How do I do this?

In our studio today my son and I decided to use my istDS today instead of his $5,000 Canon in order to take advantage of some of my Super Takumar primes.

Oops. I have been using this camera almost daily for eight months (always available light or using the built-in pop-up flash) and never realized that you can't just hook it up to a control box and a couple of Norman strobes.

I pried off the little black cover on top. Looks like a hot shoe underneath. I don't want to use a camera mounted unit, so what do I need? A hot shoe adapter? If so, where do I get one and what is its exact name? Does Pentax make one? Sure couldn't find anything like that listed.

I could use some counseling and guidance here.

Ted

Hi Ted

I don't have any experience with that but here is something to look at while the other half of the Earth sleeps.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/purchase/index.jsp

Follow the links to shop online and then to Flash System

You can also find this information in your Ds manual on pages 157-159

Cheers

Drew

Ted

Oh and by the way, the hotshoe cover SLIDES off towards you.

Drew

you can find hotshoe to pc adapters at most photo stores..if your power pack uses higher sync voltages you may want to consider a "safe voltage" sync adapter (perhaps wein). you can use the built in flash if you power it down and have slave (or slave function) on your normans.
Then there's radio slaves (my personal fav)

A simple hot shoe adapter will slide into the hot shoe and has a synch plug on it for you to plug your studio flash into. It works just fine. You don't need the expensive pentax version, just a plain simple adapter of any vintage. I use one that's probably thrity or forty years old.

Thanks, all, for the help. Apparently the Wein Safe-sync hot shoe adapter Model 990-550 will do the trick. I am concerned about the voltage reaching the ist DS, and my question would then be to you, John, does "a simple hot shoe adapter" limit voltage in this way?

Ted

No it doesn't limit the voltage, but I've had no problem with any modern studio flash systems. I might think twice before using any very old flash kit.

You can always measure the sync voltage with a multimeter across the PC socket first.
Not sure what the safe limit is for the *ist-DS, but if it's under 10v I reckon you'll be fine (from what I understand is that most modern stuff is 5v sync at the most).
Matt

Hi Ted,

definitely check the voltage first. I don't know which Norman model you have but at least one model kicks out 100V, and all the ones listed here..

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

will be either unsuitable or perhaps? risky at best. Whether it lists the most modern or not, I don't know though. If in any doubt, get a synch-safe connector to be sure.

Cheers

Liam

Pentax America say you can use up to 300 volts through the Pentax DSLRs - just like older cameras.

I have heard of Canon's being fried, but Pentax cameras are pretty robust.

G

WOW! Big discrepany between 5v (or 10) and 300v.

That's what I can't understand - why can't we use old flashes? and which ones are okay to use with the istD, which are NOT Pentax branded?

Hope this is not hijacking the thread.

i use older flash all the time. here's a link to B&H. i use these with TTL all the time for macros and other shots. works great.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&Q=&is=REG&...

Liam:

We are using the Norman Control Box P400X (very heavy) and connected to it are two Norman strobes LH2400 with modeling lights. Connceted to the P400X is a Speedotron Model SSH and the cable from the camera is connected to the Speedotron. I'm assuming the Speedotron is somehow regulating voltage. Also, on the camera hotshoe (camera is my son's giant Canon DSLR) there may be a safe sync hot shoe adapter. I don't know as he's out of town on assignment right now, but perhaps this Canon of his has a direct into-body plug in, which the istDS does not.

Ted