Attaching a flash to a Rolleiflex

Assaf · Apr 4, 2008

Hi there,
My focus screen from my previous thread should be on the way, and I already have another quesiton to the forum.

I'm thinking about connecting a flash to my Rolleiflex. I looked in the accesories manual and can't really understand how is the original flash attached to the camera.

I intend to use a big, old Metz flash and connect it to the tripod mound. However I'm also thinking of connecting a small flash (like a Leica flash) and attach it to the camera like the original one, if it's possible.

Thanks!

PS, if you want to have a look on some first photos I took with the Rollei you can look in the following links. Don't forget to click on the images to view in full resolution and ignore the Gibrish fonts if you can't read Hebrew:

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Toffle · Apr 4, 2008

The Rollei flash attachment fits on the outer bayonet mounts on the upper (viewing) lens. I don't know if another brand of flash will work with the Rollei bayonet attachment. I would definitely assume that you would not be able to attach this way without it. I've used an L-bracket to attach a flash to my Rollie.

Cheers,

Assaf · Apr 4, 2008

Thanks Toffle,
BTW, what flash did you use?

Toffle · Apr 4, 2008

Assaf said:
Thanks Toffle,
BTW, what flash did you use?

I use a Sunpak 383 - powerful and flexible enough for my needs. The PC connection does not lock to the body like the Rollei sync cord, but it works fine.

Cheers,

dpurdy · Apr 4, 2008

300213490268

This item on ebay is very nearly exactly what I use with my Rolleis. the picture they show here is backwards in that the handle goes on the left as you hold the camera. The distance from handle to camera is adjustable and you can put it just right for holding while focusing with thumb and index finger. You need a flash that has a cord you can connect to the Rollei PC connection(the regular variety works) I use a vivitar 283 or 285 in thyristor mode with mine and it is great. I got this flash handle in a photo store for 15 dollars. Though here in ebay for 26 with shipping isn't bad.
Dennis

mexipike · Apr 4, 2008

Last night, I used a stroboframe with a 283, it was very annoying as the grip and the focus handle are on the same side and to use the focus magnifier i had to flip the flash down. All in all, however, it worked. The pictures came out great, so I guess I can't complain, is there anyway to make the stroboframe right hand grip?

Assaf · Apr 5, 2008

Thanks for the answer. Actually, I had the following idea - I have a plastic flash show that belonged to a Canon 430 It has a tripod mount on its other side. So, if I find a two side tripod mount screw I can attach the flash to the bottom of the camera. This way, the flash would not interfer with the camera operation.
Can it work? Anybody tried attaching a flash to the bottom of the camera?

BTW, examples pictures taken with Rollei+flash would be welcome. In the film "I'm not there" there are many photojournalists using Rollei's with flashes.
Assaf

Assaf · Apr 5, 2008

items 270225063730 and 360038034347 in ebay are biyonet adapters for Rollei.
I'm not sure that hot show flashes can be attached to them.

John Koehrer · Apr 5, 2008

Assaf,
If you attach the flash to the bottom of the camera you'll get shadows above & behind your subject. Not a very natural result.
You could use a flat piece of aluminum with holes drilled for the tripod and flash mounts. This could be made wide enough so you could reach the focus know without disturbing the flash.

dpurdy · Apr 5, 2008

The Rollei 35 cameras like my 35S have the flash shoe on the bottom. Pretty inconvenient as you have to hold the camera upside down to use it if you don't want shadows going up. Be a bit more difficult to use the 2.8E upside down. You would have to use the sports finder. Actually I keep a prism on my Rollei and often use it upside down for extra height. That would work for a bottom flash. Still it makes for slower winding to the next frame.
Dennis

Assaf · Apr 5, 2008

Thanks guys for the informative answers.
An L bracket is the natural easy solution, but I still want to smaller, more convenient solution.
I'll tell you if I manage to hack something
Thanks
Assaf

ic-racer · Apr 6, 2008

If you want to use a strobe, the E36re style units attached to a bracket on the pistol grip. There is also a flat base with an arm that will hold the flash if you don't want to use the pistol grip.

ZachInIsrael · Apr 9, 2008

Nothing to add, except its nice to see another Rolli user here in Israel.

jasonjoo · Apr 9, 2008

Sorry, I'm not sure if I missed this in the previous posts, but you can use any flash with the Rolleiflex? I have 3.5E and would love to use a flash for certain photos. Other than the bracket, what else do you need to get the Rolleiflex to trigger the flash?

Thanks,

Jason

dpurdy · Apr 9, 2008

Just plug the flash cord into the little socket and set the switch to the lightning bolt and the Rollei will synch at all shutter speeds. Any flash will work if it has a synch cord.
Dennis

jasonjoo · Apr 10, 2008

Thanks dpurdy. I guess I can hold on to my Canon 580EX, though I wouldn't mind getting something a bit smaller/lighter like the 430EX.

Now I'm off to find a sync cord. I'm going to eBay and KEH very soon

Jason

Edit: Sorry, could someone point me to the right direction? I'm googling "rolleiflex sync cord" but none of the sync cords pictured seems to fit a Canon flash unit. Thanks.

Just found a site that seems to sell a variety of sync cords. Will this one work?

http://www.paramountcords.com/rollei.asp

23-6C Rollei Lock to PC (5 foot coiled)

dpurdy · Apr 10, 2008

Jason, the cord you need is whatever is provided by the flash. If your flash will only work on a hot shoe then it won't work (though I think there is a hot shoe to flash socket adapter). For instance I have a couple Vivitar 283 flashes and they come with a short cord that fits the flash with a camera flash socket on the other end. That is the sort of thing you need. When you see a Rollei synch cord for sale it is a flash cord intended to use with studio strobes. The flash socket on a Rollei looks different than other cameras because it has a lock on it but a regular flash cord will work. So you need to look in your canon flash unit box and see if there is a cord in there that fits the canon flash. I hope I didn't make that sound too confusing. The flash cord you need will be one to fit the flash, and it will work with the Rollei no problem.
Dennis

jasonjoo · Apr 10, 2008

Sadly my 580EX does not have the sync port, but the 580EX II does. Either way, I was planning on selling my 35mm gear, so I'll sell off the 580EX and pick up a flash unit that does have a sync port.

Also, the sync cord that I linked to above will work with any flash unit that does have a sync port correct?

Thanks,

Jason

dpurdy · Apr 10, 2008

The synch cord you linked to comes with either a "household" plug or and PC plug end. Those aren't what you want. I use the household end because I have a cord that goes to my studio flashes that connects to it. The Rollei lock plug to PC plug I think is more for extensions as I have never seen a flash that connects with a PC connection (but maybe some do). Most on camera flashes have their own kind of connection to the flash. If you were to go to a camera store to buy a flash you wouldn't even need to tell the salesman you use a Rollei. You just need a flash that has a cord that connects to the camera with a regular pc connection.

The confusing thing about it is that there are two ends to the plug, one to the flash and one to the camera and it gets confusing knowing which end we are referring to. The end that connects to the flash will need whatever plug/connector that fits that flash (there are many different kinds). the end of the cord that connects to the camera is pretty standard (with old cameras) is called a PC connection. Almost all old cameras have a PC connection. My nikon, pentax, Rollei, all view camera lenses all have the same PC connection type plug in. I can hook a vivitar flash to my 8x10 camera same as my Rollei and use the same cord.

Dennis

jasonjoo · Apr 10, 2008

Thanks for clearing things up Dennis. Any suggestions on a cheap, durable flash to use with Rolleiflex? Doesn't have to be too powerful, but if the flash can swivel, that would be nice. I really don't see myself using this too often though... so I'll have to consider the purchase before really digging into things.

Jason

Attaching a flash to a Rolleiflex

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