Flash bracket for Rolleiflex pistol grip?

Helge · Feb 27, 2021

There is accommodation for fastening a flash bracket in the front of the official Pistol Grip accessory for Rolleiflex. The track is rather narrow though.
Any recommendations for brackets that fits the handle?
There are images of flashes mounted in this way online, but no mentioning of the brand/model.

ic-racer · Feb 27, 2021

The Rolleiflex flat plate with arm for the TLR cameras. The arm is removeable with two screws. In fact the arm can be adjusted to two positions with the screws. Anyway, by removing the arm , the arm can then be attached to the front of the pistol grip through the hole you see in the picture.

ic-racer · Feb 27, 2021

I also have one like this, and again it comes apart giving the option of a standard shoe-type flash, rather than the Rollei e36re flash.

Dave Krueger · Feb 27, 2021

I made one about 40 years ago from a metal channel from a drawer slide. I used an adapter to convert a non-hot flash shoe into a hot flash shoe. I just used it to mount one of the flash units for my 35mm cameras (currently an SB-80DX). I hardly ever use flash for MF, but this comes in handy for doing ceiling bounce flash using the auto features of the flash.

Helge · Feb 27, 2021

Dave Krueger said:
I made one about 40 years ago from a metal channel from a drawer slide. I used an adapter to convert a non-hot flash shoe into a hot flash shoe. I just used it to mount one of the flash units for my 35mm cameras (currently an SB-80DX). I hardly ever use flash for MF, but this comes in handy for doing ceiling bounce flash using the auto features of the flash.

MF seems obvious to use flash for, given the somewhat more deliberate use and the relative slowness of the lenses.
I almost always use som kind of flash or at least bring it, for any kind of photography.
Shaping light, even with a light (sic) touch is part of what photography is about to me.

Helge · Feb 27, 2021

ic-racer said:
I also have one like this, and again it comes apart giving the option of a standard shoe-type flash, rather than the Rollei e36re flash.
View attachment 267657

What is the model (or make)?

Helge · Feb 27, 2021

ic-racer said:
View attachment 267656
The Rolleiflex flat plate with arm for the TLR cameras. The arm is removeable with two screws. In fact the arm can be adjusted to two positions with the screws. Anyway, by removing the arm , the arm can then be attached to the front of the pistol grip through the hole you see in the picture.

There doesn’t seem to be a hotshoe or hole for mounting one?
What’s the small metal brace on the side?
I’m specifically planning on using an Rollei bulb flash as I recently bought a tremendous amount of bulbs. But of course also for fill in daylight @ 500th of a second with a strong electro flash. So both hotshot and a straight hole would be nice.

ic-racer · Feb 27, 2021

These are the two flash brackets I use with my TLRs:

ic-racer · Feb 27, 2021

For flash bulbs you might consider the attachment that goes on the bayonet ring of the lens

Helge · Mar 1, 2021

ic-racer said:
For flash bulbs you might consider the attachment that goes on the bayonet ring of the lens

View attachment 267672

Seems like madness to attach a relatively heavy flash to the bayonet on the taking lens.
Giving it a lot of leverage to wreak havoc if you should bump it or just twist or turn the camera a bit enthusiastically.

It seems the only right place for a flashgun is on a bracket coming out the track on the pistol grip. You’ll need a handle to grip with a flash mounted on the side, and what better place to put the handle, than underneath the point of gravity.

Are there model numbers on the two brackets you posted pictures of? I seem to have trouble finding them in catalogs and descriptions.

ic-racer · Mar 1, 2021

As I recall that bulb-flash attachment is pretty light weight. This one is spring-loaded in case it gets bumped.

ic-racer · Mar 1, 2021

Curious, this brochure does not give any part numbers.

Helge · Mar 1, 2021

ic-racer said:
As I recall that bulb-flash attachment is pretty light weight. This one is spring-loaded in case it gets bumped.
View attachment 267871

Awesome IC! That will get me going.

I want to tilt the flash up or to the side. In fact that is my default way. Direct on camera flash is the last resort, even for daylight fill. That is also impossible AFAIK with the bayonet flash.

BrianShaw · Mar 1, 2021

Helge said:
Seems like madness to attach a relatively heavy flash to the bayonet on the taking lens.

The Rolleiflash is intended to attach to the bayonet of the viewing lens. Not much of a difference, I know. If there was a substantial risk it seems that Rollei wouldn’t have sold it over so many years. Today, in addition to not having features you desire, there is the drawback of a very hard to find, and expensive if you can find, 22.5v battery. At one time that battery was very commonplace but hasn’t been for quite a while.

Helge · Mar 1, 2021

BrianShaw said:
The Rolleiflash is intended to attach to the bayonet of the viewing lens. Not much of a difference, I know. If there was a substantial risk it seems that Rollei wouldn’t have sold it over so many years. Today, in addition to not having features you desire, there is the drawback of a very hard to find, and expensive if you can find, 22.5v battery. At one time that battery was very commonplace but hasn’t been for quite a while.

I don’t know about that.
1. People where more diligent, had better dexterity and simply took much better care of their things back then. I aspire to be like that.
2. Rollei in all their greatness and knack for good industrial design, made some real faux pas once in a while.
The flash on Kidman’s camera above, which I have, is the most well designed bulb flash I have ever seen.
Solid and well designed to a tee, apart from the mounting.
The battery is a problem. Not because 22 volt battery’s are not existent, but because the ones that are sold is just a millimeter or two too wide to fit this flash.
Should not be a problem doing a custom battery with two 12V standard cells though.

BrianShaw · Mar 1, 2021

Helge said:
1. People where more diligent, had better dexterity and simply took much better care of their things back then. I aspire to be like that.

Really? I’d have to really think that over before being convinced. Maybe...

BTW, Have you seen these plans for a CR2032 conversion? Not sure if it’s good or not. I’d be interested more for use in Graflex SuperGraphic than a Rolleiflash but not equipped to do the required printing.

https://www.stlfinder.com/model/7-x-cr2032-to-neda-215-eveready-412-adapter-74YFqHhV/2033190/

Flash bracket for Rolleiflex pistol grip?

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