Flash Problem with RZ67

[sharpbokeh]

Hello everyone,

I just put together an RZ67 system and everything was going well until I tried to use a flash with it. I can't get it to fire a flash at all. I'm using a Vivitar 285HV and a PC sync cord. The flash fires reliably when attached to my Rolleiflex, Canon A2 and my flash meter, but doesn't work at all on the RZ. I bought the body on eBay and it looks in great shape and otherwise functions perfectly. I bought the lens (140mm Macro ULA)from KEH and it too functions fine except for not triggering the flash. Any ideas? I need to get this up and running for an assignment soon so any help in finding where the failure may lie would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[keithwms]

Did you set the lens to X? My rb lenses have a switch, I guess the rz ones do too.

 

[sharpbokeh]

Hi Keith,

It's an RZ lens so it doesn't have an X switch like the RB lenses, AFAIK.

 

[SuzanneR]

You should just test it with a different lens. I had this problem when I first bought mine, but KEH exchanged the lens for me. The problem was simply the PC socket wasn't working. The body of the camera functioned fine. It's a bummer, but you may be in the market for a second lens.

this is an awesome camera when all the widgets are working!

 

[sharpbokeh]

Thanks Suzanne,

Unfortunately I just have this one lens at the moment, but exchanging the lens will probably be my first line of action. One thing that confuses me though is that the flash won't fire from the hot shoe either. If the sync in the lens was defective would it also affect the hot shoe performance? Is the hot shoe more finicky with different types of flashes?

 

[SuzanneR]

Oh... I didn't realize you couldn't use the hot shoe either. I'll confess... I've never used the hot shoe on mine. I've only used it with studio lights or plain old daylight. You should probably get it looked at, for sure. Wish I could be more help. Hmmm... maybe I should check that....

 

[Nick Zentena]

I'm using a Vivitar 285HV and a PC sync cord.

Is that high voltage? Could the camera be refusing to fire?

 

[John Koehrer]

Do you have access to another flash to verify that the malfunction isn't peculiar to this specific combination? It's unusual but I've seen this happen with other combinations.
I don't know if the body sync is isolated from lens sync on the RZ I know it is on Hasssenblat.
I have seen combos especially with electronically controlled sync where it can be a polarity problem between flash & camera.
Not knowing the RZ first hand, I would check for a safety switch in the hotshoe. 9 out of 10 times it's just a small plastic pin that closes an internal switch. It's usually hidden beneath the spring in the shoe.

 

[sharpbokeh]

Suzanne, yeah, I really don't need to use the hot shoe either, but I want to rule out the body as having any problems. I'm not sure if the proper working of a flash hinges solely on the lens sync mechanism or not. Electronically the camera seems to work fine otherwise. I have taken many nice non-flash photos. Thanks.

 

[sharpbokeh]

Nick - The 285HV is a new low-voltage version of the 285 that is supposed to be "voltage safe" ( ~6v trigger voltage). It seems that others have used this flash with the RZ successfully. Is there a possibility that the voltage is too low?

John - The only other flash I have is a Speedlite 580EX which has no PC socket. I don't have an adapter for it either. I think I see the safety switch. What should I be checking for?

 

[haris]

You can try as testing flash yours 580EX, just insulate all contacts except central one and ground contact (contact that is placed on side of flash foot, not on bottom of flash foot). I did that, I used mine Speedlite 380EX like that with several other non Canon cameras. Because hot shoes on cameras are metal, I put insulation (very thin piece of plastic, or put electrical insulation tape) on hot shoe, so I only have central contact of hot shoe and sides of hotshoe not insulated. So, when put mine 380 EX on cameras hot shoe, all 380's contacts except central one were insulated from metal part of cameras hot shoe. So, only central contact of 380 was in touch with hot shoe central (hot) contact and ground (side) contact of 380 EX was in touch with side of metal part of hot shoe (ground contact of hot shoe). Of course, you loose all controls over flash, you only can trigger it, but as testing flash it will work. That way you also avoid preflash of Speedlite, you only have exposing flash, ant that is what you need . Warning, if you are afraid to cause malfunction of 580EX with this method, then find another flash, if you try, you will do that at your own risk...

 

[John Koehrer]

sharpbokeh,
The fact that you can see the pin for the safety switch is good, at least it means that it hasn't been tampered with & lost.
When you slide a flash into the shoe the flash will push the pin downward and close a circuit that allows the flash to fire. It is possible but not likely that the contacts of the SS are tarnished and not completing the circuit.
Do you know someone who could let you use a small flash unit other than the Vivitar, or have you tried the camera with the Canon unit yet.
If you can't get any of the flash units to fire it's a camera/lens problem & I'm not familiar enough with the RZ system to really help out.
On Hasselblad the body sync & lens sync are completely independent. Since they're mechanical there's no underlying electronic connection at work
Have you tried removing the lens from the body & firing each combination independently? So if the body works with the lens off, the offending bit is most likely the lens and vice versa

 

[sharpbokeh]

Thanks, John & Haris,

I have been told by a few people that flash with the RZ is dependent on a properly functioning sync circuit on the lens, that the body is not involved, so I'm going to exchange the lens and take it from there. I will also have a couple different flash units to test as well.

 

[sharpbokeh]

I got the replacement lens from KEH today and I'm able to fire the flash via PC cord and hot shoe. It appears that the flash does indeed depend on a properly functioning lens. Thanks everyone for your help.