Canon LTM Canon flashes

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

Red Robin

It Is What It Is
Local time
6:51 PM
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
724
Any users of the old bulb flash units? I know the old bulbs are hard to find and the more modern unints are easier to use but I wondered if the old stuff perhaps gave a different rendering to a photo. I use a Canon P , and sometimes a III or IIs2
 
It is many years since I last used flash bulbs, but as far as I recall they are extremely powerful (guide number varies according to type) and slow burning (max 1/30). My old teacher once had to shoot inside a 100 meter long oven used for drying cement. He shot it at night walking through the oven and firing a bulb every 10 meter. Somehow I think the bulbs give a better color rendition than an electronic flash, at least when using color negatives.
 
Bulbs are FUN to play with. There is also a collecting and using aspect to this that appeals to me.

Although I have many different electronic flashes, if I can find ORIGINAL Canon Bulb flashes, at good prices, of the correct vintage and type, I will buy them, for use with my cameras.
 
Last edited:


Hey Randolph45,
Thanks for the tip!


Actually, I just found -this- one, complete with original case, for $12 including shipping. The Canon V2 flash, for the Canon 7. I think it will also fit my 7S and VT. I know I have a good 22.5V battery around the studio, now need to dig out some Press25 bulbs.

FUN ahead. Here She Is:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390344418590?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
 
V2

V2

Hey Randolph45,
Thanks for the tip!


Actually, I just found -this- one, complete with original case, for $12 including shipping. The Canon V2 flash, for the Canon 7. I think it will also fit my 7S and VT. I know I have a good 22.5V battery around the studio, now need to dig out some Press25 bulbs.

FUN ahead. Here She Is:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390344418590?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I was able to get one here in Sacramento on craigs list for 5$,It looks like it never left the leather case.My kingdom for a blub please:rolleyes: thanks for the heads up on the Canon flash page
 
Last edited:
Ebay has plenty of flashbulbs, just do a search "flashbulb". Probably cheaper from Craiglist, though, if you're doing that. Ebay also if you need a battery, search "22.5v battery". The right one looks like a squared-off "AA".

I also bought a copy of the original Canon V2 instruction book today.
 
I have quite a few 'fan' flashes, including a Leica Chico. I also have quite a few bulbs which I collect whenever I find them. I still haven't actually tried firing one though...
 
Flashes

Flashes

Wow! Lots of great stuff I'm liking the link to the "flash"pages. Guess what I'm really looking for are flash comparisons using the vintage gear and the modern units. I will need to find a good rail mount for my Canon III.
 
I've used the Model Y that goes with the IVSB Canon. It works fine and is fairly bright, I like taking it to my kid's school choir concerts and awards ceremonies.
 
Bulb flashes

Bulb flashes

I've used the Model Y that goes with the IVSB Canon. It works fine and is fairly bright, I like taking it to my kid's school choir concerts and awards ceremonies.
Good stuff! Try posting some of the shots if you have time. Red
 
One time I used my Model Y on my daughter, with a 6B bulb, she was quite startled. Flashbulbs make a lot more light than electronic flash, with a distinctive sound and smell. (M'mm!)

Note that any capacitor in a Canon rangefinder flash will be dead, dead, dead by now.
 
"I'm not a dead battery! I'm a dead capacitor"!

"I'm not a dead battery! I'm a dead capacitor"!

One time I used my Model Y on my daughter, with a 6B bulb, she was quite startled. Flashbulbs make a lot more light than electronic flash, with a distinctive sound and smell. (M'mm!)

Note that any capacitor in a Canon rangefinder flash will be dead, dead, dead by now.
John, That last part sounds dreary, real dreary. Any one make or recondition these capacitor things?:eek: That counts'em out even before the bulbs are bought!
 
I did just purchase a Canon V2 and V3 Flashbulb unit. I have found some bulbs I can use for testing purposes in the studio.

When the V3 arrives, I will go to Batteries Plus and get a 15V battery. Then I will know for sure if the cap is still good. We will see.
 
Oh, the bulb will fire with a dead cap. Just not at full brightness, or not at the right time. Also, the dead cap is likely to be very electrically leaky, and kill the battery in a few days.
 
One time I used my Model Y on my daughter, with a 6B bulb, she was quite startled. Flashbulbs make a lot more light than electronic flash, with a distinctive sound and smell. (M'mm!)

One comparison I noticed is that the old bulb-style flash would scare a cat, at least with the old flash unit and the cat we had then. Strobe units don't even seem to faze the cat I have now, even the huge Sunpak 120.
 
Hey All,
My new Canon V3 Flash arrived the other day. It came with a battery, which I tried, with an AG1B bulb. No Go. So I put it away. Cleaning in the studio today, I found two Eveready 505's. Put one in, and sure enough, the circuit continuity test light blinked for me. Slapped it onto my new Minolta SRT202, set to FP sync, and took a test shot.

POP!!!!!!!! Sizzle!!!!!!!! I'm thinking I'm in business.
 
Last edited:
John, That last part sounds dreary, real dreary. Any one make or recondition these capacitor things?:eek: That counts'em out even before the bulbs are bought!

That's why I searched for about a year for the Model Y power pack type that just uses 4 AA batteries, no capacitor. An elderly collector had a Y flashgun on one of his display cameras. I opened the bottom and sure enough it was the AA type. I offered to trade him for my cell (the capacitor type with the wacked 22.5V battery) and he agreed.

I don't know why there are like 9 types of power packs with various output voltages, but this one works fine for me. See this thread for a picture of the types:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83541
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom