Flash from my Canon SLR won't work on my dSLR

[rapsucks]

Consider this a plea for help to those who know more than I about still photography.

I recently purchased a Rebel XTi as a gift to myself to replace the old Canon 35mm Rebel X that I have been using for the past few years. I have a third-party external flash unit that worked well enough on my 35mm (a Quantaray QAF 6600, to be specific); however, I cannot for the life of me get it to work with the digital Rebel. I have also tried it on a friend's XT, but to no avail.

Did something change in the switch to digital? As far as I can tell, official Canon Speedlites will work on the digitals as well as the film cameras. Is there a setting on the XTi that I am missing?

I realize my flash is nothing special, but I would like to keep it around and functiional. I have a natural aversion to flash photography, but it is a handy tool to have around when necessary.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[jeffmiller]

Try placing the camera and flash on full manual mode and try a shot, if that works then place flash on auto and but leave camera on manual and try another shot.

Most older flashes do not communicate via TTL with your camera, but you may want to check with each of the owners manual to double check, but I suspect the flash will only work when both are manual? And make sure it's properly seated on the hot shoe.

Let me know.

 

[rapsucks]

The flash only has an on/off switch. I've been doing some reading, and I think that Canon did change their TTL protocol sometime in the last few years. They introduced the EX line of Speedlites, which run on a system they call E-TTL or E-TTL II.

So it seems that I'll be spending another hundred bucks or so to get an off-brand flash, or I can spend $300 and get the equivalent Canon brand flash.

Thanks for your input.

 

[CharlieG]

Your flash is not compatible with the Canon digital cameras.....I think Quantarary now makes a flash that you can use with a Canon DLSR. When I 1st bought my 1st Canon DSLR 4 years ago I bought a Quantarary and didn't work with the digis but would work with the Canon film cameras. It was a learning experience even for the
Wolf/Ritz store I bought it at. I returned it and bought a Canon 550EX (now 580EX)