Small bounce flash recommendations sought

[perkeleellinen]

I've got a Vivitar 283 which is a great flash but mounted on a Leica M4 makes the camera top-heavy and twice the size.

I use flash very occasionally either indoors where I bounce of ceilings or to put pricks of light into eyes when I shoot portraits.

I'd like to buy a very small flash with the ability to point up for bounce. It doesn't have to be strong, I use 800-1600 films and bounce off low ceilings in houses.

Any options that are smaller than a box of cigarettes?

 

[Randy_Va]

Will a nikon sb-400 suit your needs? It doesn't swivel, but it can be pointed straight up.
Dead Link Removed

 

[perkeleellinen]

That may be what I'm looking for. Ken Rockwell has a nice photo that shows the size:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb400.htm

Looks a little expensive, maybe a 2nd hand one may turn up on ebay.

 

[removed-user-1]

The older Nikon SB-15 has about the same power as the SB-400 but without the AF and modern autoexposure features. It does have bounce and swivel and a lower center of gravity than the 283. It doesn't function at all on the current generation of Nikon DSLR cameras, and therefore is available used for around $10.

Here is a link to KEH: Dead Link Removed

There are other similar models, some of which will not mount to the Leica M4 (the ones designed for the F3).

 

[Metroman]

I had similar problems with my M2 & MP. I got the Leica SF 24D but with no bounce it is not that useful. Someone put me on to the Metz 20 C-2. It has a bounce head, lightweight and is not much bigger than a packet of cigarettes. It won't fry anyone's eyes but like you I use 800 + asa films and it is useful.

Metz 20 C-2

 

[perkeleellinen]

Thanks for the suggestions. The Nikon SB-15 looks interesting with its low profile and swivel / bounce feature.

I couldn't find a picture of the Metz mounted to a 35mm camera, but this pic makes in look quite large:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timojazz/3326276539/

Of course, I've no idea how big a G10 is.

 

[glockman99]

Thanks for the suggestions. The Nikon SB-15 looks interesting with its low profile and swivel / bounce feature.

I have a Nikon SB15, and that's the one I'd get if I were you. It's low profile, and has a good recycle time.

 

[C A Sugg]

I'm assuming that you wish to use auto-exposure mode. Vivitar makes (made?) a sensor adapter for the 283 -- for off camera use. (3 ft. or so coiled cord) It can be a juggling act, but I used that technique frequently with a 285 in manual mode. (And an Ultrablitz Matador when the batteries were still charging.)
With the 283 you pull out the sensor module, plug it into the adapter section the sits in the hot shoe and plug the other end back into the flash. The advantage of not having it on the camera is that I could easily bounce it off anything; ceilings, walls, floors or even someone.

 

[perkeleellinen]

I have the off-camera cord for the Vivitar and it is a balancing act with manual focus cameras. I normally put the flash on full power and use the variable output dial. I then work out the lens aperture from the GN, subject distance and film ASA.

 

[mgb74]

I use a smallish Vivitar 3700 sometimes. Kind of a miniature (1/2 size) 283 and uses 2 AA batteries. Maybe a bit larger than the Metz 20 mentioned earlier. But still violates your "pack of cigarettes" rule.

I also have a couple of older Vivitar and Honeywell flashes that are very close to your desired size, but do not bounce. I have used them corded and off camera for bouncing, but it's a bit awkward. I have one very small off brand flash that I keep just for it's small size, but it doesn't bounce either.

The SB-400 does not appear to have a manual mode. I'd love an inexpensive flash with the size and bounce features of the SB-400 that had a manual mode and a pc cord option.

 

[Chan Tran]

The SB400 doesn't work well with the Leica. Older unit would work better. The SB400 would only work in manual mode as it doesn't have a non TTL automode.

 

[mgb74]

The SB400 doesn't work well with the Leica. Older unit would work better. The SB400 would only work in manual mode as it doesn't have a non TTL automode.

