New (to me) flash question

[rokclmb]

I just picked up an old (1981) canon speedlite 188A. I just got started being interested in photography in December when my wife and I got our T1i. Should I be ok using this flash on my new camera? Is there anything that I should know about setting it? I'm still looking online for an instruction manual for it, so I haven't been able to figure it out too much yet.

Thanks for your help.

 

[LBPhotog]

That flash will sync (aka fire with the shutter of your camera) but that's about it I believe ... You'll have to do all your calculations manually. This flash is going to make you think (and that's not necessarily a bad idea)

 

[rokclmb]

Thanks for the quick reply. What type of calculations will I need to do? On the flash I can set the ASA (I'm guessing that is the ISO on my camera) and also set it for F2.8 / F5.6 / Manual (whick I'm guessing should match the setting in my camera.

 

[LBPhotog]

correct, you'll have to figure out the distance to the subject. It's a pretty simple formula.

Guide number / Aperture Value = Distance to Subject (this is at iso 100 ... different ISO will give you a different calculation ... )

 

[rokclmb]

Thanks