Getting a flash to work on a Iskra folder

[redstarjedi]

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]

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]

PS -- On cameras like the Iskra the synch lever should be set on X for electronic flash.

 

[redstarjedi]

thanks, i'll look into that. I vaguely remember there being hot shot to pc sync adaptors.