Canon speed light flashers

[palitha]

I just switched from film SLR to DSLR. Can the speedlight external flashers came with AE1 programme camera be used with the digital range(e.g Canon 500d)??

Palitha

[takethislife5150]

My tentative answer is yes,

you will want to the check the trigger voltage of the strobe to make sure its safe for your digital camera

Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by palitha

Can the speedlight external flashers came with AE1 programme camera be used with the digital range(e.g Canon 500d)??

They won't work as automatically. With the flashes for the AE-1, the flash controlled the camera settings. With the flashes for the EOS system (including the 500D), the camera controls the flash settings. When you put your old flash on your 500D, neither can control the other.

So you'll have to set both camera and flash setting by hand, being sure that they're both set to the same ISO and same aperture setting. Also, you'll have to watch the "ready" light on the flash because the camera won't know if the flash is ready or not.

You can also shoot with fully manual flash, using Guide Number calculations, if you want.

Remember to use the diffuser on the flash when you're shooting wide-angle.

[inkista]

Just to add to what Doug said, the reference to look up this kind of compatibility issue in gory detail is the so-called "EOS Flash Bible":

Flash Photography with Canon EOS Cameras - Part I.

Also, the information that the sync voltage across the shoe needs to be less than 6V only applies to the first generation of Canon dSLRs (D30, D60, 10D, 300D).

Your 500D's hotshoe should be able to handle synch voltages up to 250V. You'll see 6V, 9V, or 10V named as the limit, but it's mostly people playing it safe, perpetuating old information, and not wanting to risk their new $1000 camera just to see. But the 250V limit comes straight from Chuck Westfall who is Canon's tech spokesman, and it's about as official as it gets.