From what I can glean from the Nikon website, SB400 works in manual only with the D40. No "true" manual mode.

 

[Kiron Kid]

The SB400 doesn't work well with the Leica. Older unit would work better. The SB400 would only work in manual mode as it doesn't have a non TTL automode.

The SB-400 is not compatible with film cameras. It's also too underpowered to be used for adequate bounce flash applications.

Kiron Kid

 

[Rick A]

How about picking up an Olympus bounce-grip. You can mount any flash on it, just use a PC cord to sync with your camera. You can keep your existing flash with it.

Rick

 

[mablo]

Nikon SB-22 or 22s. A great little flash. Flash power is more or less the same than in my Vivitar 283. I use it with all my smaller cameras with ease, even coupled with the tiny Olympus 35 RC it doesn't feel too heavy. Inexpensive too, I bought one spanking new for 40£.

SB-22 would be a "perkeleellinen" good choice for you

 

[perkeleellinen]

SB-22 would be a "perkeleellinen" good choice for you

Looking for a picture of it mounted to a camera so I can gauge its size, no luck finding one yet.

 

[nolanr66]

The sb400 is a iTTL flash and is really for the DSLR techno camera's. It will not work on a M4. You need a flash like the 283 with a sensor on front to measure and terminate the flash output. I am no expert on this type flash but the Nikon sb15 is dirt cheap and should work in manual mode. Google the flash up to make sure it will work fully manual but for 5 or 10 dollars at KEH.com you could take a chance I suppose. It is pretty small but I doubt smaller then a pack of cigarettes.

 

[mablo]

Dante Stella has a favorable article of SB-20 (similar to SB-22) here: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/sb20.html

 

[narsuitus]

My Nikon SB400 communicates very well with my digital body for fast and accurate flash shots.

However, it does not work on my Nikon 35mm SLR cameras, my 35mm rangefinder cameras, or my medium format film cameras. Therefore, as others have said, it will not work on your Leica.

 

[perkeleellinen]

The Nikon SB20 & SB15 both sound good. The SB15 has the swivel feature, but the SB20 has a variable output switch. If only one of them had both!

 

[LunoLuno]

I think the Mecablitz 20C2 is the one. It's small and the weight of 190g is much lighter than its alternatives (SB20 SB22 etc.). 2 less AA batteries instead of 4 AAs also makes it lighter. But if you prefer the swivel style like SB15, or some more light compensating features, I think the SB-27, Nikon's last swivel style sppedlight could be a good compromise. The weight of 340g without battery (it needs 4 AAs) seems a bit heavy, though.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf4/flash/SB27/index.htm

 

[removed-user-1]

If I remember correctly, the flash head on the SB-27 is fixed in position and doesn't allow bounce. The SB-15 can be bounced either up or down, or to the right, depending on the position the head is swiveled to (left or right, or straight up). Another point for the SB-15 is that although it doesn't have 1/2 power, 1/4 power, etc labeled as such, it does have an MD mode with fast recycle which cuts the power quite a bit. I've never used an SB-20 so can't comment on it personally.

 

[LunoLuno]

If I remember correctly, the flash head on the SB-27 is fixed in position and doesn't allow bounce. The SB-15 can be bounced either up or down, or to the right, depending on the position the head is swiveled to (left or right, or straight up). Another point for the SB-15 is that although it doesn't have 1/2 power, 1/4 power, etc labeled as such, it does have an MD mode with fast recycle which cuts the power quite a bit. I've never used an SB-20 so can't comment on it personally.

The SB-27 can be bounced up and down and to the left.

 

[Leighgion]

I have a Metz C2 and it's quite compact. Here's a shot of mine with a more reliable scale.

 

[perkeleellinen]

Excellent, thanks Leighgion. That's actually much smaller than it appeared when it was placed on a digi P&S. I think I may go for the Metz now.

Is that inside a microwave?