Rangefinder Photography With A Flash?

[Stu W]

I just realized. Since I bought my first Contax about 6 years ago and my first Leica about 3 years ago I have never used a flash? Stu

 

[sirius]

So what did you do when the light was too poor for a rangefinder?

A lot of people here dislike flash, but it can be wonderful and creative. Flash with ambient light can have a wonderful sense of movement. Flash with black and white is gorgeous: imagine a lily getting flash infront of a house. You can put your exposure down so slow that the house becomes a silhouette and the sky comes alive. One becomes more of an auteur than observer. Winogrand did some amazing flash work at parties and the stock yards.

Even though I love natural light, especailly window light. I wish I could handle flash better!

 

[venchka]

About a zillion photographers (including me) used Koni-Omegas and flash in the 60s-70s & 80s. I use flash with all my cameras when it's needed and/or hopefully when it makes a better photo.

 

[Eric T]

To me, using a rangefinder is about being unobtrusive in photographing people and events. So I never use flash with an RF. Instead, I use fast lenses and a higher ISO. If I am in a situation when I absolutely have to use flash, I use a Canon 400D (Rebel XTi). I find that I need a flash very, very rarely.
Eric

 

[shadowfox]

To me, using a rangefinder is about being unobtrusive in photographing people and events. So I never use flash with an RF. Instead, I use fast lenses and a higher ISO. If I am in a situation when I absolutely have to use flash, I use a Canon 400D (Rebel XTi). I find that I need a flash very, very rarely.
Eric

Exactly, to me part of the fun using film rangefinders is the fact that I can afford excellent fast glasses now and also fast films. If the light is too dim for f1.4 and 800ASA, I may as well just stow my camera and enjoy the moment.

Flashes definitely CAN be used to create neat effects and in some cases are crucial to the quality of the image. But for me, that's where my E-300 Olympus and an ancient T-310 flash get to take the spotlight. 🙂

 

[keithwms]

The leaf-shuttered RFs (e.g. the Mamiyas) are ideal for flash. In fact they are better than most SLRs in terms of synch.

 

[Finder]

I have never thought the use of flash was limited by camera type. I have not seen many cameras that don't allow their use.

 

[payasam]

When I had an M3, I used it with flash when flash was necessary. Couldn't do that with a IIIc, can't do it with a Zorki 1C.

 

[sirius]

I don't know if I was describing that example of creative use of flash well. Here's the example I was thinking of, though it was really a rose.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1394696044&size=m

You can see more of how this guy uses flash here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7352884@N02/sets/72157600005026887/

I think Steve Harrison's work is just genius. It's very personal and moving. I especially like many of his tree and cowboy pictures.

 

[wyk_penguin]

I have never thought the use of flash was limited by camera type. I have not seen many cameras that don't allow their use.

True, but a leaf shutter will allow flash at any shutter speed (top speed of the usually leaf shutter 1/500s).

ISO800 f/1.4 and 1/15s is good enough for me. 😀 IMHO, flash is best used for mug shots and macro photos. 😛

 

[dmr]

In general, I dislike flash. It is, in my not so humble opinion, annoying and distracting, and produces a harsh light. In most cases if I don't need it, I don't use it. The one thing I do like about the vintage RFs and even SLRs is that in many indoor cases, a flash is not necessary. Natural light looks soooo much better.

There are some cases where flash is either a necessary evil, or useful for special effects. I've done some experiments in the style of Weegee and I've used a RF and not a huge honking press camera. For these I've used both a Vivitar 2600, one I've had for the SLR for many years, and a huge Sunpak 120, a broken one which was given to me which I resurrected. I've used both on a Canon GIII for the Weegee experiments. The Sunpak 120 is a bit like the tail wagging the dog. It does mount on the GIII but it is overwhelming.

 

[ywenz]

The M has a LIve hot shoe eh?

 

[350D_user]

I thought that grippy-type plate was for those multi-turret viewfinders.