Is an old manual flash still useful?

[Simon]

I have an old Lensor auto-908 flash. The instruction sheet says that the guide number is 20 ASA 100 (metres).  It uses a synchro cord to fire, so I assume that I would need a separate flash trigger setup that can accept a synchro cord connection in order to use it with my  Canon 60D. Is it really worth the effort or is the flash just junk now?

[Bob Atkins]

Well, it could be used, but check the trigger voltage. Earlier Canon cameras prefer under 6v on the hotshoe, but I think the 60D is good for 250v.

To be safe you'd want to use something like a Wein Safe-Sync to make sure you don't exceed the voltage capability of the 60D.

You'd be better off getting a real EOS compatible flash though. You can get a Chinese "knock off" flash for EOS for under $50. It won't be as good as a Canon flash and it won't do E-TTL metering but it shouldn't hurt your camera! See Yongnuo YN-560

[Simon]

Yes, from what I have read, the 60D is good for up to 250V. I have no idea what the Lensor flash uses and there is no mention of this in the instructions or on the unit. I suppose it could be measured with a suitable multimeter (data-hold probably). I assumed (wrongly) that this flash was syncro cord connection only, but upon closer inspection, it does have the second contact for hot shoe attachment. I haven't used it for years, and that was on a Fujica Drive film camera that only has a cold shoe, but I have kept it "just in case". As I already have a YN-565EX similar to your recommendation, I thought that my old flash might be useful as a remotly triggered flash maybe, but I have never tried to do anything like that and it;'s probably a bit beyond my skill level at the moment.

[Simon]

From what I learned from http://www.botzilla.com/photo/g1strobe.html I measured the voltage on my old Lensor flash to be 40V, so it should be safe to use it directly on my 60D. I don't know why I might want to use it instead of the Yongnuo one I have, but maybe it is still useful as a slave flash or something.

[klindup]

If you do use it as a slave, you will need to check what voltage the remote flash control can handle.  I have been down this route with a Mecablitz Hammerhead that I used with purely mechanical film cameras. I found that the Harnel Combi that I use cannot handle a high trigger voltage.  The safest option as Bob says is to invest in a Wein Safe Sync.

[Bob Atkins]

You could use it as a remote optical slave using something like the Seagull SYK-5 Wireless Remote Flash Slave Trigger. It's likely that it would work OK with 40V since that's on the lower end of trigger volatges (they tend to range between about 6v on the low end to 400V on the high end). No guarantees though!