Flash recommendations?

[blee1996]

The 283/285 (and similar) flashes are large -- but powerful. That's why I asked if the OP wants ONE flash to use on ALL four cameras -- and how much power! While a 283 is big for a Trip 35, there are a ton of great small flashes with 283-type features that are much smaller and lighter (only 2 AA batteries) that have auto and manual modes and cost less than $10 used. The SUNPAK Auto 101 comes to mind as does the Minolta Auto 118X. The SUNPAK Auto 121 S is incredibly small.

Here are just Minolta's flashes:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/flashes.htm

Your opinion of "instead of buying Foo new, you can buy 10 Baa used" is well known. And I will not argue with that.

We will let OP decide based on his/her needs and preferences.

 

[Chan Tran]

Your opinion of "instead of buying Foo new, you can buy 10 Baa used" is well known. And I will not argue with that.

We will let OP decide based on his/her needs and preferences.

My argument is that the new flashes don't have non TTL auto flash and so it's difficult to use. Guide number is OK but that would preclude bounce flash. If you mount the flash on the stand, remote trigger it and use a flashmeter then why a small flash?
Any way I have no balance problem using the Metz 60-CT4 with the Olympus 35RC or Canonet QL17 GIII. Work great.

 

[MattKing]

An Olympus T-32 is a good choice, as is the smaller and less powerful T-20.
One advantage of the Vivitar 283 is that there is a remote flash cord that allows you to put the sensor on the camera hot shoe, while being able to place the flash itself very flexibly.

 

[blee1996]

My argument is that the new flashes don't have non TTL auto flash and so it's difficult to use. Guide number is OK but that would preclude bounce flash. If you mount the flash on the stand, remote trigger it and use a flashmeter then why a small flash?
Any way I have no balance problem using the Metz 60-CT4 with the Olympus 35RC or Canonet QL17 GIII. Work great.

I fully agree that auto flash is very important, so you can set ISO/aperture and shoot away. Sadly that new flash only have manual flash output control, and it will be more complicated to calculate. A small-medium Metz flash with standard shoe and PC connection might be a better recommendation.

I can see that your setup works for you. I'm more a mobile guy when doing strobist, right hand with 35mm compact camera and wireless trigger, while the other hand holding a small flash. Or I mount a small and lightweight flash directly on the compact camera's shoe. If I were to take out the potato smasher, I might well go for the larger SLRs. But we are all different.

 

[xkaes]

Any way I have no balance problem using the Metz 60-CT4 with the Olympus 35RC or Canonet QL17 GIII. Work great.

I know that we all need upper-body exercise, but I still try to keep my electronic flashes to the same size as the camera -- and hopefully smaller. And definitely lighter than the camera.

Here's a 283 attached to a small 35mm half-frame. Works great. It turns the very simple camera into an aperture-priority, auto-exposure WONDER camera, but I prefer a much smaller flash that has less power and the same ability.

 

[Axelwik]

Small size and lots of power - flashgun with flash bulbs. Lots-a-light in a very small package.

 

[wiltw]

Small size and lots of power - flashgun with flash bulbs. Lots-a-light in a very small package.

Can you still get the 15v 504 battery that many BC flashguns need?

 

[Chan Tran]

Can you still get the 15v 504 battery that many BC flashguns need?

I think this is it

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1062350-REG/exell_battery_a220_504a_15v_alkaline_battery.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6ZuZtMkJn1mLH1FTqePl5p1XYu6TyE4iB9tvw33h6EVhWrfPfmkitGwaAqvxEALw_wcB

 

[Caithlin]

How can i delete this post, im new tho tis community

 

[wiltw]

How can i delete this post, im new tho tis community

Now that it is posted, look at the lower left corner of your post, there should be 'Delete' after 'Report' and 'Edit'

 

[wiltw]

I think this is it

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1062350-REG/exell_battery_a220_504a_15v_alkaline_battery.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6ZuZtMkJn1mLH1FTqePl5p1XYu6TyE4iB9tvw33h6EVhWrfPfmkitGwaAqvxEALw_wcB

Yes, that's it!

 

[MattKing]

How can i delete this post, im new tho tis community

Single posts can be deleted shortly after they are posted.
But you can't delete the thread without moderator intervention.
As it is a good thread, based on a good question, that will be useful for others, we intend to leave it in place.
But we encourage you to ask more questions, and participate further.

