Flash and Speedgrip - 500C/M

[freecom2]

Happy New Year to everyone!

What are the options for using a flash on a 500C/M? I've got a Nikon SB-25 which I am very happy with - aside from the plastic foot, it's a durable solid piece of kit. It's 'A' mode also works superbly.

Would it be a case of just finding and mounting a flash bracket, and then PC cord to the PC port on the lens?

 

[sevo]

Would it be a case of just finding and mounting a flash bracket, and then PC cord to the PC port on the lens?

Right. The only thing to be aware of when connecting modern flashes with old cameras is that a growing number of flashes require a TTL or even a digital camera to trigger and/or control. But a early nineties flash like the SB-25 is on the safe side.

 

[freecom2]

Right. The only thing to be aware of when connecting modern flashes with old cameras is that a growing number of flashes require a TTL or even a digital camera to trigger and/or control. But a early nineties flash like the SB-25 is on the safe side.

Thanks Sevo - yup, the SB-25 is all things to all men (A mode on my D7000, TTL on my FE2... and a good strobist flash to boot).

I've found this Hasselblad L grip but can't seem to find any information on it on the internet - did it have a peculiar name? http://www.ffordes.com/product/12121416371081

 

[sevo]

did it have a peculiar name? http://www.ffordes.com/product/12121416371081

I don't know - rental places seem to call it grip (in contrast to the pistol grip they have besides it).

 

[mfogiel]

There is a Hasselblad side bracket, which has a flash slit, but often the release cord is no longer working properly with these.
I would suggest some general brand flash bracket (Manfrotto makes one for example).
An alternative would be to get a prism with the flash slit, although this makes the camera somewhat top heavy. It works well with the CW version with winder:
http://www.google.it/imgres?imgurl=...ash&start=20&hl=it&sa=N&gbv=2&tbm=isch&itbs=1

 

[sevo]

An alternative would be to get a prism with the flash slit, although this makes the camera somewhat top heavy. It works well with the CW version with winder:

The shoes on all c/m compatible prisms (and grips) are cold - unless you want a prism or a compact L grip with integrated release, any third party L grip will do just as well, at a fraction of the price.

 

[FrankS]

The Hasselblad L bracket pictured provides a great meaty and ergonomic handle for the Hasselblad box, and offers good positioning for a flash. I have exactly this combo, and the answer to the OP's question is yes. The only additional information necessary is that the flash foot bottom contacts have to be insulated from the bracket's metal shoe with a piece of tape.

 

[sevo]

The only additional information necessary is that the flash foot bottom contacts have to be insulated from the bracket's metal shoe with a piece of tape.

That will depend on the flash (many pro ones separate the PC and hotshoe contacts) and age of the grip - most of the grips I rented in the last two decades had a (hot shoe-like) insulating plastics tab in the centre, but there also were older ones are bare metal.

 

[freecom2]

The Hasselblad L bracket pictured provides a great meaty and ergonomic handle for the Hasselblad box, and offers good positioning for a flash. I have exactly this combo, and the answer to the OP's question is yes. The only additional information necessary is that the flash foot bottom contacts have to be insulated from the bracket's metal shoe with a piece of tape.

That will depend on the flash (many pro ones separate the PC and hotshoe contacts) and age of the grip - most of the grips I rented in the last two decades had a (hot shoe-like) insulating plastics tab in the centre, but there also were older ones are bare metal.

So I take it then, judging from the pictures in the link I supplied, that grip counts as an older one of bare metal then? Essentially that flash mount on the grip is just a mounting shoe...

 

[FrankS]

That's correct.

 

[freecom2]

That's correct.

Thanks for the help Frank - very tempted to purchase that grip, but realised that I would like something that also could work with my Rolleiflex and since it looks like there is no real adjustment on positioning with that, I'll have a look out for generic flash brackets.

 

[curmudgeon]

I bought a used Metz 45CL-1 "hammerhead" flash in good shape for about what the Hasselblad flash brackets were selling for on eBay. I bought it to use with a Rollei TLR but I find it worked just as well with my 500C/M (and a Nikon F6).

 

[bigeye]

The other thing about the HB grips is that they use the HB quick release shoe (oddly, with a big screw, instead of lever clamp), so using it with non-HB cameras won't work.

- Charlie