Flash and Speed Graphic?

[vegardjde]

I want to use my pocket wizards with my speed graphic. it has the x,m switch. I read that x is for studio flash and m is for flash gun. When I set the camera to x, the strobes won't fire. They will on m. Is this an issue or should I just shoot away? Thanks.

 

[removed account4]

I want to use my pocket wizards with my speed graphic. it has the x,m switch. I read that x is for studio flash and m is for flash gun. When I set the camera to x, the strobes won't fire. They will on m. Is this an issue or should I just shoot away? Thanks.

hi

are you using the flash on the bi post sync on the side of the camera, and using the focal plane shutter or the snc on the shutter ?

if it is the bipost on the side of your camera, it won't work ... that connection was meant for the side flash with #31 ( and other ) bulbs.
it was to sync with the fp shutter at a 30th or 50th of a second ...

it explains it better than i could here: http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=5616

what will happen is your electronic flash will burst and your shutter will be 1/2 shut ... on every exposure ..

if it is your normal shutter you are attaching it to, and it only goes off at M ... your flash may be delayed before the shutter
actually fires (the millisecond delay allowed for the bulb to reach full brightness before the shutter fired ... )

so ... you might be able to shoot 30th + slower and drag your shutter, mixing ambient light and your burst
and giving your subject a little movement ...

sounds like fun !
john

 

[Dan Fromm]

I want to use my pocket wizards with my speed graphic. it has the x,m switch. I read that x is for studio flash and m is for flash gun. When I set the camera to x, the strobes won't fire. They will on m. Is this an issue or should I just shoot away? Thanks.

"x" is for electronic flash. "m" is for class m flash bulbs. On "m", your shutter will fire the flash roughly 20 milliseconds before it opens to give time for the flash bulb to reach peak output when the shutter is open.

Your shutter has a problem. It should trigger flash in "x" as well as on "m". Have it serviced.

John, Graphics' focal plane shutters don't offer a choice between x and m. Some leaf shutters do.

 

[BrianShaw]

When I set the camera to x, the strobes won't fire. They will on m. Is this an issue or should I just shoot away? Thanks.

Assuming that you are using the between-the-lens (leaf) shutter like a Graphex, using M will cause your strobe to fire prior to the shutter opening. Since strobe is so quick there will be no light when the shutter opens. You must use X setting. It sounds to me like your shutter is defective.

 

[fotch]

Are you connecting you flash directly to the lens shutter or connecting your Pocket Wizard? If the latter, try hooking the flash directly. If it fires, then something is wrong with the Wizard. If the lens/shutter, may need service.

 

[removed account4]

thanks dan

i misunderstood what the OP said ..
it seemed he put his FLASH on m ( i had never heard of that
but then again, i have no pocket wizard so i was guessing that is what he did )
it made no sense ...

but it does make sense to have his shutter serviced

 

[vegardjde]

Thanks, everyone. I'll have to do more testing now. I brought the speed graphic into work and connected it directly with sync cord to strobes. It fired on x. The pocket wizard works with other cameras but apparently not with speed graphic as is.

 

[fotch]

OK, progress. It should work. Maybe a cable problem. Or, for some reason, polarity. The shutter is basically just a momentary switch, sort of like a doorbell.

 

[removed account4]

Thanks, everyone. I'll have to do more testing now. I brought the speed graphic into work and connected it directly with sync cord to strobes. It fired on x. The pocket wizard works with other cameras but apparently not with speed graphic as is.

that is kind of strange ...
fresh batteries in the wizard ?

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Back in the 'old days', electronic flash units put a fair amount of voltage across the x sync contacts and could sometimes 'pit them' increasing contact resistance. It may be that the modern pocket wizard doesn't like the x sync contact resistance.

 

[brian d]

Back in the 'old days', electronic flash units put a fair amount of voltage across the x sync contacts and could sometimes 'pit them' increasing contact resistance. It may be that the modern pocket wizard doesn't like the x sync contact resistance.

Yup I have one that wont fire anything on X and works fine on M. When I had it apart I could see that the contacts were a mess., pitted and downright burned looking.