Good inexpensive flash for M3?

[Kyle]

I'm sure a few people will call me crazy or burn me at the stake but I'm thinking of picking this up.

It's only $15 and up until yesterday I've never even bothered thinking about getting a flash for my Leica. However, next week I'll be tagging along with a couple bands on their tour from New Mexico to Florida and I want to get some shots of them on stage and such. Since I have no idea what the lighting conditions will be like I figured I need to be prepared and carry a flash. The trip is already stretching my budget pretty thin and I can't afford anything nice, nor do I feel I really need it, I just need some quick light when necessary. I know I can find decent Vivitar, Sunpak or Metz units on ebay for similar prices but I don't really have time to bid and wait for it to arrive since I'm leaving soon. I can just go to Freestyle this weekend and pick one of these up. Plus, it comes with the PC cord so I don't have to worry about tracking one down since it seems many of them on ebay don't have the PC cords (I know I'll need the PC adaptor thingy for my M3).

Basically, is there any good reason why I absolutely, positively should not buy this thing? That is, other than the fact that using a cheap Chinese plastic flash on an M3 is considered a crime against humanity by some.

 

[payasam]

Looks like no one is reacting to the provocation.

 

[Svitantti]

A friend and RFF member has also posted here about getting a same kind of camera... Except with color filters for the flash.

But it doesnt have to be Holga flash, you probably get same kind of small manual flashes anywhere from flea markets or ebay etc...

 

[Fred Burton]

The flash appears to be completely manual, so you'll have to calculate the exposures. Otherwise, it looks like an o.k. flash.

 

[charjohncarter]

I bought a Vivitar 2600D ($10.00 ebay), two auto modes and manual. Just set the auto mode you want, set the Fstop and use a slow shutter speed to get some background, and shoot (night). The stage thing is different though, you had better do some reading.

 

[Svitantti]

Shooting musicians with flash is anyway quite unpolite unless they ask you to take photos, I would say. But I guess audience will do some of that anyway so who cares.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

Looking at this flash online at B&H and Adorama as well as at FreeStyle, it isn't clear to me if its guide number is 22 feet or 22 meters.

The guide number figure is one you absolutely want to know. When using a manual flash without a flash meter, the guide number is vital.

 

[breathstealer]

Like you said, there are far better options available at similar prices, but if you're in such a hurry I guess this is fine. Unless you have a local source maybe?

 

[drewbarb]

Don't buy a new flash. Look around at all the various places where used equipment is available; there are thousands upon thousands of perfectly functional older non-dedicated flashes out there that will work perfectly well and which can be had for next to nothing- certainly the same sort of money you'll spend for a new unit, even one this cheap. Plus, it's more environmentally friendly to buy used, (packaging, shipping, and manufacturing costs are much greater for new products, and buying a used item defrays those original costs from older products out over a longer usage life) if that matters to you.

I have three or four small flashes, all bought used, for ten or fifteen bucks from camera shops, swap meets, or ebay (although admittedly ebay adds more to shipping cost and fuel consumption...); but each of these old flashes work great with my old manual cameras, Leicas and otherwise.