Flash for GS

[Kat]

I'm thinking if a flash could be useful for fill-in with the GS. Forgive my ignorance, but I know nothing about external flashes. How will I know if they are compatible with the GS? With any flash with pc sync do? Also, is there anything I should look for and avoid in choosing a flash?

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Hi Kat,

I would recommend a Vivitar 283 or Vivitar 285HV if you are going to use a synch cord and have the flash off camera, either on a light stand or on a flash bracket. Both of these are powerful enough and reasonably priced.

There are of course many other flashes, but I have had good luck with both of these models.

If you are only going to use the flash occasionally, I would burn a roll of film and make notes on the flash settings to see what I liked. Example: Kids under tree at ten feet, ISO 160 film, lens aperature f8, flash setting "Blue" take shot and make note. Then try lens aperature f5.6 everything else the same and take photo, make note. Then try f11, all else the same. Then next series try yellow mode on flash. Rinse and repeat for all modes on your flash. Develop your film and match prints to notes and see what you like for fill flash. Say you like yellow mode, f11 for kids at ten feet. That is what I would set my camera and flash at to shoot the kids under open shade.

If you are going to shoot under a variety of conditions all of the time I would invest in a flash meter and remove all doubt about what is the correct setting for the given situation.

Clear as mud?

Wayne

 

[Kat]

Thanks, Wayne. By "off camera" do you mean it's not going to be on the cold shoe? I'd rather very much be able to attach it to the camera body if possible, to make everything easier to carry around...

That's for the great tip on testing. I'm very poor at remembering the settings I used (which also makes me poor at remembering to change settings for the next shot), so I better follow your advice and take everything down.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Hi Kat,

Yes, by off camera, I did mean NOT in the cold shoe of the camera. Both of these flashes are a little large to be in the cold shoe of a GS. They will work on the camera with a PC cord to the flash synch on the side of your camera body, but you may find they do not balance the outfit as well as you would like.

If you like the Yashica GS, I would recommend getting a GSN as it has a hot shoe (it is basically the exact same camera, just a few changes) and you can use any number of smaller flashes that run on 2 AA batteries and balance the camera for hand held use much better than the 283 or 285. They will not be "better" flashes for everything but will get the job done. Yashica made a little flash called the CS-14 that I use on Yashica GSN and MG-1 camera bodies.

I would keep the GS and use it for availabe light photography with faster film 400-800 ISO and then use the GSN for fill flash photos, or for that matter you could get a Yashica MG-1 for flash use. I think the most that I have paid for a Yashica GSN, GS, GT, or MG-1 is $17. You just have to be looking for them and they will show up!!

Wayne

 

[Kat]

Thanks, Wayne! I have yet to receive and use my GS, so I guess I'll see first if I'll be needing the flash.

This is OT, but in line with GS accessories, any idea on what size of hood to get? I read in a site that filter size is 55mm but "lens shade" is 57.5...Isn't that kinda weird size?

Can a polarizer be used with either Yashica's? I'm thinking of getting one for my digicam, I figure if it can be used with a yashica as well, I'll look for something compatible for both.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Kat,

A 55mm screw in hood will fit the filter threads on the inside of the lens ring. The 57.5mm fits the outside of the lens ring and clamps on. I prefer the 55mm size that screws into the lens ring.

If you want the 57.5mm hood just follow some one that has one on their lens for a little while, and pick it up off the ground when it falls off and they don't notice it.

Wayne

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Kat,

You can use a polarizing filter on the GS, but it won't work the way you want it to. The Meter eye will not compensate for the light reduction of the polarizer and you can not see the results of rotating the polarizing filter. Don't waste your money on one for the GS.

Wayne

 

[WDG]

The Vivitar 252 is also a dandy compact auto flash for this camera. It's PC cord is stowed in the base of the flash, and has two auto levels. It also has an AC connector, for use inside. I paid about $10 on eBay for mine, in box with case, manual and AC cord. It'll "look right" on your GS (I have a GSN).

I believe the 251 is also an auto flash, and also the 253, though I'm not so familiar with these.

For a hood, I have a Hoya metal hood that stays on mine all the time, that will accept a 58mm Yashica snap-cap. Might be a little tight in the corners to put on top of a filter, but I haven't tried that, yet. Very handy, not too much viewfinder interference and helps me keep my dumb fingerprints off the glass.

 

[Kat]

Maybe someone will be picking mine off the ground when mine falls off as well, LOL!

Thank you all for the replies, I really appreciate the help. Looking through ebay now, I hope all this waiting and watching pays off with a good deal! 🙂

 

[RichardS]

The MG1 Electro has the meter located so it will give proper readings with a filter on the lens. I thought I'd mention this so perhaps you'd end up with a half dozen different models of Electros, one for any kind of picture you want to take. I have about that many.

Dick

 

[Kat]

Hehe, thanks for the info. I would love a GX first!🙂 LOL but after seeing that one go on ebay for $300, that seems unlikely for me.

 

[Byuphoto]

Yashica made a nifty little flash called the Pro-50DX, It will work with a cold or hot shoe. Runs on 3 AA and looks just right on a Gs/GSN. I have one I bought with my GSN plus it will work on AC power.

 

[Kat]

Thanks, I'll check out ebay for that as well 🙂 Still waiting for a good deal...

 

[Kat]

This will sound stupid, but I still haven't decided on a flash. I'm wavering between a Vivitar 252 or Sunpak Auto 101. Anybody have some insights on the two brands? I like the Vivitar's look and shape better, and it seems to have a dial (if I'm not mistaken, Sunpak has a chart instead). I have no idea on how to use a flash, but I'm assuming a dial would make things easier? But the Sunpak looks more solidly built. Specs are pretty similar, I have no idea on dimensions, weight and recycling time, though, which would have helped on a decision. Matt Denton's site has reviews of both, but not enough to base a specific comparison on... Any ideas, guys?

PS. My apologies, please be patient with a clueless newbie...

 

[XAos]

I have a 283, and while it's fine on power and flexibility, the foot is an absolute joke not worthy of the rest of the unit. The 2 AA class flash might be wimpy but it's much more convenient for on camera use. By the time you get to the 4AA class, they should have quit pretending and just made it a handle mount like the 3900. It's a large package with substantial bulk to be waving around held by a plastic foot in the shoe. I got the 283 specifically because I wanted filters and wide angle coverage. Mine is only a few months old and triggers fine off the shoe, but the cable sync is flaky.

If you can live with a bracket, a 3900 or 283 would work, but if you want something convenient, you may have to live with the performance of the 2AA class flashes.

 

[Kat]

Thanks, XAos. I don't mind the 2AA, 4 AAs would just be too heavy to lug around, even without hassle of the bulk. I'm lazy, so I would be less likely to put a good use something I don't want to carry.

I have one last question about flashes--I've been looking around older ones at ebay, and I noticed some of them have the glass/plastic (whatever it is where the flash comes out) turning a little yellow probably due to old age. Will this substantially affect performance?

 

[MrRanger]

Hey Kat,

Here's a shot of my GSN with a Vivitar Auto 252. Works really well with this camera and it seems to compliment the camera too! I would think if the yellowing was bad enough to be noticeable, it would effect the tone of the light coming from the flash.
Anybody else? That's my best guess! 😕

Mike 😀

 

[Kat]

Thanks, Mike, it looks great! Finally, I will stop bugging everybody about flashes, I just took everybody's advice and bought a Viv 252, same as yours, off ebay. I was a little worried about the yellowing, there are some really nice, new-looking ones, but the one I got was only $7 including shipping. I figured I don't intend to use it much anyway.