charjohncarter
Veteran
Flash use is always more accurate when using manual. But like I said you have to use your brain.
Has anyone added a custom Flash system to their large format camera?
- Thread starter Pirate
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 28
- Views 6K
Flash use is always more accurate when using manual. But like I said you have to use your brain.
Sjixxxy
Well-known
- Local time
- 10:51 PM
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2007
- Messages
- 252
Here is how I rigged up a Armatar modified Vivitar 283 Flash to my Speed Graphic.
Hot shoe on the flash was replaced with a foot that had a typical 1/4th screw thread on it. I busted a burned out lightbulb and created my own 1/4th to Flashbulb adapter.
Now I can just plug it into the flashbulb socket on the old flash handle, and sync via a cable.
Hot shoe on the flash was replaced with a foot that had a typical 1/4th screw thread on it. I busted a burned out lightbulb and created my own 1/4th to Flashbulb adapter.
Now I can just plug it into the flashbulb socket on the old flash handle, and sync via a cable.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Sjixxxy, slick, I going to look up Armatar.
bigeye
Well-known
Sjixxxy, that is a slick rig.
Here's my ultimate studio rig - 3 vivitar 285s on wireless slaves to the scale focus Speedex carrying the trigger. The Ansco rocks with this rig. Images have an overblown, through-a-coke-bottle, on square look that editors crave and models dig.
Speedex triggered the flash by self-timer while I "bulbed" the hand held DSLR in the dark waiting for it to go off; see the cocking lever in motion.
- Charlie
Here's my ultimate studio rig - 3 vivitar 285s on wireless slaves to the scale focus Speedex carrying the trigger. The Ansco rocks with this rig. Images have an overblown, through-a-coke-bottle, on square look that editors crave and models dig.
Speedex triggered the flash by self-timer while I "bulbed" the hand held DSLR in the dark waiting for it to go off; see the cocking lever in motion.
- Charlie
Last edited:
charjohncarter
Veteran
I use a similar set up. I have the Buff Cybersynch triggers and slaves on any extra flashes. You ought to try to find one of these:
this is one a 35mm folder but I really use it on my 6x6 folders. It is a Medis RF and I got it for $7 on Ebay.
this is one a 35mm folder but I really use it on my 6x6 folders. It is a Medis RF and I got it for $7 on Ebay.
bigeye
Well-known
John, real photographers guess the distance.
Although my rangefinding skill is perfect, I did order a DeJur rangefinder on Monday (for when I get old).
I'm just playing around with flash; started out thinking of portraits with the Graphlex 4x5, but have found it to be a blast with the DSLR. Looked at a used Novatron system and found all these inexpensive strobes and triggers and went that way. I would have gotten the cybersyncs but these 2nd gen ebay triggers (phottix aster) have the functionality of the Buffs (but likely not the durability). I got the Asters because they have a 3mm sync port on the master (many cheap triggers don't and it's req'd for the old camera's PC cable) and they can handle the 300v that the old 285s might put across the shoe. They also allow you to isolate the dino-flashes for use with DSLRs. If I had any hard needs or I was sure that I wanted to do more artificial, I'd get the Buffs.
I've never done 3-light setups and spent a couple evenings with the kids moving the flashes around the room and using gels for different effects (the kids had a lot of fun with it). It's quite an education when you can control the finer points of lighting.
- Charlie
Although my rangefinding skill is perfect, I did order a DeJur rangefinder on Monday (for when I get old).
I'm just playing around with flash; started out thinking of portraits with the Graphlex 4x5, but have found it to be a blast with the DSLR. Looked at a used Novatron system and found all these inexpensive strobes and triggers and went that way. I would have gotten the cybersyncs but these 2nd gen ebay triggers (phottix aster) have the functionality of the Buffs (but likely not the durability). I got the Asters because they have a 3mm sync port on the master (many cheap triggers don't and it's req'd for the old camera's PC cable) and they can handle the 300v that the old 285s might put across the shoe. They also allow you to isolate the dino-flashes for use with DSLRs. If I had any hard needs or I was sure that I wanted to do more artificial, I'd get the Buffs.
I've never done 3-light setups and spent a couple evenings with the kids moving the flashes around the room and using gels for different effects (the kids had a lot of fun with it). It's quite an education when you can control the finer points of lighting.
- Charlie
Last edited:
charjohncarter
Veteran
I am old. I basically have the same set up as you. I use Minolta 320x strobes and have maybe 8 more that are not as versatile. I have some slaves and also the Wein SafeSynch for DSLR and I use it as a shoe to PC converter. Check out the Vivitar Macro 5500 ring flash ( I may have the number wrong, they go sometimes cheap on Ebay) They are much fun to, not very powerful but great for fill on sunny days with the right set up. I also use a Topcon Unirex. I was a cheap slr from the 70s but it has a leaf shutter; so synch to 1/500.
bigeye
Well-known
Well, I need another gadget and a removeable rangefinder looks like something that everyone should have. (I can't judge the distances that well, btw.) After reading Finder's thread, how could you not want one?
The old DoF method impresses that it works 'well enough', but can always be better.
What is neat is this flash rig can do more than a single SB-600 and be used with any camera I have. A lot of fun. I'll look for one of those viv rings. -C
The old DoF method impresses that it works 'well enough', but can always be better.
What is neat is this flash rig can do more than a single SB-600 and be used with any camera I have. A lot of fun. I'll look for one of those viv rings. -C
Last edited:
charjohncarter
Veteran
bigeye, I agree I can use the similar system I have with any of my flashes with all of my cameras, except one folder that doesn't have a PC mount. It does have something older that I'm going to try and retrofit for PC. Here is a photo of the Vivitar Macro 5000 (right number):
