Bessa flash question

I have a Voigtlander Bessa L whose hotshot is occupied by a viewfinder. The side contains a standard flash socket. I want to use off camera flash via a lead, but am uncertain which type I require. I have two flashguns, a Canon FD dedicated one (199A) and a Nikon dedicated flash (Vivitar 600N), both of which I assume will fire in manual mode from the central contact (?). I need to know what type of lead has a standard circular plug on the camera end, and a hot shoe with single universal flash connector on the flash end.

You want a PC-to-hotshoe adapter, eg (seeing that you are in the UK):

http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-hama-hotshoe-pc-sync-socket-adapter-with-cable-6952-.htm

With your PC-to-Hotshoe adapter, you know to use A1 or A2 mode, not TTL, yes?

The Canon 199A flash is not "dedicated" block end it's a bog common computer flash that will will work with any camera I suggest you try it with the Canon TTL flash lead 2 and if that doesn't work a hotshoe to cable adaptor http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Hot-Sh...089&sr=8-1&keywords=hotshoe+to+cable+adaptorm and a coiled flash extention sync lead

Thanks again. Re the 199A, Canon flashes of the period had a unique (?) two prong camera-to-flashgun cable fitting, which I no longer have, so I'm reliant on shoe-to-PC cables of various kinds. Benjiboy, I appreciate the flash will work with any camera via the central pin, but A-series Canon's had an extra contact for TTL metering, which would not function via the Voigtlander's PC socket, obviously. Are you saying the 199A is independently automatic? I usually set the flash manually.

One question as an aside, when I use dedicated flashguns off camera via a cable (but with the appropriate camera), should I use the gun at the normal 90 degree angle with the front flash sensor pointed towards the subject, or doesn't it matter? I find it easier to use the flashgun "flat" (locked at 180 degree position) when off-camera, but fear the flash sensor is pointing in totally the wrong direction, usually toward the photographer!

benjiboy said:

The Canon 199A flash is not "dedicated" block end it's a bog common computer flash that will will work with any camera I suggest you try it with the Canon TTL flash lead 2 and if that doesn't work a hotshoe to cable adaptor http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Hot-Sh...089&sr=8-1&keywords=hotshoe+to+cable+adaptorm and a coiled flash extention sync lead

Click to expand...

Benjiboy is correct in everything that isn't highlighted, and nearly correct in the highlighted part.

IIRC, for some Canon bodies (AE-1, AE-1P, A-1?) the 199A would set your camera's shutter speed to the maximum synch speed, and, I think, give a "flash ready" and "auto flash worked" signal in the viewfinder for you.

MattKing said:

Benjiboy is correct in everything that isn't highlighted, and nearly correct in the highlighted part.

IIRC, for some Canon bodies (AE-1, AE-1P, A-1?) the 199A would set your camera's shutter speed to the maximum synch speed, and, I think, give a "flash ready" and "auto flash worked" signal in the viewfinder for you.

Click to expand...

That's correct.

MattKing said:

Benjiboy is correct in everything that isn't highlighted, and nearly correct in the highlighted part.

IIRC, for some Canon bodies (AE-1, AE-1P, A-1?) the 199A would set your camera's shutter speed to the maximum synch speed, and, I think, give a "flash ready" and "auto flash worked" signal in the viewfinder for you.

Click to expand...

What I meant is that it should work OK in the thyristor computer providing he has the canon sync lead for the 199A http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-Synch...32?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item4d3048783c to attach the extension cable to the Canon flash sync lead and the hot shoe to cable adaptor at the other end.