Best Bargain Ever??? Flashgun for £10!

gothgirl

gothgirl

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I saw an add on preloved for some ancient photography equipment, and I don't mean vintage I mean ancient tat :lol: there was some bits that were ok but most was just old...

Had a browse through though, and they had this pretty old flashgun

"Helios 28 Electronic Flashgun"

Now I figured, at £10er posted, It would do for staged shots of still life when I had the time to set it manually, and it had a hotshoe fitting to save me holding it, so why not.

Never at any point did I think it would work automatically with my camera! :eek:

So now I have a fully working electronic flashgun, that works on automatic and manual settings on my D60, for only £10!

Score!!

This is a belated victory dance though, bought it nearly a month ago but had no batteries lol
 
as long as you checked the voltages before connecting it, otherwise you're a lot braver than me.
 
gothgirl said:
It can't be that high a volatge, it runs on AA batteries :lol:
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Very, Very wrong! :nono: The sync voltage can be well into the 500V range. :thumbsdown: How do you think a couple of AA batteries will give enough power to give a flash burst?

Most Digital cameras these days are okay up to about 250v but some are only good to about 25v so it is worth checking the flash sync voltage before attaching to a digital camera.
 
I would do some research, it could cost £10 plus a D60!!
 
EdBray said:
Very, Very wrong! :nono: The sync voltage can be well into the 500V range. :thumbsdown: How do you think a couple of AA batteries will give enough power to give a flash burst?

Most Digital cameras these days are okay up to about 250v but some are only good to about 25v so it is worth checking the flash sync voltage before attaching to a digital camera.
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I can't find a voltage on it anywhere? and I have the box and instructions?
 
gothgirl said:
I can't find a voltage on it anywhere? and I have the box and instructions?
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You won't, you would have to test it across the sync terminals with a multimeter set to DC volts.

What model is it?
 
I think the safe sync voltage for the D60 is stated as 6v (ie very low), the Helios 28 flash you have has been measured at 175volts (net search), I would advise not to use it or you will damage your camera. May be not the first time you fire it but many people have reported serious damage with older flashes on new DSLRs. You have been warned!
 
I put my cheap and potentially dangerous flash on a cheap radio trigger. If they both break each other, no massive loss.
 
lol it wont kill u but will hurt..
 
The Matt said:
I put my cheap and potentially dangerous flash on a cheap radio trigger. If they both break each other, no massive loss.
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david1701 said:
+1
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Usually followed by an email to the seller starting with "I've only used these once and........" :nono:

<-----is well aware of the symptoms of a fried set of triggers ;)

Hodders said:
Wouldn't it just be like an electric fence. Volts cause the jolt, but it is the current that will kill you. No I am not volunteering to try it ;)
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You don't fancy licking an electric fence then? :D
 
Hodders said:
Wouldn't it just be like an electric fence. Volts cause the jolt, but it is the current that will kill you. No I am not volunteering to try it ;)
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After disassembling a flashgun that woulnd't work in my youth (Not that long ago actually) I can confirm that it feels remarkably similar to cattle fencing.

I came to that conclusion as I picked myself up off the floor wondering
a) Why my legs just totally failed me
b) Why my arm still won't respond to commands from my brain

Death? No. A couple of hours discomfort. Yes.
 
RichardtheSane said:
After disassembling a flashgun that woulnd't work in my youth (Not that long ago actually) I can confirm that it feels remarkably similar to cattle fencing.

I came to that conclusion as I picked myself up off the floor wondering
a) Why my legs just totally failed me
b) Why my arm still won't respond to commands from my brain

Death? No. A couple of hours discomfort. Yes.
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It's all about the amount of stored energy.
Electric fencers typically are very high voltage (10,000+) but very, very low current. Stored energy typically around 1 joule.
Typical flashguns will store 50 joules+, enough to stop the heart if your unlucky.
 
mrgubby said:
That's the power used to fire the flash, not the power available at the hotshoe.






(I still wouldn't lick it though :lol: )
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Yes, but he had his flash gun to bits......
 
Could have been worse....

nuclear-explosion.jpg
 
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