My dads got a load of remote flash guns, hoods, screens etc left over from when he did professional wedding photography, as well as all the rest of it.

My question is can I adapt one of his wire operated remote flash guns to work wirelessly with a DSLR? Canon 40D specifically.

I'm thinking along the lines of a transmitted on the camera body. That sends a signal to a receiver which is wired into the flash gun by it's normal cable. Not sure that makes sense, or even if such a thing exists.

If something like that does exist, or another method of doing that, could you please tell me what it is and where I might be able to get one? As I don't know what it's called I can't really look it up, and the nearest camera shop is pants. My dad's not aware of anything like that, but maybe you lot know of something?

Thanks!

This sort of thing?

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16766&cat=0&page=1

Just to confirm as I have a limited knowledge of the flash guns my dad has...

A radio emitter sits on the hot shoe.
A radio receiver is plugged into the flash gun that fires it when the camera shutter is released.

Right!?

I'm unsure of the interface between the radio receiver and the flash gun and no where seems to explain it very well. Can you explain how it works for me please? Is it just the same interface as the hotshoe to flashgun, but with the wireless radio link placed between the gun and shoe?

Thanks!

I was watching a guy taking pics with a wireless flash (just a cheap one off ebay) and the results he got were really good, even with just a cheap one.

Before you buy anything, make sure you find out the trigger voltage of the flashes that you want to use. A lot of radio triggers won't work with flashes that have one of more than about 15V. Likewise, don't put them on the hotshoe of your dSLR until you're sure they're safe because there's a good chance you'll fry the electrics on it!

All the tips and advice you need for remote flash is on here:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

A light meter will get you exact results but using feedback from the screen will get you very close quickly - especially with riding as a light meter isn't always practical/possible.

Basically, use manual flash, manual camera.

Use shutter speed to the control the amount of ambient light you let in.

Use flash power and aperture together to control flash light to get the balance you need for the ambient.