Yashica Electro & Flash

[kiss-o-matic]

Anyone used the small Sunpak flash on their Electro? I have an ES-20, although it's seen better days. It has a nice dial showing me what distances I can expect my flash to work. AFAIK, the ES-20 is GN20, so in theory if I set the Sunpak to the default on position, it would be more or less the same?

 

[farlymac]

Depends on which Sunpak model you're talking about. They all have different Guide Numbers. You can't go by the physical size of the flash, but sometimes the model number is good for a clue. The 1600a and Auto 221 both have scales on the back for selecting power for the ISO/ASA film rating you are using. My 1600 says 100 ISO @ 3.3ft is f16, while the Auto 221 says f22.

PF

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Sorry -- it's the PFXD20. It gets a lot of mention here. It's GN20 (in meters, I believe, which I also believe is the same as the Yashica ES-20 which is kind a big, and impossibly difficult to find).

 

[charjohncarter]

I always do my own tests. If you have or have access to a flash meter you can figure the GN of the Sunpak. I have a Sunpak (an old one) with a very different GN than the manual states. If you are sure about the ES-20 then you can compare the GN on the Sunpak and get the right f-stops and meters/feet. I have to set a different ISO on my Sunpak to get the correct setting.

GN = distance × f-number

 

[farlymac]

If you think it's hard to find an ES-20, then go looking for the Auto ES-20 (for the GX). I got my ES-20 because it was the only one mentioned on the YashicaGuy site, not knowing the Auto was the one I was really after. Only one I ever saw was with a GX, and the seller was asking about double for what they were worth.

PF

 

[oftheherd]

A good all around flash for manual use is the Sunpak Auto 322. If you look at this seller's 2nd and last photos at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunpak-Auto...018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27fad589ea, you will see how versatile this flash can be. You can bounce up and down, right and left, and have power settings from full to 1/32. At 1/32, you have a flash duration of 1/20000 sec, and can freeze the crowns from dropping liquids.

The one I linked to may not be the best to buy since the seller mentions a hairline crack in the battery compartment cover, but if you search for Sunpak 322, you will find many to choose from if you are interested. I have two of those and when I used to take more flash photos, I would be likely to take it over my 283, 285, or Sunpak 522. The 322 doesn't put out a piece of the sun like the 522, but with a guide number of 80 I don't remember for sure, but I think that was in feet) at ASA 100, it isn't a slouch either, unless you are looking at long distances.

Oh, it doesn't have to be used manually either, it is an automatic thyristor flash, and the ones I had were very accurate and with the thyristor, saved on batter drain.