bob cole
Well-known
bmattock
Veteran
Well, it looks as though it were designed to work with a flash unit, to trigger as well as provide variable power output, in the manner of a Vivitar 285 'varipower' unit.
I note that it has an electric contact on the bottom of the shoe, but only one, so it is clearly designed to be triggered by the camera to do something. The markings are "M" and then several colored dots - not unlike the markings on, again, a Vivitar 285.
I see two cables - be interesting to see what the ends of them look like.
I can almost envision that it might be used in combination with a Soligor Sensor II spot meter and some sort of flash unit to coordinate the meter reading with the flash output.
However, that's all guesswork.
I note that it has an electric contact on the bottom of the shoe, but only one, so it is clearly designed to be triggered by the camera to do something. The markings are "M" and then several colored dots - not unlike the markings on, again, a Vivitar 285.
I see two cables - be interesting to see what the ends of them look like.
I can almost envision that it might be used in combination with a Soligor Sensor II spot meter and some sort of flash unit to coordinate the meter reading with the flash output.
However, that's all guesswork.
bob cole
Well-known
What is This??
thanks, bmattock...
interesting that you would know about this...
In the same stuff I also picked up an antique RF I never heard of -- a German-made Wittnauer Professional with a Synchro Compur shutter and a 50mm/f2.8 Chronostar lens...And when I Googled it, you had answered earlier on the RFF that it was a rebranded Braun Super Colorette IIB...
As for the Soligor thing, there are no ends...the wire begins and ends on the back of the thing...And from what you said, I only have part of the device...
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thanks, bmattock...
interesting that you would know about this...
In the same stuff I also picked up an antique RF I never heard of -- a German-made Wittnauer Professional with a Synchro Compur shutter and a 50mm/f2.8 Chronostar lens...And when I Googled it, you had answered earlier on the RFF that it was a rebranded Braun Super Colorette IIB...
As for the Soligor thing, there are no ends...the wire begins and ends on the back of the thing...And from what you said, I only have part of the device...
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bmattock
Veteran
Interesting. Does the wire ending in the middle of that dial-looking front pop off or otherwise remove (without ripping it to shreds, of course)? I wonder if it was merely parked there - doesn't make sense to have a wire go from the unit to the same unit.
But anyway, I really just guessing in the dark here. I have no knowledge of this thing, whatever it might be. Just trying to draw on what it reminds me of.
As to the Wittnauer, if you have the same one I had, the lens is removable, although I never found other focal lengths to use with it. Not a terrible little camera, and definitely unusual. I did finally sell mine, one of the few cameras I have ever sold.
ully
ully
Auto cord for
Auto cord for
off camera flash. Set the camera attachment in the hot shoe and plug the other end into the flash. Allows flash to be held at arms length to remove red eye.
Auto cord for
off camera flash. Set the camera attachment in the hot shoe and plug the other end into the flash. Allows flash to be held at arms length to remove red eye.
bmattock
Veteran
What's the dial for with M, and then some colors?
It seems needlessly complex to simply be a remote flash cable.
Do you suppose it does anything more?
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I agree with this...Vivitar also made something like this for the 283/285 type flashes...Vivitar also made a Flash Bracket to postion the flash off camera and would also allow you to point flash 360*...but still meter flash output in the forward position...
The plug in the center should pop off and possibly a sensor may mount in there...The "M" and colored dots should correspond with flash power output...
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bob cole
Well-known
What is This??
thanks, all...maybe this pix of the end of the plug will help...it has four prongs that fit into the back of the device...
thanks, all...maybe this pix of the end of the plug will help...it has four prongs that fit into the back of the device...
Attachments
bmattock
Veteran
I may have found it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vivitar-283-SC-...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247
Looks like the guesses were more or less right. From the auction listed (Vivitar instead of Soligor, but I suspect they're the same in this instance), the device went into the hot shoe, then the VP-1 (like the Vari-Power on the front of a Vivitar 285) went into the socket on that. The cable went into the hole left on the front of the flash when you pulled the VP-1 (or Soligor's equivalent) out.
This allowed, yes - to get the flash off the camera - but it also allowed variable power settings and - if this is like the Vivitar listed - an auto-thyrister type function to shut off the flash when proper exposure had been reached.
Kind of cool. I don't know if yours would work in conjuntion with a Vivitar 283, or if you'd need the Soligor equiv (I didn't even know Soligor made flashes).
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vivitar-283-SC-...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247
Looks like the guesses were more or less right. From the auction listed (Vivitar instead of Soligor, but I suspect they're the same in this instance), the device went into the hot shoe, then the VP-1 (like the Vari-Power on the front of a Vivitar 285) went into the socket on that. The cable went into the hole left on the front of the flash when you pulled the VP-1 (or Soligor's equivalent) out.
This allowed, yes - to get the flash off the camera - but it also allowed variable power settings and - if this is like the Vivitar listed - an auto-thyrister type function to shut off the flash when proper exposure had been reached.
Kind of cool. I don't know if yours would work in conjuntion with a Vivitar 283, or if you'd need the Soligor equiv (I didn't even know Soligor made flashes).