WHy it seems to be impossible to use non-dedicated flash?
I have no problem whatsoever using manual and auto-flashes with Elans. You will not be able to use the fancy A-TTL and E-TTL modes without a dedicated flash but this is true of any camera that supports such modes.
I have a manual flash Exakta CTZ-25, that was working fine with my Nikon FG-20. When I attache it to Elan 7 it starts flashing without any reason, without touching anything. Is something wrong and I have to use dedicated flash only? Gregory
I have no idea why that flash does not work with the Elan. Does it have an absolutely standard foot? Are there more than two connectors or is the center connector so large it touches some of the other points on the Canon hotshoe? I've used Vivitar, Metz, and a couple other brand flashes directly on my Elans - or directly connected to the off shoe cord, and have connected several different studio units through a generic hotshoe to pc adaptor. Therefore I suspect the standards problem probably has to do with the Exacta flash not the Elan design. There could, however, be a problem with Your Elan - so take it to a store where they know you and ask to connect up a couple flashes for a test. If you have the same problems with a Vivitar 285 or similar then the hot shoe probably is shorted out.
check the voltage from the flash. I suspect you may have damaged your Canon body as they can't withstand the 100V or so present on the flash contacts of some older flashes. Google for details. Bruce Graham
