On camera flash suggestion for a 4x5 field camera

[georgekushstanza]

Was looking for suggestions on flashes that would suffice for indoor/low lighting situations. I'm trying to keep my setup light and portable so I would prefer it be an on camera flash that could mount to my cold shoe and require no stands or battery packs.

[jnantz]

not many 4x5 cameras have a cold shoe. that said
i have used a sunpack thyristor on occasion with a press camera
(speed graphic ) and i have also used a lumedyne 244 with single head
on a speed graphic for portrait and editorial work since 1988. they both
put out a bunch of light, and the lumedyne has a choke/thyristor available
if you like that sort of stuff ( with the lumedyne, you can adjust the light with trim down to 2 ws to 400 depending on the battery )
i have a bachrach bracket the lumedyne can be attached to, and a stroboframe either the sunpack or lumedyne
can mount to. speed graphics have 2 tripod mounts that the frame/bracket can attach to ... but it makes a
very large unwieldy contraption. i tend to stick the camera on a tripod and use a pc cord and have the flash off-camera
for me at least, it makes for a better lighting situation.

goodluck !

[georgekushstanza]

I'm currently stuck in between the horseman 45fa or toyoview 45cf but regardless of which one I get I believe both have a cold shoe. Anyways thank you for your suggestions! I like the looks of the thrysitor.

Edit: do you know of anything similar to the thrysitor that would be able to mount onto the cold shoe and not required the use of an extra brackets?

[rbultman]

Metz 45 series. They won't mount to the cold shoe, but the bottom bracket screws into the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera. The handle flash then becomes another handle. It makes for a fairly compact setup and is IMO less unwieldy than a standard flash connected to the cold shoe.

[David Beal]

A second on the Metz 45 series. The newer models are kinder to the shutter contacts (trigger voltage much lower) and they put out a lot of light.

Besides which, they can make you a celebrity. I used one on a Crown Graphic at a community parade and two lovely ladies asked me if I worked for the local paper.

Of course, there was the young man who marveled at what a big digital camera I had. When I showed him a film holder (and emphasized the word "film" he walked away in a daze.

Sometimes it's fun to be old ...

[Jac@stafford.net]

Besides which, they can make you a celebrity. I used one on a Crown Graphic at a community parade and two lovely ladies asked me if I worked for the local paper.

Of course, there was the young man who marveled at what a big digital camera I had. When I showed him a film holder (and emphasized the word "film" he walked away in a daze.

Next time you do that, let me loan you a graflex flashbulb unit, and some big bulbs.
.

[Corran]

Metz 45 is indeed great, wish mine didn't up and die a few months ago. Need to find another...

[choiliefan]

Vivitar Thyristor 283 or 285 would work nicely and are easy to find. Later HV models will protect your shutter contacts.

[georgekushstanza]

Vivitar Thyristor 283 or 285 would work nicely and are easy to find. Later HV models will protect your shutter contacts.

i've read that they are not powerful enough for large format. i have a cold shoe on my camera and would like to know of an on camera flash that will be powerful enough. i'll be shooting indoors, 400 color film, 5.6 lens. i also already have a flash meter if needed.

[CantikFotos]

Check out the Yongnuo 560III or 560IV. They're cheap and powerful.