35mm cameras that used flash cubes?

skorpiius · Apr 26, 2023

I'm curious if only 110 and 126 cameras used flash cubes / magicubes or if there was anything that used a more easily acquired film format like 135 or 120.

I've been playing with flashbulb photography and thought cubes could be fun.

neilt3 · Apr 26, 2023

Don't remember seeing and 135 or 120 cameras that use them .
You could always just load your own 126 cartridge with your choice of 135 film .

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neilt3 · Apr 26, 2023

I've recently bought a Sunpak 120J TTL bare bulb flash to use with my 135 , 120 and large format cameras .
It's a TTL/ Auto / manual flash with an assortment of shoe adapter modules to work with various brand cameras .
Because it's a bare bulb , with a large reflector, the resulting images are a out the same as with flash bulbs , and an improvement over magic cubes ( though I have those too !)
They give a nicer lighting than regular flash guns .

Sunpak 120J Auto Pro

Sunpak 120J Auto Pro "TTL" Parabolic Reflector Flash Kit with TR-Pak II Battery Pack with Charger, Guide Number 150 at Normal Position ISO 100 ft.

www.adorama.com

I got mine off eBay UK for £120 , I already have several modules that I use with the two ring flashes .

Don_ih · Apr 26, 2023

Other than Instamatics, I know the Polaroid Big Shot used Magicubes. Oh, and I think the Polaroid Reporter used flashcubes.

Kino · Apr 26, 2023

There are many examples of flashcube adapters that will mount on a cold/hot shoe.

Check evilbay and type in "flashcube adapter" to find them.

Be aware that some are for hot shoe operation and some for cold shoe use only with pc cord connectors.

neilt3 · Apr 26, 2023

Kino said:
There are many examples of flashcube adapters that will mount on a cold/hot shoe.

Check evilbay and type in "flashcube adapter" to find them.

Be aware that some are for hot shoe operation and some for cold shoe use only with pc cord connectors.

Presumably the camera needs to have the option of the flash sync being suitable for flash bulbs , and not just modern electronic flash ?
Some of my cameras have two PC terminals, one for FP ( bulbs) one for X sync ( electronic flash ) due to the delay .

Kino · Apr 26, 2023

Yes, it depends on the camera and the adapter. All I can say is it will take some research and testing to see what works best for you.

With cameras that don't have the FP socket, you may have to use a lower shutter speed to compensate, but that is total speculation on my part.

I have an old Kalimar adapter in my showcase, which is why I am aware of these things, but I have never used it.

Edit: Just be careful with the older adapters that use high voltage batteries. It might cook a late generation SLR with a low voltage flash circuit.

Kodachromeguy · Apr 26, 2023

The Kodak Retina S1 and S2 had a mount for flashcubes. They were 135 film cameras.

https://retinarescue.com/retinas2.html

wiltw · Apr 26, 2023

neilt3 said:
Presumably the camera needs to have the option of the flash sync being suitable for flash bulbs , and not just modern electronic flash ?
Some of my cameras have two PC terminals, one for FP ( bulbs) one for X sync ( electronic flash ) due to the delay .

Camera needs 'M' synch to work properly with flash bulbs, with output matching the suggested Guide Number...when you press shutter the flash bulb ignition ramps up, then shutter opens during the peak of light output.

The 'FP' is 'flat peak' or long duration light output, for shooting with focal plane shutter. Similar to digital camera HSS flash.

neilt3 · Apr 26, 2023

wiltw said:
Camera needs 'M' synch to work properly with flash bulbs, with output matching the suggested Guide Number...when you press shutter the flash bulb ignition ramps up, then shutter opens during the peak of light output.

The 'FP' is 'flat peak' or long duration light output, for shooting with focal plane shutter. Similar to digital camera HSS flash.

Hmm .
I need to check the camera I had in mind ( a Minolta SR model ) I was sure it's marked FP and I thought it was suitable for flash bulbs .
I shall have a look when I get home and re-read the manual .
Sounds like I'm mistaken.
Cheers.

MattKing · Apr 26, 2023

Kodachromeguy said:
The Kodak Retina S1 and S2 had a mount for flashcubes. They were 135 film cameras.

https://retinarescue.com/retinas2.html

As well as a hot shoe for electronic flash, and a built in guide number system. My scale focusing Retina S1 worked great with Kodachrome loaded and either manual electronic flash or flashcubes.
By the way, the body was metal, even if it was clad in a couple of different materials.
There is also the Instamatic Reflex - of the same era:
https://kodak.3106.net/index.php?p=207&cam=1213

skorpiius · Apr 26, 2023

MattKing said:
As well as a hot shoe for electronic flash, and a built in guide number system. My scale focusing Retina S1 worked great with Kodachrome loaded and either manual electronic flash or flashcubes.
By the way, the body was metal, even if it was clad in a couple of different materials.
There is also the Instamatic Reflex - of the same era:
https://kodak.3106.net/index.php?p=207&cam=1213
View attachment 336804

Nice! this is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for

skorpiius · Apr 26, 2023

Kodachromeguy said:
The Kodak Retina S1 and S2 had a mount for flashcubes. They were 135 film cameras.

https://retinarescue.com/retinas2.html

Nice, thanks for those.

skorpiius · Apr 26, 2023

Kino said:
There are many examples of flashcube adapters that will mount on a cold/hot shoe.

