Flash for Mamiya 6MF?

W

wilso26941

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I would like to get a flash for this camera and was wondering what the best option was. Right now it looks like it's between the Vivitar 285HV and the Sunpak 383 Super. I'm leaning toward the Sunpak because it seems a little smaller and the whole idea of the M6 is portability. I'm trying to spend no more than $80 (Metz flashes look out of my price range). This would be used for low light situations like in a bar and fill flash. Also possibly infrared flash shots (with filter). Just recreational photography though - no weddings or anything like that. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Todd Wilson
 
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either should work just fine.
i have a 283 or 285, can't remember just now.
i rarely use flash but got a deal on a used one so i picked it up.
 
For serious flash photography I use my Mamiya 6 with a Vivitar 283, the best portable compact flash ever. For messing around I have a little Vivitar A 16 that tucks neatly into the camera bag and works fine for those gotta have fill flash moments. Any little auto flash should do the job.
 
I just bought a Sunpak for my Mamiya 6. It's small, sweet and is working out well. I was taking photos of my son's jazz band and I didn't want the scene to look like daylight! It turned out nice--beautiful darkness of the jazz club (well, the high school gym made to look like one....)with nicely lit performers (lit with light, not....oh well, never mind....)
My only problem is making sure I don't blow out faces but aiming the flash right at the people. But that's a user error.

The Mamiya with flash may replace my Pentax as my take pictures of the new babies camera....
 
Flash for Mamiya 6MF

Flash for Mamiya 6MF

Hi Todd,

For my Mamiya 6 I use a Vivitar 2000, a very nice and much smaller flash than the 285 or Sunpak. It has Manual Full power and two auto settings for f/4 and I believe f/8. These settings are indicated by a green upside-down triangle for f/4, "M" for Manual full power, and a red triangle for f/8.

It has a DIN number of 27 for ASA 400 film, uses 4 AA batteies and has a tilting head up to 90 degrees. Use velcro or a rubber band, attach a white card as a bounce and you get awesomly beaufiul soft lighting. It fits easily into a coat pocket and is not too obtrusive when shooting the Mamiya 6. You have to attach a synch cord from the flash to the camera, and sometimes the cord hits your nose when you go to look thru the viewfinder. But all in all it's great and a inexpensive alternative to the monster 285.

Cheers,

Chris
Canonetc
 
Hi Todd

I'm using Mamiya 6 with a Vivatar 285; it's a huge thing but it does a lot for me. That said, if I had money to experiment I would try and find something smaller and more "pocket sized"

The comment from Chris about using a white card taped or "banded" to the flash works very well for me also.

good luck , Jan
 
My Mamiya 6 arrives this week. I assume I can use my Nikon SB16 speedlight, right? It has the full manual and two auto settings. But will I still need to connect it via PC cord?

From my newspaper days, I picked up the tip about banded white cards. I've been using the same piece of white foam core with rubber band for four years with good results.
 
Does anyone know of any issues using a Mamiya 6 with a Canon 550EX? I know I'll have to use the 550EX in Manual mode as it doesn't have any auto modes, only Canon's ETTL.

Thanks,
Nick.
 
My vote goes to the Vivitar 283.

Not the smallest, but a resonable size match for the M6. They are basic, simple to use, fairly powerful and very reliable and you can find them easily and very cheaply used. I have 4, I don't know why as I don't use flash much. One I brought new about 15 - 20 years ago (and its still fine) but the others I picked up for less than $20 each in the U.K. at camera fairs (GAS I guess). When I do use them I mainly attach them to a Quantam Battery 1+ power pack (you can power two at the same time from this if you want) which then gives recycle times of 1 - 3 seconds.

The only down sides to the 283 are the plastic foot to the hot shoe can break too easily if put under strain and the trigger voltage is too high for most digital cameras without something like the Wein Safe.
 
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