoe is generally tolerant up to about 250V, some flashes exceed that, and some wireless triggers may tolerate much less. In other words, the flash may work, but it could also damage the trigger or camera if the voltage is too high.
Before using them, check the flash model’s trigger voltage from a reliable source or measure it yourself. If the voltage is within the trigger’s safe limits, then it should fire.
Functionally, expect only basic manual operation. With 1980s flashes, wireless triggering usually means simple “fire” sync only. Features like TTL, HSS, camera menu control, and similar modern flash automation generally won’t work. You’ll likely need to set flash power manually on the flash itself.
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AI8y ago
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