Check evilbay and type in "flashcube adapter" to find them.

Be aware that some are for hot shoe operation and some for cold shoe use only with pc cord connectors.

Would you then just manually turn the flashcube after each photo?

Kino · Apr 26, 2023

skorpiius said:
Would you then just manually turn the flashcube after each photo?

Some have little advance levers like your film advance, some have thumb wheels and I think a few may have a push-button that advances the cube. It varies quite a bit, but since the cube can be quite hot after firing a shot, I doubt any are made to grasp the cube and turn it...

skorpiius · Apr 26, 2023

Kino said:
Some have little advance levers like your film advance, some have thumb wheels and I think a few may have a push-button that advances the cube. It varies quite a bit, but since the cube can be quite hot after firing a shot, I doubt any are made to grasp the cube and turn it...

Makes sense

xkaes · Apr 26, 2023

Yashica made at least one 35mm camera with a built-in AG-1 flash bulb holder. Fuji might have as well.

There are lots that used flash bulbs (#3, #5, etc.) and plenty that used more modern bulbs of one sort or another.

Overrank · Apr 26, 2023

Kodak Retina IIF also used AG-1 flash bulbs - https://retinarescue.com/retina2f.html

Overrank · Apr 26, 2023

Kino said:
There are many examples of flashcube adapters that will mount on a cold/hot shoe.

Check evilbay and type in "flashcube adapter" to find them.

Be aware that some are for hot shoe operation and some for cold shoe use only with pc cord connectors.

There are also adapters from flash/magic cubes to electronic flash. They were popular ( I.e. expensive ) a few years ago because people were using them on the Polaroid Bigshot

xkaes · Apr 26, 2023

And don't forget about the 127 cameras that had built-in flash bulb holders.

skorpiius · Apr 26, 2023

xkaes said:
Yashica made at least one 35mm camera with a built-in AG-1 flash bulb holder. Fuji might have as well.

There are lots that used flash bulbs (#3, #5, etc.) and plenty that used more modern bulbs of one sort or another.

xkaes said:
And don't forget about the 127 cameras that had built-in flash bulb holders.

Yeah that's the sort of thing I've been using the past week with flash bulbs, Kodak Brownie Hawkeye flash, Polaroid Land camera w/ 268 flash attachment, Ansco Cadet II and soon a Bilora Bella 44 with a Tilt-a-mite flash. I had just never used flash cubes and preferred to not deal with 110 or 126 if possible.

dynachrome · Apr 27, 2023

Somewhere I have the Konica Cubeflash attachment. It took an odd size battery and, I think, worked with regular flashcubes but not Magicubes.

Donald Qualls · Apr 27, 2023

dynachrome said:
worked with regular flashcubes but not Magicubes.

Practically certain. Flashcubes are a convenience system for AG-1 (or for High Power cubes, AG-3) bulbs. Magicubes are non-electric, fired by a striker pin on the bottom of the bulb. The magnesium/aluminum/zirconium wire and oxygen atmosphere inside are the same as AG-1, but a tab on the Magicube mount pushes a spring off a rest in the bottom of the cube to fire each bulb (I took one apart to get to the bulbs when I was in high school).

neilt3 · Apr 27, 2023

Donald Qualls said:
Practically certain. Flashcubes are a convenience system for AG-1 (or for High Power cubes, AG-3) bulbs. Magicubes are non-electric, fired by a striker pin on the bottom of the bulb. The magnesium/aluminum/zirconium wire and oxygen atmosphere inside are the same as AG-1, but a tab on the Magicube mount pushes a spring off a rest in the bottom of the cube to fire each bulb (I took one apart to get to the bulbs when I was in high school).

Often wondered how they worked!

Kodachromeguy · Apr 27, 2023

The Kodak Retina IIF (Type 047) had a fold-up reflector and a socket for AG-1 bulbs. It had a holder in the bottom for a PX13 battery, which strikes me as an odd choice to power the flash. The IIF was well-specified with a full-range shutter and a 45mm Xenar lens.

https://retinarescue.com/retina2f.html

35mm cameras that used flash cubes?

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