Using flash bulbs with modern film cameras

I am looking for information on using flash bulbs with modern film cameras. ("Flash bulbs" as in AG-1, 25B, M3B, etc., "not electronic flash".)


I have several Canon Rebel-series cameras (ranging from Rebel 2000 to Rebel T2) and would appreciate any information on the feasibility of using flash bulbs with these cameras. I imagine the biggest issues would relate to the electronic sync., both respect to timing as well as voltage or current limitations.


Thanks.

use shutter speed 1/30 or slower.

First issue, does the camera have a syn port or socket? Many of the entry level cameras only have a hot shoe. I have never seen a flash blub gun that was set up for a hot shoe. If you do have sny for electronic sny then you need to set the shutter to 1/30 of a second, and I don't know if the shutter will be in sny with the flash blub, or for that matter if the system will generate enough voltage to pop the blub, my guess it does, the flash gun has a battery to flash the blub. In the old days with a camera like a Spotmatic I would plug the flash blub gun into the electronic flash port and the blub would not fire, but as I recall the flash bulb syn port would fire an electronic flash but the shutter curtain would not be all the way open.

Look for FP bulbs. If not, you will have to see how the intensity of the bulb increases as the first shutter curtain moves across, and see if it is a problem for your imagery.

Old traditional flashguns have the potential of pouring some fairly high current through the flash contacts. Some old flashguns used 15 or 22 volt batteries and capacitors which offers the prospect of exceeding the voltage limits for some modern cameras. The voltage issue could maybe be dealt with using one of the protective modules. But in general, I'm not sure using the old brute force bulb setups on the latest generation of cameras is a wise idea.

(Things work better using electronic flash on the old cameras!)

DWThomas said:

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(Things work better using electronic flash on the old cameras!)

Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth!