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So Flash Bulbs are BRIGHT?! Anyone still using them?

AgX

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A 1/90sec was also common, eg. Praktica L-series
In the 80s some high-end SLRs got a shorter shutter travel time. Those models got a 1/250sec.
 

Truzi

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Everyone was surprized how bright the M2Bs were, much more than strobes they are used to. To finish up my roll in the View Master, I had someone take a picture of me.

Oddly, it didn't seem as bright as I'd expected - I was more impressed with the size of the flash as I watched the black sphere grow... I think my retinae were solarized.
 

Punker

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I'm seeing on the back of a box of M3B's (link) that it has guide numbers for focal plane shutters. If I use this in my BC-7 and Nikon F do you think it'll work? Anyone have experience with them? I might have to do my own tests.
 

cb1

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The flash bulbs for the Hawkeye flash are pretty impressive. It was a load of laughs when I brought the Hawkeye to the office and took some pictures with it.

I've love to see the old flash powder devices work. Smile! <POOF> argh! I'm blind and on fire! LOL
 

alanrockwood

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Regarding flash sync, I believe AG1 bulbs work well with focal plane shutters with fp sync.
 
OP
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bvy

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The flash bulbs for the Hawkeye flash are pretty impressive. It was a load of laughs when I brought the Hawkeye to the office and took some pictures with it.
That last line alone started me looking for one. I also rather like the larger frame size of the Brownie Six-20, whose flash takes two types of bulbs.
 

Punker

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Well ladies and gents, always take more than a minute when going over the instruction manual of a new flashgun.

I couldn't wait to pop off my first bulb in the Honeywell Tilt-A-Mite II I got today. As I was inserting it I thought there might be a trick to easily fit a bulb into the socket. I thought I was pressing the EJECT button as I inserted the bulb but I was actually pushing the OPEN FLASH button which allows you to fire the bulb without it being attached to the camera. Needless to say I got a quite a surprising white flash in my face and a couple of singed fingers. Luckily the bulb didn't even bubble and I reacted quick enough or it could have been worse!
 

AgX

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Why did you want to push the eject button anyway when trying to insert a bulb, that would be counterproductive.

But... only due to your post I nevertheless understood the meaning of "open flash plug" at a plain mechanical socket at my West Hyper BII flash. It takes the otherwise dangling synchro cable when the using the flash unsynchronized.
 

Punker

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Why did you want to push the eject button anyway when trying to insert a bulb, that would be counterproductive.

It's a 2-way socket and in my ignorance I thought pushing the eject button and loosening the receptacle might help get an M bulb in easier. Unfortunately it wasn't the eject button I pushed.
 

Sirius Glass

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A few years about someone posted on APUG that as a youngster he decided to take a part a flash cube with a screwdriver and got quite a surprise. I cannot remember whom.
 

AgX

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Must have been a Magicube. And that fellow likely was not the only one...
 

Sirius Glass

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Aw yes that would brighten ones eyes. I wonder is @BrianShaw still sees spots.
 

Truzi

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A few years about someone posted on APUG that as a youngster he decided to take a part a flash cube with a screwdriver and got quite a surprise. I cannot remember whom.
I've done that when I was a kid - on purpose. Here's a link from a post I'd made in the thread bvy linked to:
 

DWThomas

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Well, I'm sorry for your surprise, but am encouraged that the gun was able to fire. I'm curious if you had any problem finding the battery for it? I have an original Tilt-a-Mite which I haven't used in decades and I would also be surprised if the capacitor was still operable. I do have a modest assortment of flashbulbs left, but haven't so far been inspired to try them. The #5/25 jobbies will work in the two C cell "brute force" flashgun that fits my Argus C3, I suppose I could use those there sometime.
 

AgX

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I might open the flash to see if I can get access to the capacitor and see about replacing it with one that will handle cheaper batteries.
You only would have to change the capacitator (for higher capacity) if the bulbs would not fire with the few Volts less.
Or if the capacitator is dead anyway.

First thing to do is cleaning all contacts.
 

DWThomas

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I actually found the battery on Amazon for just under $10.

I might open the flash to see if I can get access to the capacitor and see about replacing it with one that will handle cheaper batteries. A guy on Flickr modified his original Tilt A Mite.
Excellent! Both those data points are good to know if I decide to play with it. Cosmetically the Tilt-a-Mite I have is in pretty good shape (considering I probably bought it circa 1963!!)
 

Punker

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You only would have to change the capacitator (for higher capacity) if the bulbs would not fire with the few Volts less.
Or if the capacitator is dead anyway.
Oh no kidding? So I can try to see if it will fire with a less powerful battery as long as its ends touch the proper contact points and complete the circuit? In the technical data I've been reading it appears most bulbs will fire with as little as 3 volts.
 

AgX

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With the appearance of modern bulbs the required voltage sank. I got many flashes that even took 23V batteries.
The ignitian circuit is based on a glowing wire, thus voltage is important, but it seems the flash manufacturers chose the battery on what was most available.