Getting a flash to work on a Iskra folder

redstarjedi

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Joined
May 23, 2013
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35mm
Hello APUG. I have a working and film tested Iskra I on the way. I really like the idea of using a leaf shutter with flash in daylight, however i just don't know how to sync my contax flashes to the Iskra. I have a contax TLA 30 and excellent TLA 360, that i would like to use on auto mode. I recall some older sunpak flashes that had a cord attached, but i'd really just like to use the flashes that i have.

Any thoughts.
 

tessar

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Oct 11, 2008
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Calgary, AB,
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As far as I know dedicated flash units like the Contax units can only be used with the hot shoe on Contax cameras. According to the manual, "The TLA30 is designed to function only on cameras with a hot shoe (Direct X) contact."
I imagine the TLA 360 is the same.
I use the common Vivitar 283 thyristor unit with my old manual cameras. These run about $20-30 secondhand complete with PC cord. Thyristor units are semi-automatic, i.e. you set the approximate distance to the subject on the unit and this will tell you the f-stop you need to use.
Sounds complicated, but easy to do in practice.
 

tessar

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Oct 11, 2008
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Location
Calgary, AB,
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PS -- On cameras like the Iskra the synch lever should be set on X for electronic flash.
 
OP
OP

redstarjedi

Member
Joined
May 23, 2013
Messages
181
Format
35mm
thanks, i'll look into that. I vaguely remember there being hot shot to pc sync adaptors.
 
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