 

[Axelwik]

Can you still get the 15v 504 battery that many BC flashguns need?

Yes. Google is your friend. The one in my Tilt-a-Mite lasted about 5 years - just got a replacement.

 

[wiltw]

Yes. Google is your friend. The one in my Tilt-a-Mite lasted about 5 years - just got a replacement.

I had to ask because it seems to me that a number of years back I tried to find battery for my Tilt-a-Mite but could not.

 

[Axelwik]

I had to ask because it seems to me that a number of years back I tried to find battery for my Tilt-a-Mite but could not.

I've been using them for years, and have always been able to find a battery. Anyway, it's a good option when you want a whole lot of light in the palm of your hand or in a little side pocket of your camera bag. I've even traveled internationally with them, and nobody ever questioned the flash bulbs. I also like that they can be used without the reflector for ultra wide lenses - just add a stop or two.

Here's one I took inside the cab of a truck in Switzerland. Used a 15mm lens with a Tilt a Mite and ag1 bulb. No reflector.
Germany-Switzerland 2019-255 by Marco Wikstrom, on Flickr

 

[wiltw]

I've been using them for years, and have always been able to find a battery. Anyway, it's a good option when you want a whole lot of light in the palm of your hand or in a little side pocket of your camera bag. I've even traveled internationally with them, and nobody ever questioned the flash bulbs. I also like that they can be used without the reflector for ultra wide lenses - just add a stop or two.

I have some flashbulbs that I tried to sell, priced them very reasonably and even at that low price there was zero interest expressed. Others have had similar lack of interest to their attempts to sell flashbulbs.

 

[gordrob]

I have some flashbulbs that I tried to sell, priced them very reasonably and even at that low price there was zero interest expressed. Others have had similar lack of interest to their attempts to sell flashbulbs.

That is because I am overstocked. Everything from AG1's to 3Bs. No place to put anymore bulbs. Sorry

 

[Caithlin]

Now that it is posted, look at the lower left corner of your post, there should be 'Delete' after 'Report' and 'Edit'

There is only edit and report nothing else

 

[wiltw]

There is only edit and report nothing else

It should look like this (screen shot just now taken of my post from 9 hours ago)

 

[koraks]

But you can't delete the thread without moderator intervention.
As it is a good thread, based on a good question, that will be useful for others, we intend to leave it in place.

This is correct; to emphasize: it turns out that people in a similar situation tend to find threads like these even years later and still find them very useful. This is the main reason why in principle we don't delete threads.
@Caithlin if for some reason you would no longer want to receive notifications on this thread, you can use the 'Ignore thread' option; you'll find it at the top right of the page.

 

[Axelwik]

I have some flashbulbs that I tried to sell, priced them very reasonably and even at that low price there was zero interest expressed. Others have had similar lack of interest to their attempts to sell flashbulbs.

Thankfully I'm not trying to sell them - I use them. Why not use them if you can't sell them?

 

[wiltw]

Thankfully I'm not trying to sell them - I use them. Why not use them if you can't sell them?

I would need to spend $13 on a 504 battery just to be able to fire off a half dozen bulbs...not cost effective, when I already own a half dozen portable electronic flash units (that have not been utilized at any event in several years)

 

[Axelwik]

I would need to spend $13 on a 504 battery just to be able to fire off a half dozen bulbs...not cost effective, when I already own a half dozen portable electronic flash units (that have not been utilized at any event in several years)

Maybe just me, but I wouldn't worry much about trying to sell a half a dozen bulbs. Give them to someone who might want them.

 

[Taylor Nankervis]

In the absence of a flash — anything suitable, now matter now remotely, consider levering the power of high speed film, pushing to a higher EI in available light. Granted such a trick is limiting with today's slender offerings of high speed colour film, in negative of positive versions.

I revered the Canon A1 many decades ago — truly a camera to lust after and the one I owned nurtured me in my early days of snapping away madly (and sometimes haphazardly) with Kodachrome 64 on board.

 

[Sirius Glass]

When I bought my 4"x5" Speed Graphic around 2008, I brought up flash bulbs for various sized from 5 to 22. Once I got them all stored, I have yet to use any of them.