This big honkin flash...

ChristopherCoy · Dec 17, 2015

...has been toted around since I was in high school. I've used it occasionally in an OCF manner.

Now I can put this thing on a tripod, fire it, meter it, and set my camera all day long.

What I CANT figure out is how to use it directly attached to the camera. Can anyone explain the top portion to me?

Should I use it in manual or automatic? And if in automatic, how does it know what to set itself at since the Bronica SQ-a doesn't provide TTL info?

cramej · Dec 17, 2015

Set it on auto, set your ISO and aperture the same as the camera if it is your main light source. Set the aperture on the flash to 1 or 2 stops larger(smaller number) if you want fill flash. Since the Bronica has leaf shutters in the lenses it will sync at any speed.

AgX · Dec 17, 2015

I do not know that flash, but to me it seems self-explanatory. Thus:

1. You can use it by calculating the respective aperture based on the guide number that it is indicated:

-) lower switch to "manual"
-) left switch to "GN"
-) red GN depending on the reflector setting

2. You can use it in the TTL autoexposure mode. All setting then is done by the camera (you likely will need a camera-dedicated hot-foot):

-) lower switch to "Manual"
-) left switch to "TTL"

3. You can use the flash in flash-operated auto-exposure mode:

-) lower switch to "Auto"
-) set ISO/ASA at Center switch
-) chose 1 out of 5 "automatic apertures" at right switch (depending on reflector position one of the two possible flash ranges will light up)
-) set that aperture at the camera

ic-racer · Dec 17, 2015

I'd use #3 as AgX explained.

MattKing · Dec 17, 2015

Use it as per #3 above. Make sure that the sensor is pointing toward your subject. The flash head can be pointed where you need it (bounce, umbrella, reflector, shoot-through umbrella ...). If you have it nearly on camera on a grip, having the light coming from the side an be unflattering for close in portraits. There are rather large grips that place the flash-head above the lens.

By the way, that is merely medium sized .

ChristopherCoy · Dec 17, 2015

AgX said:
3. You can use the flash in flash-operated auto-exposure mode:

-) lower switch to "Auto"
-) set ISO/ASA at Center switch
-) chose 1 out of 5 "automatic apertures" at right switch (depending on reflector position one of the two possible flash ranges will light up)
-) set that aperture at the camera

ic-racer said:
I'd use #3 as AgX explained.

At ASA400, the highest aperture on the flash is 5.6.

What do I do if I'm shooting ASA400 at F/2.8?

MattKing · Dec 17, 2015

ChristopherCoy said:
At ASA400, the highest aperture on the flash is 5.6.

What do I do if I'm shooting ASA400 at F/2.8?

This tells me that you are either trying to balance flash and existing illumination, or you want shallow depth of field.

In either case, you are going to have to switch to manual flash, use flash metering, and attenuate the intensity some way (bounce, diffusion, maual power adjustment (if available).

ChristopherCoy · Dec 17, 2015

MattKing said:
This tells me that you want shallow depth of field.

I'm guilty. I shoot wide open 99.99999999% of the time.

trythis · Dec 17, 2015

Take the guesswork out and get a Gossen Luna Pro F light meter if you dont have one.

Sent with typotalk

AgX · Dec 17, 2015

By the way:
the number of models of electronic flashes with any kind of automation is about the same as the number of different dial/menu/etc. designs ever to be found at these.

John Koehrer · Dec 17, 2015

ChristopherCoy said:
At ASA400, the highest aperture on the flash is 5.6.

What do I do if I'm shooting ASA400 at F/2.8?

1)Learn to appreciate dense negatives?
2)slightly under develop the film.

bdial · Dec 17, 2015

It looks like the control on the right varies the power. Assuming that is correct you can reduce the power to match the f/stop you'd like to use.

StephenT · Dec 17, 2015

That looks like a Metz copy. Nice flash, but indeed a medium size one!

Ditto all the above comments.

AgX · Dec 17, 2015

bdial said:
It looks like the control on the right varies the power. Assuming that is correct you can reduce the power to match the f/stop you'd like to use.

No.

That switch does not set absolute power output, so to use in manually controlled lighting.

