Adapting a Nikon SB-29 to work with a Hasselblad 203fe

I have a Nikon SB-29 ringflash that I would like to use with my Hasselblad camera for macro photography. There are two challenges to overcome: mechanical & electrical.

Obviously, Nikon doesn't make adapters for bayonet-mount lenses ... they only ever sold a 52mm, 62mm, and 72mm adapter for use with the SB-21 and SB-29. I could use a B60 -> 72mm step-up ring and stack the 72mm adapter on top of that. But I don't really like stacking adapters like this, and I was wondering if anyone knew of a company that could manufacture a custom B60 -> ringflash adapter for me? Just basic anodized aluminum would be fine.

The second problem is much harder: electrical. The SB-29 uses a standard ISO hot shoe to communicate "ready," "sync," "quench," and "ground" TTL-signals with Nikon cameras. The Hasselblad uses an SCA port to communicate with Hasselblad, Metz, and other SCA-compatible flashes. The Nikon flash has 5 electrical contacts, while all SCA-compatible flashes have 6 electrical contacts.

Does anyone know of an adapter that allows the use of an SCA-compatible camera with a Nikon TTL flash? I know that Metz sold an adapter that allowed a Nikon TTL camera to be used with an SCA-compatible flash, so I imagine that it should be possible to translate the signals in the opposite direction.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/35023-REG/Metz_MZ_5483_SCA_343_Dedicated_Module.html

What is the problem with using a bayonet-to-thread adapter?

Concerning a custom made adapter, I assume SK Grimes in the US are the right firm. But basically any local macchin shop, specialized in fine turning and milling, can do such.



Concerning that SCA adapter:

The SCA system was only applied by german flash manufacturers, who made no SDRs themselves. Their intend was to keep foot in the flash market when camera manufacturers started to make own flashes with proprietary functions (dedicated and TTL flashes).

So there is no "SCA-compatible camera" but rather a SCA adapter for some camera.

"I imagine that it should be possible to translate the signals in the opposite direction."
The SCA-system already yields a two-way communication.
What you have in mind is building a new interface with information derived from a Hasselblad and a Nikon SCA-adapter... I widsh you luck..
There are much more simple technical solutions.


The most simple solution though is to buy a SCA-ringflash and the Hasselblad SCA-adapter. Such exists.

Why not just use the pc ports ?

odell1618photography said:

Why not just use the pc ports ?

Click to expand...

The OP is looking to take advantage of the TTL flash metering capability of his camera. Actually, the PC port on the lens must be used as well, and the Hasselblad SCA adaptor has two leads, one for the meter in the camera body, and another that connects to the shutter's PC connection.
AgX beat me to it for recommending SK Grimes for the mechanical adaptor. It might be possible to adapt a Hasselblad bellows lens hood adaptor ring to the flash, without resorting to a lot of custom machining. The adaptor rings are fairly common in the used market sources.

With google, I found a document that details the Nikon TTL interface link. There is likely something similar floating around for the Hasselblad signals, but bridging them probably requires some custom electronics. I would guess that the SCA adapters would likely not be terribly useful for bridging the two, but it might be possible.

Calculating exposures using the flash's computer, or else a separate flash meter seems like a much easier process unless you're planning to do quite a lot of macro work.

Another problem is the SCA adapter 390 itself. As bdial just indicated it is quite peculiar by not connecting to the camera by a proprietary hot-shoe but via cables. In addition it is connected to the flash not via the standard SCA 300 hot shoe, but instead by cable too.
And at least this cable is prone to the Metz cable-disease as several offers on the net show. Be thus prepared to strip off the outer lining of this helical cable.