Flash Unit for GSN?

[sinoe]

I'm new here so a big hello to everybody 😀

i recently got a yashica electro 35 gsn without flash unit. i know very little about flashes but i do want to try it out. but now i'm stuck with choosing a good flash for my gsn. there are just so many of them...

could you give me some recommendations? what flash works well for your gsn?

thanks a lot~ 🙂

 

[Merkin]

If you just want to play around with flash, go with any old non-dedicated flash in the bargain bin at your local shop, just take some double a's with you to test it before you buy it. Most of the older flashes have a dial or chart on the back that lets you know at a glance what aperture settings and flash strength to use at a given distance from your subject at your x speed, which is pretty much all you need to know if you are just experimenting with flash.

 

[sinoe]

hi Merkin thanks for your quick reply!

i realize that most of the old flashes only fire directly. is there any flash that can do bouncing? or am i simply asking for too much...

 

[Merkin]

hi Merkin thanks for your quick reply!

i realize that most of the old flashes only fire directly. is there any flash that can do bouncing? or am i simply asking for too much...

There are loads that can do bouncing, but they tend to be larger and more expensive. If you don't mind a flash that is as large as the camera, the old vivitar zoom thyristor is an absolutely wonderful flash, which is capable of bouncing, as well as capable of zooming to tailor the flash spread for wide, normal, and tele lenses.

 

[sinoe]

haha~thanks a lot Merkin for your help~

 

[Mablo]

I have been shooting my Yashica G with an old Vivitar 283 Thyristor flash. They work absolutely wonderful together. Another good flash option for your GSN is Nikon SB-22, very good and very light flash too.

 

[btgc]

Everything is said already....I'll just add that flashes when not used for a long time, may not charge from alkaline AA's. Get freshly charged NiMh AA's to test flash.

While I like thyristor flash with swivel head, older bricket shaped flashes look just nicer on camera like Electro; as well as greatly reduce red-eye syndrome for direct flash. For bouncing get simple flash bracket with swivel head - they are common and cheap. Just be sure flash has PC cord.

Ah, and I feel safer using manual flash, because Auto modes have delivered inconsistent results. Once I managed to get nice fill flash from thyristor flash with Electro, but right now can' remember if in auto mode or manual.

 

[mmmel]

hi guys, tagging on the thread. My GSN came with rollei flash (E15B) but I'm not sure how to use it. Do I need a cable or will it work just by putting it on the hotshoe? Sorry if the question is a little silly. 🙂

 

[Pompiere]

The flash should work on the hotshoe. If you set the ring to the lightning bolt, the speed is set to 1/30, then you have to set the aperature according to the guide number of your flash.

 

[mmmel]

i'll give that a try. thank you so much for the quick reply!

 

[vbarniev]

Some Flashes will not work in Automatic with your GSN; unless you have a PC cord.

 

[mh2000]

For a full sized unit, the Sunpak 383's are way nicer to use than the larger Vivitar 28X units (Vivitars don't have swivel, Sunpaks do).

For a tiny light weight little flash, the Holga branded Starblitz can't be beat, very very tiny and simple. Cost me $12 delivered from HK. I don't mind sticking it in my pocket "just in case."

For a small unit with bounce the Vivitar 2000 is a very nice little unit... love mine.

 

[vbarniev]

For a small unit; I use BrAun Hobbie 17BC