How do I read the exposure chart on a Vivitar 1900 flash and use it safely with a Sony NEX-6?
Asked 9/3/2019
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2 answers
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I have an older Vivitar 1900 flash with only an on/off switch, a test button, and ready light. On the back is an exposure chart with DIN/ISO on one axis, meters/feet on another, and aperture values like f/4, f/8, f/11, f/16, and f/22. My photos with a Sony NEX-6 and remote trigger are badly overexposed. How do I use this chart correctly, what camera settings should I use, and is this flash safe to connect directly to the camera?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
3
Old flashes designed for film cameras use a much higher voltage than modern ones and can damage modern cameras.
It sounds like you are overexposing your photos so you will need to lower ISO and/or stop down the aperture. The chart on the back will tell you how much to achieve a decent exposure at a given distance. Shutter speed is constant at the sync speed for your camera. You will need to estimate the distance to your subject first and then select an aperture and ISO that line up with that distance on the chart.
Originally by user86719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user86719
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The Vivitar 1900 is a simple manual flash: it does not meter or change power automatically. The chart tells you which aperture to use for a given ISO and flash-to-subject distance.
How to use it:
- Set the camera to Manual mode.
- Set shutter speed at or below your camera’s flash sync speed (answers suggest around 1/125; the NEX-6 max is 1/160, so 1/125 is a safe choice).
- Choose your ISO.
- Estimate the distance from flash to subject.
- On the chart, find that ISO and distance; the matching number is the aperture to set on the lens.
If your images are too white, you’re overexposing: use a lower ISO, a smaller aperture (higher f-number), or increase flash-to-subject distance.
Important: many vintage flashes have high trigger voltage and may damage modern cameras if mounted directly. Do not assume it is safe on the NEX-6 hot shoe. Use a safe-sync adapter or a remote/wireless trigger that isolates the camera, and check the trigger voltage before direct connection.
Also, if you move or bounce the flash, recalculate exposure because the effective distance/light changes.
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