M, X or V?

[efikim]

I have the opportunity to borrow some studio flash equipment to use with my old LF camera. The lenses have M, X or V settings for flash sync: can someone tell me what they are for, please, and which is right for electronic studio flash?

thanks,
mike

 

[bmac]

X is studio flash, M is for bulbs, not sure what V is for.

 

[efikim]

Thanks for such a quick answer.

maybe V is for powder? were all three ever in use at the same time?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

V is the self-timer setting. Be careful with it, though, if the shutter hasn't had a recent CLA, as old shutters sometimes get stuck on the V setting, if it hasn't been exercised in a long time. The way it usually works is you cock the shutter, then set it to V, and fire (and run around to the front of the camera to be in the picture).

 

[efikim]

Thanks David; I'll try to make sure its never accidentally set to V. (And I can't see me ever actually wanting to use it.)

 

[GreyWolf]

Hello David,

Do you have any idea how long "V" is?

Thanks

 

[Ed Sukach]

"M" was a 50 millisecind delay in shutter opening from the time the contacts closed, sending electricty to the "M" class flash bulb. The bulbs would take abouit 50 milliseconds to reach the appropriate light output, and the shutter would open.

"X" was no delay - electronic flash was *much* faster - so no delay ws required or wanted.

"V" was the self-timer - normally, the shutter would be triggered about ten seconds after the shutter relaese was pressed.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

It seems to depend on how old the shutter is and the size. It seems to be a pretty long time, when I've used it. Let's see, there's a Voigtlander Vitessa-L with a little Synchro-Compur shutter, CLA'd in the past year or so, within arm's reach of the computer--counting "one one thousand..." it's about 15 sec. The one on my 90mm Super Angulon seems a little longer than that, last I checked.

 

[127]

V is the self-timer setting. Be careful with it, though, if the shutter hasn't had a recent CLA, as old shutters sometimes get stuck on the V setting

The most common problem (so I'm told - never risked trying it!) is that some camera's have the self timer on a seperate lever from the M/X switch. In such cases you must NEVER use the self timer in M mode. Self timer only works with X.

My Rollei has a single M/X/V switch so its impossible to screw up, but my Yashica has an M/X lever and a timer lever. It's generally recommended that you find a way to jam the M/X lever in the X position to avoid the potential problem (and like you're ever going to use M mode anyway).

I've heard this advice from many sources, and related to many kinds of camera (which is a little odd). Is there some design reason why the problem should apply to a range of shutter designs or is it only some that have this problem, and the advice has been spread further than necessary?

Ian

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think it's not really a range of shutter designs. Many different camera manufacturers mounted their lenses in the same Synchro-Compur shutters, which have this same design.