Yet another "which tiny flash?" question

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pdh

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I use flash once in a blue moon, and I mostly use film cameras (R2a, OM1n, KonicaTC, FujiGS645S).

For this very occasional use, Iwant a very small, simple flash that'll work with all the above. I don't need off-camera, or tilt, or slave functions; I just want something that works pretty much like the flash on a P&S.

"A cigarette packet sitting horizontally on top of the prism" is what I'm after.

There are hundreds (it seems anyway) of OEM flashes of this type - Nationals and Sunpaks and whatnot from the 70s and 80s - on eBay, or in the charity shops and car-boot sales.

Rather than "which flash should I get?", I'll ask one quite general question, and one a tiny bit more specific:

Is there any reason not to simply pick up the first, cheapest working one that I come across?

Is there any reason not to buy a Nikon SB-10 rather than the often-recommended SB-30?
 
The Sunpak PF20XD is a great little flash with manual power settings. It runs off 2 AAA batteries and slips into a back pocket easily. It is much more compact than the Nikon SB-10 that was just too bulky for my taste. Seems like just what you are looking for.
 
i'm using pentax af160 for my rangefinder,
2 aa batteries, 2 auto mode, full manual flash

vivitar 2500 if you need zoom/bounce head

my best one is nikon sb20, 4 auto mode, 4 manual adjustable power, bounce, zoom head, but use 4aa and big.

that af160 flash match your need.. i get the one i'm looking for, not the one i found first
 
Two suggestions:

- Sunpak Auto 200 (sold as the Auto 170 outside of the U.S.) - Uses two AA batteries. Has a PC sync cable built into the back of the unit.

- Rollei Beta 1 - Uses two AA batteries. Includes (or should include) a small diffuser that fits over the flash panel for a softer light.
 
Got a Konica HX-18W that fits the bill: size of a pack of smokes, GN=18, Full blast and 2 auto modes. Takes two AA batteries.

Somehow I just never use it, but it's a great flash...
 
Contax g tl 140 like Johan's Hexar suggestion fits the bill, too, and lots are available for $40-50.
 
Which focal lengths do you want to use the flash with ?

I use the Mecablitz 34 CS (same as bherman has in the classifieds now), because it has Fresnel screens for 28 and 90mm. 28mm with a flash is really useful, IMO.

About the size of a pack of cigarettes, but vertically sitting on your flash shoe.

Roland.
 
Lots of suggestions, for which I'm grateful (but for which I didn't ask :D).

I'm glad I got something I didn't think I wanted, because the T20 seems perfect and can be had incredibly cheaply;

A point of clarification though: it is OK for use with for any camera, not just the OMs ? (plus I need a Shoe4 anyway for my OM)
 
pdh said:
I use flash once in a blue moon, and I mostly use film cameras (R2a, OM1n, KonicaTC, FujiGS645S).

For this very occasional use, Iwant a very small, simple flash that'll work with all the above. I don't need off-camera, or tilt, or slave functions; I just want something that works pretty much like the flash on a P&S.

"A cigarette packet sitting horizontally on top of the prism" is what I'm after.

There are hundreds (it seems anyway) of OEM flashes of this type - Nationals and Sunpaks and whatnot from the 70s and 80s - on eBay, or in the charity shops and car-boot sales.

Rather than "which flash should I get?", I'll ask one quite general question, and one a tiny bit more specific:

Is there any reason not to simply pick up the first, cheapest working one that I come across?

Is there any reason not to buy a Nikon SB-10 rather than the often-recommended SB-30?
Click to expand...


One reason to be very careful about what you buy is the flash trigger voltage. Every time the flash is triggered it passes a voltage through the flash sync mechanism (or circuit) of the camera. Many older flashes carry a very high trigger voltage - I've measured one of mine at over 100 volts. Many modern cameras cannot cope with that and the sync circuit or switching will be burned out.

Details at http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html
 
I made it clear that I wanted one to use with film cameras, all of which I names, not a digital camera. Thus there was no reason to concern myself with trigger voltages, of which I am already aware.
 
I 2nd the Sunpak PF20XD. But if you want to go cheaper and are sticking with strictly older film cameras, (for voltage sake) I would take a look at the Hanimex CX345 or 330 or similar, which is smaller than the Sunpak PF20XD. The CX345 runs on 2 AA batteries and can be had for less then $10 on eBay. Has (kind of) Auto function and a built in sync cable for cold shoe mounting. I generally prefer it over the PF20XD on older cameras, because it doesnt feel as cheap, but they both work great. Note: these old Hanimex flashes arent safe for most modern cameras. So check your camera's voltage cap. before using. That being said, Ive actually used it quite a bit with my X-Pro1 with no ill effect. For some reason the Sunpak PF20XD isnt compatible with the xp1, which is why I bought it in the first place.
 
pdh said:
I made it clear that I wanted one to use with film cameras, all of which I names, not a digital camera. Thus there was no reason to concern myself with trigger voltages, of which I am already aware.
Click to expand...

Correct me if Im wrong (and I would love to be wrong in this instance) but I think voltage is a concern regardless of digital or not. If it has circuitry running past the hotshoe, it will be an issue.
 
It can happen. My M4 suffered damage to the internal sync mechanism at some stage in its life, which required replacement of some parts when Sherry overhauled it for me.
 
I know some digital cameras have problems with the high voltage of
flash units so I picked up a Wein HSHSB flash adapter it. It lowers the
voltage down to less than 6 volts I think, I've used this on Nikons, Canons
and now Pentax with no problem frying the electronics in the camera.
I've even used my Dynalite 800watt lighting set up I have no problems
at all.

Range
 
Before the thread goes further off topic, my question from a couple of posts ago remains - can I use the T20 with all the cameras I named?
 
pdh said:
Before the thread goes further off topic, my question from a couple of posts ago remains - can I use the T20 with all the cameras I named?
Click to expand...

Yes. But bear in mind that it was mostly intended for TTL use (which Olympus considered one of their main sales points). It has two plain Auto modes to make it usable with the OM-1, but with auto apertures f/4 and f/8 at ISO100 (respectively f/8 and f/16 at ISO 400) it does only poorly as a fill flash for low light situations if you use it on cameras other than the Olympus TTL models. That slow start value of f/4@100 is a common issue among flashes of that vintage - more modern ones will usually start at f/2.8, the already mentioned Metz 34CS even starts at f/2.
 
as suggested the Metz 34 CS-2 (I've the digital) .. It uses expensive batteries but is much faster in charging than any other of my flashes. a 3 stage auto and some cool slave flash options.
Very good flash for the size.

My newest flash is a very tiny full manual flash the MiniTop of the unomat brand. More a joke than a real thing but it is always in my bag as a backup flash. full manual .. GN14 (in meters for ISO100) or so .. but only 4 euros
 
@sevo - thanks.

And thanks to all others who have contributed suggestions and offered advice.

In reality, my use of flash will be so limited that I will never do justice to one costing more than a few pounds/euros/dollars, so I'll simply pick up the first T20 or SB-10/20/30 or Unomat that I can find under a tenner, and take it from there.
 
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