Any Zeiss Ikon ZM flash trigger voltage restrictions

[Pioneer]

Like the title, are there any voltage restrictions for the Zeiss Ikon ZM rangefinder. I am planning on using my little Vivitar Auto Thyristor 225 flash tonight but this flash has a pretty high pretty high trigger voltage. It is a good flash and I have used it for years with my K1000 with no issues. But the Zeiss Ikon has a lot more electronics on board than my little K1000 does. The Users Manual says nothing about flash trigger voltage and I can't find any restrictions noted on-line. Any ideas?

 

[kxl]

As far as I know, 30v is the max flash trigger for a Zeiss Ikon ZM. Something like the old Vivitar 285 would be a no go. Doing a quick google search, your Vivitar 225 has a flash rigger of 177v, so I would NOT use it on the ZI.

In comparison, most modern flash units have a flash trigger of less than 10v.

 

[Coldkennels]

It might be worth picking up one of these if you're particularly set on the Vivitar unit: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245292-REG/Wein_W990560_Safe_Sync_Hot_Shoe_to.html

 

[Pioneer]

As far as I know, 30v is the max flash trigger for a Zeiss Ikon ZM. Something like the old Vivitar 285 would be a no go. Doing a quick google search, your Vivitar 225 has a flash rigger of 177v, so I would NOT use it on the ZI.

In comparison, most modern flash units have a flash trigger of less than 10v.

I was afraid you guys would tell me that. I think I have owned that flash as long as I have owned the K1000. It just keeps on working. I have more modern flash units but they are all WAY bigger than that little 225.

I will probably just use my old rude and crude K1000 instead of the ZM tonight.

 

[Pioneer]

It might be worth picking up one of these if you're particularly set on the Vivitar unit: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245292-REG/Wein_W990560_Safe_Sync_Hot_Shoe_to.html

Funny thing. I looked at one of those things several years ago and ended up buying a fancy new flash that tilted and swiveled all over the place. Thought I had it made.

I have only used that fancy new flash three or four times since I bought it. Its' too damned big and I hate it.

I almost always end up using that little Vivitar because...A) It is small and...B) because I have used it for so many years I can probably use it in my sleep!! Besides my digital camera (which I obviously rarely use) has a built in flash that works just fine.

That is what happens when you get old. 😀

 

[Coldkennels]

To be honest, 90% of my electronic flash "work" is done with a tiny Sunpak Auto 140 very similar to your Vivitar; it's just more convenient to carry around than the "proper" units. It has a trigger voltage of 44.5v, so still too high for your ZM, but it doesn't faze any of my old mechanical LTM cameras... or the M240, even.

I'm using a lot of flashbulbs these days, though. Can't remember what the trigger voltage on a CEYOO is, but I know it's probably not recommended for anything with electronics!

 

[Pioneer]

I started using flashbulbs with my Graflex several years ago and still do from time to time when I am doing studio style photography but, like you said, flash bulbs really aren't appropriate for family style photos I am trying to do this evening. For quick and dirty photography using a rangefinder camera you really don't want to drag out the studio lights. Those little electronic flash units from the 70s and 80s are ideal.

Maybe I should have held onto the M3.

 

[Coldkennels]

I quite like the smaller flashbulbs (PF1Bs and the like) to replace on-camera electronic flash but with a lot more power... lets me use slower film with less hassle (as long as I can do the guide number maths quickly enough). Bigger No. 5s or Press 25s or focal-plane bulbs are very much a situational thing, though. I tried using a Press 25 at a halloween party last weekend and just blinded everyone, so yeah, an electronic flash definitely would have been the better option there!


Anyway, looking at my notes, my "proper" electronic flash, a Vivitar Zoom Thyristor 2500 - which is a bit bigger than your model, but not so large it feels ridiculous - comes in at 11.5v. That might be an option. Of course, auto thyistor flashes are so cheap you could just grab a few and test them with a multimeter until you find the perfect combination of size and trigger voltage for the ZM. The Safe Sync would definitely be the easier option, though.