Flashes

[Michael Moore]

Hi im new to the forum as well as the rangefinder as a medium. I was looking for some advice in regards to a suitable flash system for my Bessa R2a. Typically a two flash set-up (one on body, one off camera). Prodimately shooting indoors/portrait.

Appreciate any advice on this.

Regards

Mikey

 

[Burkey]

Hi Micheal,
Welcome to the forum. To be honest, If your thinking about two flashes for portrait work I'd consider monolights. I use a set of Patersons/300WS each at work and find the monolight setup to be pretty easy to move around. Anyone thinking about syncing external flashes really has gotta' try these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ryProximity&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget
They work wonderfully. I have a set with two receivers and and it's the least expensive method I've found for syncing to film or digital cameras.
Good luck and again, welcome to the forum.

 

[ffttklackdedeng]

Welcome to the forum, Mikey. Why do you want two flashes? If it is in order to have indirect and direct light, you could also go with one of the flashes that do both..

The real rangefinder style is to forget about flash light and put a 1600 film in the camera 😉

 

[Michael Moore]

Thanks for the information on the slave units. Its exactly what i had in mind.

 

[Burkey]

Glad to help. I was getting ready to purchase a set of "Pocket Wizard" radio units but they cost more than the monolights did. I tried the ones I suggested and they work great. The guy that sells the small radio units on eBay will give you a price for one transmitter and two receivers if you email him. BTW, I use an old Gossen Luna Star that has a flash incident reading capability for exposures.

 

[Bryce]

Here's a cheap solution or two-
For the on camera flash- any small unit with good manual controls.
For the off camera unit- Vivitar 285 and an optical slave unit. I choose that gun because of its power (GN 120), good manual control, and they're especially common and inexpensive.
Then you'll need a flash meter, preferrably one that's capable of measuring ambient light as well. I use a Gossen Luna Star F with great results. Alternatively a digital camera with a hot shoe to use as a polaroid back.
Good luck!

 

[kshapero]

What lens are you using? The rangfinder experieince is essentually a flashless expericence? Why the hot shoe? Works for used chewing gum. Or a good viewfinder.

 

[Michael Moore]

Curently using a Leica 5omm Summicron 2.0. Flash is for portrait work, otherwise i shoot natural light.

Thanks for all your help, will let you know the results

 

[Kin Lau]

If you're using smaller flash units instead of studio strobes, http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...80004343585&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1 is what use. Very portable and easy to setup.