Olympus 35RC suitable flash...?

[OMboy]

This forum is dangerous - I only joined recently due to my love of all things Zuiko in the evil SLR world 😀

I have just picked up an Olympus 35RC (my first rangefinder) which I love and I'm wondering about getting a smallish compact flashgun for it.
I would like to get something from the Seventies period if possible to match the age of the camera - any suggestions from other users...?

Many thanks

 

[Mablo]

Well, I guess the Seventies choice would be Vivitar 283 but perhaps you're after something smaller 🙂 I used Nikon SB-22s with mine but Nikon SB-20 or SB-17 would be fine too I'm sure. Note that 35RC has a rather sophisticated flashmatic system where you simply choose the GN value of your flash, set the flash to manual and shoot away. It works quite well as long as you use ISO100 film. Of course you can use the normal Auto (Thyristor) mode as well.

 

[jke]

What's that nifty little Pentax flash called? I think it is an AF-16. Pretty small, strong, and works well. That might be a good one.

 

[Richard Ross]

Well the Olympus PS200 would be the obvious choice as it's the one recommended in the 35RC Instruction Book, but I don't think I've ever seen one!

Regards
Richard

 

[Jack Conrad]

I recently used a Vivitar 283 on my Yashica GSN and I think it may have damaged a circuit in the camera.
I'm getting battery drain now and when I opened up the bottom to look, I noticed a small burn mark on the white plastic circuit board next to the battery that wasn't there before.
I could be reaching here, but some of the 283's have a reputation for high voltage spikes.

Anyway, just a possibility.

 

[nikku]

I used a Canolite D on mine for a long time. The RC has a "flashmatic" mode that allows you to use any flash you want and get accurate exposures, as long as you know the correct ASA of the film you're using and the GN of the flash.

 

[ColinW]

If you want the real thing try this link:

http://www.tripman.co.uk/70131/info.php?p=7&pno=0

Out of stock at the moment but he gets them in quite regulary, it's good for filters, caps, hoods, etc. too. Same size as the 35RC. The other rarer one is the Olympus PS100G.

I use a Sunpak MX112, which is identical to the PS200 but a different guide number (40 feet/12 meters).

If you're not sure about the flashmatic, check here:

http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~yue/misc/35RC.html

 

[Borghesia]

Another vote for the Canolite D. It's still widely available and cheap, and it matches the design of the RC.

 

[charjohncarter]

I use one of these on my 35C and other small cameras. I looks 'right' but does not put out enough flash to use for 'sun sync' but I have used it for fill flash outside. Inside it is fine on either auto setting:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VIVITAR-Auto-26...ptZDigital_Camera_Flashes?hash=item2559271852

This guy uses this flashes' brother, same flash but with a tilting head (2800d). Check 'divided souls' in his gallery.

http://www.davidalanharvey.com/

 

[Trius]

Thanks to Colin, I have a PS100 ... great little flash, though I haven't used it much since I don't do a lot of flash work. The PS200s are much easier to find. Both of those are sized well for the RC.

 

[OMboy]

Thanks to you all for the replies - some helpful stuff there...!

Apologies for the delay in getting back to this thread - for some reason I didn't get any Email notifications...😕

I have an old Stanley auto20T which is nice as the flash window is the other way round and the flashgun lies flatter to the top surface rather than standing up tall.

Is there a big difference between small flashguns of around GN 12-14 compared to something around the 20 mark...?
I realise that a 20 will be brighter but it generally gets bigger and I'm trying to find a compromise between size/weight and actual usability.

My little 35RC has just got a twin - I've recently bought another...!

This forum is definitely dangerous...I was even spotted in the Leica section earlier today 😱

 

[sevo]

Is there a big difference between small flashguns of around GN 12-14 compared to something around the 20 mark...?

Well, more reach. Just how much is easy to determine, the usually published guide number is distance (in metre or, for the US market, feet) x aperture at ISO 100. So a (metric) GN 20 flash would light a scenery at 10m distance at f/2, while the GN 12 flash does not make it beyond 6m...

Sevo

 

[OMboy]

Of course - I wasn't thinking. Thanks.

 

[Trius]

The PS100 is horizontal, so is better in terms of ergonomics. I don't remember the guide number, and they seem to only turn up on UK eBay.

 

[OMboy]

I managed to pick up a PS200 today with a case for £1...including working batteries...!

 

[ully]

I got a Rollei 128bc to go with my RC. Sizewise its perfect.

 

[btgc]

Note that 35RC has a rather sophisticated flashmatic system where you simply choose the GN value of your flash, set the flash to manual and shoot away. It works quite well as long as you use ISO100 film. Of course you can use the normal Auto (Thyristor) mode as well.

I haven't used RC with flash for a long, but as I recall, with ISO400 film I just set GN two notches higher than nominal of flash, just like two stops of film. Isn't this supposed to be correct workaround?

 

[Mablo]

I haven't used RC with flash for a long, but as I recall, with ISO400 film I just set GN two notches higher than nominal of flash, just like two stops of film. Isn't this supposed to be correct workaround?

It might indeed work, at least to some extent. Setting GN higher will result that the RC's mechanics will select a smaller aperture which is exactly what is needed when a faster speed film than 100 is used. The relation between GN notches and ISO might not be exact but it's there or thereabout.

Then again you could circumvent the whole GN/ISO thing using a common Thyristor-equipped flash and select the needed aperture manually.

 

[wakarimasen]

Would a National PE-2002 work? I have one of these, and an RC, but never considered putting the two together

Best regards,
RoyM

 

[ruby.monkey]

The Olympus T-32 ain't all that big. 😉