It sets the autoexposure ranges, based on 5 dfifferent aperture settings.
Or with other words, it sets the apertures on which the autoexposure feature controls lighting.

craigclu · Dec 17, 2015

SQ-Ai bodies seem to be floating around at affordable prices... This would allow TTL (as you seem aware of) and allow some versatility in using your flash unit. If you ever do that, contact me and you can have a spare Bronica module of mine very cheaply. I'm not familiar with your flash but would assume it's some sort of SCA capable system?

AgX · Dec 17, 2015

SCA was a proprietory Metz system to adapt their flashes to a variety of cameras, mainly to use their flash TTL feature, but with more simple cameras some settings/reports were exchanged, but the metering remained at the flash.

Other flash manufacturers as Sunpak and Nissin had similar adaptor systems.

ChristopherCoy · Dec 17, 2015

craigclu said:
SQ-Ai bodies seem to be floating around at affordable prices... This would allow TTL (as you seem aware of) and allow some versatility in using your flash unit. If you ever do that, contact me and you can have a spare Bronica module of mine very cheaply. I'm not familiar with your flash but would assume it's some sort of SCA capable system?

AgX said:
SCA was a proprietory Metz system to adapt their flashes to a variety of cameras, mainly to use their flash TTL feature, but with more simple cameras some settings/reports were exchanged, but the metering remained at the flash.

Other flash manufacturers as Sunpak and Nissin had similar adaptor systems.

So I'm confused. Would and SQ-Ai body allow TTL, or not?

I've never heard the term SCA, but I have quite a bit of OCF/TTL knowledge by using the Nikon CLS.

AgX · Dec 17, 2015

If your body allows TTL then you must use the appropriate adapter, unless your flash itself is designated as customized for your very camera model.

What does "OFC" mean?

Confusing:
The Metz SCA system is so complicated that I doubt people at Metz understand it thoroughly themselves...

craigclu · Dec 17, 2015

Does your flash have a plug that would accept the flat insert end as pictured? I've used these with many brands over the years (Agfatronic, Metz, Braun, etc) and they all functioned nicely. A simple module change had the flashes working on other brands of cameras and was quite handy. Perhaps the Nissin didn't follow the SCA standards and had something of their own, though?

ChristopherCoy · Dec 17, 2015

craigclu said:
Does your flash have a plug that would accept the flat insert end as pictured? I've used these with many brands over the years (Agfatronic, Metz, Braun, etc) and they all functioned nicely. A simple module change had the flashes working on other brands of cameras and was quite handy. Perhaps the Nissin didn't follow the SCA standards and had something of their own, though?

There's two connections. The PC cord in the first. I don't know what the other side is.

ChristopherCoy · Dec 17, 2015

AgX said:
If your body allows TTL then you must use the appropriate adapter, unless your flash itself is designated as customized for your very camera model.

What does "OFC" mean?

Confusing:
The Metz SCA system is so complicated that I doubt people at Metz understand it thoroughly themselves...

It was supposed to be OCF... Off Camera Flash.

AgX · Dec 17, 2015

That multi-pole connection is to connect the flash to the said Nissin-Adapter. That seemingly you are lacking.

But by that cable you can contact your flash via that connection to a plain synchro-contact of a camera. Either (if installed) via a PC-socket or via a PC/hot-shoe adapter.

craigclu · Dec 17, 2015

The Nissin appears in the photo to have some sort of proprietary plug... I wonder if it has a crossover with other Japanese brands (Sunpak/Vivitar, etc)? The 3 pins could be for an external battery connection, I suppose. I wonder if you could get a manual on-line somewhere and be a little more certain of its abilities and functions?

AgX · Dec 17, 2015

Thus you can use your flash either in mode#1 or #3 I hinted at above.

ChristopherCoy · Dec 17, 2015

craigclu said:
The Nissin appears in the photo to have some sort of proprietary plug... I wonder if it has a crossover with other Japanese brands (Sunpak/Vivitar, etc)? The 3 pins could be for an external battery connection, I suppose. I wonder if you could get a manual on-line somewhere and be a little more certain of its abilities and functions?

I've looked online before but have yet to find one.

This big honkin flash...

ChristopherCoy

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This big honkin flash...

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