Rollei A110 Flash Cube Adapter?

mtnbkr · Jul 15, 2022

I've been enjoying the heck out of my A110, but would like to use it indoors sometimes as well. I found a flash cube adapter on ebay, but before I pull the trigger I had a few questions for those that may have used one...

1. Do these tend to be reliable or am I risking buying a dud?
2. Will any "flash cube" work? I haven't used flash cubes since I was a little kid and I don't recall if there were different ones or if a cube was a cube.
3. Are unused "vintage" or "new old stock" flash cubes reliable?

Chris

AgX · Jul 15, 2022

There are 2 kinds of flash cubes:

-) the standard cube (ignited electrically)

-) the later introduced alternative cube "Magicube" (ignited mechanically)

-) there are adapters to adapt an electrical cube to a camera that got PC-connectur or hot shoe.
I do not see any special issue other than batteries having leaked.

-) The Rollei A110 needs a dedicated adapter, and takes the electrical cubes.

-) At least flash bulbs that still got a blue dot are reliable and safe. Do not use a bulb that got a pink dot.

mtnbkr · Jul 15, 2022

Thanks!

Chris

AgX · Jul 15, 2022

The interesting thing with the model 110 adapter for flashcubes is that it got a shield at the photographers side.

So far I a have not seen such at any flashcube appliance.
But with Rollei A/E 110 cameras the flash is at eyelevel, unlike most larger cameras. Maybe at Rollei there was fear that, by whatever circumstance, the rear bulb could fire (too).

Cholentpot · Jul 15, 2022

AgX said:
There are 2 kinds of flash cubes:

-) the standard cube (ignited electrically)

-) the later introduced alternative cube "Magicube" (ignited mechanically)

-) there are adapters to adapt an electrical cube to a camera that got PC-connectur or hot shoe.
I do not see any special issue other than batteries having leaked.

-) The Rollei A110 needs a dedicated adapter, and takes the electrical cubes.

-) At least flash bulbs that still got a blue dot are reliable and safe. Do not use a bulb that got a pink dot.

Sylvania Blue Dot Magicubes will work? Have a few of them but the box says they're fired mechanically.

AgX · Jul 15, 2022

You mix up two basically independent things, as here they are seemingly within one name:

-) "Blue Dot"
a Sylvania invention, a safety indicator, at turning pink showing that the bulb is leaking
Later this feature was taken over by most competitors. This feature can be applied at any flash bulb and does not say anything about the kind of bulb.

-) "Magicube"
Another Sylvania invention, as described above a alternative flashcube.
In spite of very similar outer a Magicube can only be used on a camera with mechanical firing mechanism.
By this, omitting an electrical circuit, the camera could become a bit more smaller and also evade the fail risk due to be (flashwise) dependant on a battery.

Cholentpot · Jul 15, 2022

The box I have from the 1976 Olympics says Sylvania Blue Dot Magicubes on it.

I'll take it though as it says they're mechanical they won't work with the A110.

AgX · Jul 15, 2022

Exactly

xya · Jul 15, 2022

AgX said:
The interesting thing with the model 110 adapter for flashcubes is that it got a shield at the photographers side.

So far I a have not seen such at any flashcube appliance.
But with Rollei A/E 110 cameras the flash is at eyelevel, unlike most larger cameras. Maybe at Rollei there was fear that, by whatever circumstance, the rear bulb could fire (too).

The shield is just the lid to protect the contacts of the flash unit when there is no cube. It has to go somewhere when the unit is opened, to the rear seems logical.

Flashcubes usually contain ordinary AG-1 bulbs which have 2 contacts. So there is only one bulb connected. Rotating the flashcube brings the next 2 contacts in place. So it's impossible that the rear buld could flash.

As said, Magicubes won't work.

AgX · Jul 15, 2022

But no camera or cube flash with such protecting cap I remember.

A rear bulb could be ignited if the reflector, which just is a piece of vacuumfornmed foil (as in sweets boxed) is faulty or missing.

I once bough a great lot of flashcubes NOS, that all got their caps and thus their reflectors not fixed. No idea whether at Rollei they thought of such.

But there are not that many cameras of the Rollei design flashwise. Minox 8x11 come to mind.

Huss · Jul 15, 2022

I use flash cubes with the adapter w my Rollei A110. The adapter is very simple so I'm sure it will work. I bought these flash cubes from this seller and they work great:

GE Flash Cubes 3 x 3 cube/ 12 guaranteed Flashes for standard Flashcube CAMS A2 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GE Flash Cubes 3 x 3 cube/ 12 guaranteed Flashes for standard Flashcube CAMS A2 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Huss · Jul 15, 2022

Took this w the Rollei and those cubes. Faces redacted to protect the innocent

ic-racer · Jul 15, 2022

I almost got the flashcube adapter for my Minox, because I liked the way the light meter is fast enough to close the shutter when enough exposure is obtained from the bulb. But at $2.00 per exposure, that brings Minox up to the sheet film prices per exposure

Ok take that back, I thought they were selling a single cube for $8. Looks like you can get 3 cubes for that price. So maybe something to investigate further.

mtnbkr · Jul 16, 2022

Huss said:
I use flash cubes with the adapter w my Rollei A110. The adapter is very simple so I'm sure it will work. I bought these flash cubes from this seller and they work great:

GE Flash Cubes 3 x 3 cube/ 12 guaranteed Flashes for standard Flashcube CAMS A2 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GE Flash Cubes 3 x 3 cube/ 12 guaranteed Flashes for standard Flashcube CAMS A2 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Thanks! Looking forward to annoying folks indoors with incessant flash photography.

Huss said:
Took this w the Rollei and those cubes. Faces redacted to protect the innocent

Glad you pointed out the redaction, I thought that was a helluva flash to completely wash out their faces like that.

But seriously, thanks for the input and example. My adapter is on the way, I just need to buy flash cubes. It's 1975 all over again.

Chris

Huss · Jul 16, 2022

There is a really fun novelty act aspect to using flash cubes. People cannot believe they exist, and they actually work! I was actually surprised as to how well they work - the pics I took with them look like I used a regular electronic flash. Be prepared to be blinded though! A lot of that light bleeds back to you when you take the pic...
Oh, and the cube will be hot for a few seconds after you take a pic.

mtnbkr · Jan 27, 2023

Following up on this now that I have the adapter and flashcubes.

Works great and I'm enjoying the act of blinding my family with surprise flash shots.

Chris

Huss · Feb 2, 2023

Excellent! it is about the biggest throwback to being a kid taking pics! And pretty much the ultimate conversation starter.

MattKing · Feb 2, 2023

If you like flashcubes:

Mid to late 1960s, and it and the meter equipped S2 are the last of the Retina line.
It suffers in comparison to the other Retinas, but I used one for years during my youth, and was very happy with my Kodachrome slides.
Both offer a choice of flashcubes or electronic flash via the hot shoe, and the scale focus was coupled with the aperture for flash use - you could set the guide number of the flash on the camera.

Rollei A110 Flash Cube Adapter?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency