I need a flash for a 500 C/M

Davesw · Nov 30, 2008

I am looking for suggestions for a flash for my hassleblad. I usually use available light. but some times I need fill flash or run out of light doing casual portraits. also what is the PC flash sync on the camera body for ?

david b · Nov 30, 2008

I would suggest a Vivitar 283 or 285. They are cheap and available and provide what you are looking for.

There is not sync on a 500cm.

Davesw · Nov 30, 2008

This looks like hot shoe only.I need something with a PC cord and a foot plate of some kind as my camera has no shoe at all.

takef586 · Nov 30, 2008

You could buy a Hasselblad grip, which has a shoe for the flash, lets you release the shutter with your left hand, leaving the right hand free to focus and wind.

jolefler · Nov 30, 2008

Davesw said:
This looks like hot shoe only.I need something with a PC cord and a foot plate of some kind as my camera has no shoe at all.

The 283 has both shoe and PC connections. I use one with my 500c/m. I have a handle bracket (not Hassy) which centers the flash over the lens.

Q.G. · Nov 30, 2008

The Metz 45-series units are good ones too.

A basic 45 CT-1 can often be found for very, very little money (the last one i bought - used, but fully functional - was about US$15), offers all you need, and is very good.

The more expensive units in the Metz 45-series offer TTL-flash control as well as 'basic' automatic flash control, but your 500 C/M does not. So no need to spend money on one of those.

The synch contact on the body synchronizes flash with the rear, baffle-door shutter.
You can use it when using lenses without shutter, or when the camera is mounted on a microscope.
Unless doing 'open flash', this is of very limited use, because without a shutter in the lens, the rear shutter will be the thing that is timing the exposure. And that in turn is timed by how long you keep the shutter release button depressed. So no acurate control for anything shorterthan about 1 second.

You cannot (!) use this synch contact when using a lens with shutter. The rear shutter opens before the shutter in the lens will, so the flash is fired when the lens shutter is still closed.

Because it is of such limited use, later bodies no longer have this contact.

bdial · Nov 30, 2008

There is an accessory flash shoe that goes on the mounting rail on the left side of the camera for small shoe mount flashes, but I think a flash would be kind of awkward there.
There is also a shoe that can go on some of the lens hoods, and some of the prism finders have flash shoes.

IMO, the best set up is the Hasselblad or other brand handle for a shoe mount or a Metz or similar "potato masher" flash as Q.G. suggests.

I currently use a Metz 45, the difficult thing with those is locating a platform bracket rather than the long skinny ones meant for 35mm cameras. However, the long one works OK, and using a platform bracket won't improve your pictures any.

That said, if all you need is fill, then a small unit that could fit on the side rail might be just the ticket, if you can find one that has a cord or use a hot-shoe adaptor.

elekm · Nov 30, 2008

Vivitar made a flash grip for the 283/285. It has a cold shoe and a cable release. There were two camera mounting plates: One for 35mm cameras and the other for medium format.

The grip raises the height of the flash to nearly eliminate incidents of red-eye. There also was a kit that includes another bracket that attached to the flash and included a card for bounce flash.

Additionally, there are many Metz models (if you want a European product) that probably would fit the bill, as well as numerous vintage Rollei flashes -- many offered PC synchronization.

Gerry M · Nov 30, 2008

Davesw said:
I am looking for suggestions for a flash for my hassleblad. I usually use available light. but some times I need fill flash or run out of light doing casual portraits. also what is the PC flash sync on the camera body for ?

Sent you a PM

frank · Nov 30, 2008

You'll need a handle/flash bracket to physically connect the flash unit to the camera, and you need a pc cord to electrically connect the flash unit to the pc connection on the camera lens. The lens leaf shutter syncs at all speeds. Vivitar 283/285 flash units are good.

waynecrider · Nov 30, 2008

I prefer a flash with an auto feature and a focal length zoom is nice. Either the Nikon series or Canon series among probably others allows you to dial down or increase the amount of flash you want thru buttons with an LCD output display. I had a Nikon SB24 that I liked and the SB26's are nice as well and either goes pretty reasonable in price. I would advise tho that if you have a handheld meter to test any flash for true output. My old Vivitar 283 was a stop under at the setting I wanted and at a measured distance. If you need a bracket for the Hassy here's my shameless plug:
http://my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=304017&ck=

cowanw · Nov 30, 2008

I use a auto sunpak potato masher style with the auto sensor on the flash shoe of the 45 degree prism viewfinder. 4 D size batteries or mains connector.

John Koehrer · Nov 30, 2008

Grab waynes bracket, they're not rare but aren't real common. The Vivitar 285 has both auto exposure and a zoom capability. Depending on whether or not you've got extra lenses you may not need it. The 283 is a little more compact with the same GN, they both run 4-AA batteries. But if you intend to use it a lot you can get a Quantum battery setup that uses a belt pack.

mgb74 · Dec 1, 2008

There were many brackets designed to put the flash over the camera. Nice thing is that if your shooting square format, you don't need one that rotates. I used one with a 283/285 and it worked very well. Just make sure that if the shoe is metal, you cover it to insulate the hot shoe on the flash. Only drawback is that I never liked the PC cords for the Vivitars - seemed somewhat unreliable.

John Koehrer · Dec 1, 2008

mgb74 said:
There were many brackets designed to put the flash over the camera. Nice thing is that if your shooting square format, you don't need one that rotates. I used one with a 283/285 and it worked very well. Just make sure that if the shoe is metal, you cover it to insulate the hot shoe on the flash. Only drawback is that I never liked the PC cords for the Vivitars - seemed somewhat unreliable.

Paramount makes a cord for the 283/285, but I do agree the connection leaves something to be desired.

I need a flash for a 500 C/M

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