Best possible flash set-up for Rolleiflex GX/FX

[valdez]

Hello again. Thanks very much for your very informative answers to my last post. This one concerns flash with TLR's. I would like to turn my Rolleiflex FX into my only MF camera. However, I have not successfully come to terms with the flash arrangement. I have a SCA 356 adaptor and a Metz 53MZ3 flash unit. But when I mount this flash set-up directly on the side of the TLR, I always seem to have lateral shadows. Stroboframe brackets (Pro-SQ or Quickflip) were suggested. However, I note that there is a long history of handle mounted side flash use with TLR's, particularly in the wedding business. Would a handle mounted (torch e.g. Metz 45) flash on a short side bracket produce better results? I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have concerning how I can obtain the best possible flash results with the Rollei GX/FX. Also, please let me know what connecting equipment I would need (e.g. connecting cords, spacers,...). Many thanks.

 

[127]

I remembered this thread from a week or so ago, as I've just got a Metz 45 for use with my TLR to replace a smaller national flash (mounted on the side bracket).

That National produced stong lateral shadows - not dreadfull, but intrusive enough to want something better. Having now run a couple of films with the metz, and comparing the negs I can now answer a couple of your questions.

The Metz 45 still produces shadows, but the added height helps a lot. With the small side mounted flash, there's a dark halo to the right of each object. It's made more obvious as its laterally matched to the shape of the object. By moving the light source up (with the metz 45) the shadow is moved down, so it doesn't quite line up, and is a lot less intrusive.

For optimal results I think you'd want the flash close in horizontally (minimizing the horizontoal shadow), and high (maximizing the down ward shift where its less obvious). Of course if you're shooting colour you want the flash sufficiently far away to aviod red eye.

This is from the results on a couple of films I shot at the weekend, so its not conclusive, but the metz 45's handle mount design definalt helped.

Ian