Flash for the folder

steveo_mcg

steveo_mcg

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Steven
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I've got a multitude of older electronic flash units, how do I trigger these from my ikonta 524.
 
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Ah cool, I got a couple of those with the radio triggers I bought a while back and luckily one of my old flashes is better quality than the others and has a socket.

I didn't expect it to be the same standard 60 years later, I must admit, I think I've got too used to bikes and computers which seem to change every few weeks.
 
I expect that you know this, but I think that the 524 has an X/M selector. For electronic flash you should select X, M is for flash bulbs.
 
Yeah it does, I only know this because I found a manual online yesterday... :)

How much hassle are flash bulbs? I wonder if that is worth playing with just for interests sake.
 
Electronic flash is far cheaper and no more difficult - and probably more controllable.
 
I think the main problem with using flash bulbs will be finding a reliable supply of bulbs.

There are plenty of cheap flash bulb units on ebay so getting one of those wouldn't be a problem. There are also plenty of bulbs for sale on ebay. They are not particularly cheap and none of the ones that I have seen mention whether or not the indicator mark on the bulbs shows the bulb to be safe to use.

I seem to remember that flash bulbs had a blue indicator mark on them that turned pink when the bulb was no longer safe. An unsafe bulb could shatter when fired.

I agree that an electronic flash would be cheaper, more reliable and certainly more controllable. However, I suspect that if you wanted an easy life you wouldn't be using your 524 in the first place.:):):
 
wickerman said:
An unsafe bulb could shatter when fired.
Click to expand...

Yep had this, also gave myself quite a belt from an old brownie flash....the capacitors can hold some punch!

I would be tempted to go electric tbh.

One thing to also consider is sometimes the length of the bellows can cause shadow and ruin the shot if the flash is located on the coldshoe.....my suggestion is to get a longer synch cord if poss so you can hold the flash unit off camera.
 
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Common sense, plus the fact I've already got a working flash, has prevailed; for the moment I'll stick with the electronic flash.

Asha, never thought about the bellows shadow, might check if I can get the radio trigger to work with a sync cable that would save one stretched about the place.
 
Probably should have asked this before I shot a roll through, but does any one know what the max flash sync would be for this camera? I had the manual on line but I can't find it again and I've been looking for ages...
 
Steven it will sync to maximum speed should you so wish.
Probably best not to use max. though. On your camera what are the range of speeds, seems to vary by type of lens.

C
 
Cheers CeeJay, I noticed an off hand comment about leaf shutters syncing to their maximum about 5 minutes after posting. Why not use max? Out of interest.

Shutter speeds theoretically go 300 - 100 - 50 - 25 and then a load of stuck ones.
 
Not sure of definite reason, just something my lecturer told me a while ago, stuck in my mind ! I usually tend to use 1/125 or 1/250 myself, I suppose depending on amount of light I have varied up to 1/500 on occasion, vary rarely though. I expect you know that high speeds on this type of shutter are not very accurate.
Last time I had five Hasselblad lens checked at annual service they varied from
1/380 to 1/490 in time. At least they were consistent, the slowest I had adjusted
and achieved 1/500 for one year,it dropped to 1/400 by the next year though.

C
 
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