Using a 35mm Flash on a MF camera?

[copake_ham]

Until a year or so ago, I was always a 35mm Nikon shooter.

Recently, with the collapse of film gear prices, I've begun shooting in MF.

I have several MF cameras, but I'm mainly interested in whether my Nikon flash units (e.g. SS-16 and SB-800 etc.) will "work" with my Pentax 67II?

By "work", I know they will flash and likely flash in synch etc. But does the different format size "matter"? In other words, to properly "light" the subject", is a 35mm flash unit compatible with a MF camera on regular setting? Or do I need to make some kind of "compensation" adjustments?

[David A. Goldfarb]

Yes, your 35mm flash units should work. If they have non-TTL auto exposure using a sensor on the flash unit, that should work as well. The only potential issue is that you might want more power to get a smaller aperture with MF. The usual solution in that case, lacking a bigger flash unit, would be to use faster film.

[papagene]

it should do the job just fine. i have used the Vivitar 283 with a Yashica mat and with my Fuji 6x7 rangefinder and it had plenty of coverage.

gene

[Sirius Glass]

They will work on MF.

Back to first principles:

1. "Normal" lenses have roughly the same field of view for 35mm and MF, that includes 6x7. Same logic for the wide angle and telephoto lenses.
2. The films are the same, barring the more limited choices in MF
3. The processing is the same. Therefore, with #2, the light sensitivity is the same.
4. The intensity of the strobe is the same.
5. The range of the strobe is the same. With #4 the guide numbers are the same.
6. The range of the sensors on the strobe is the same.

I have used my Nikon SB-800 with my Hasselblad and neither of them had any bad feelings about each other. In fact the got along quite well.

Steve

[eddym]

Both the SB-16 and the SB-800 have non-ttl automation via sensors in the flash, so they should work with all the non-dedicated features, just as they would on 35mm cameras. Synch should not be an issue as long as the Pentax shutter is set for X synch, and does not exceed the X synch shutter speed.

[gr82bart]

Yes they will work. Once when I forgot my flash for my Hassey, I used my SB-600. Basic lighting principles - think of the flash like a studio strobe. Use it manual, use a meter to get the f-stop you need and any flash will work with any camera.

Speaking of strobes, I actaully use several SB units for location shoots instead of buying the "portable" strobes. Works just fine and weighs a tonne less.

I guess this begs the question why bother with all the deicated flash units? Part of the answer has to do with GAS.

Regards, Art

[dferrie]

George,

Thanks for posting the question! I just remembered that I have an old Minolta A320 flash, which from memory has a standard shoe fitting before minolta switched to "proprietary" one on the Maxxum/Dynax models. So now I have some new to try this weekend with my "new" Mamiya 645.

David

[David A. Goldfarb]

I guess the reason one might want a dedicated flash unit, other than idiot proofing (i.e., automatically setting the flash sync speed) would be TTL flash metering, and I gather the Nikon units can do this with more than one flash, so that's an interesting feature, but I've managed to live without it.

If you like to shoot flash with a zoom lens that doesn't have a constant aperture, that's a case for TTL flash metering. Or if you do macro photography of something that moves, like insects or small birds, that's another case for TTL auto flash.

[Dan Fromm]

<snip> Or if you do macro photography of something that moves, like insects or small birds, that's another case for TTL auto flash.

I'm still not convinced of that, and I have a couple of flash-body pairs that do TTL auto flash.

I get more consistent results with pre-calibrated fixed output flash rigs. Choose a magnification, set aperture and, with the 283/VP-1s, power level, aim, and shoot. Nothing simpler.

This all comes down to the old discussion about whether metering incident or reflected is better. In this case, mindless incident seems to give better results than mindless reflected.

[snegron]

I have used a Vivitar 285HV with a Mamiya 645 without a problem. Have you considered the option of a handle mount flash? I find that having that extra grip with my Sunpack 555 and Mamiya 645 bodies helps out a great deal. Prices of Sunpack handle mount flashes have dropped considerably as well.