Calibrating Modern Flash & Flash Bulbs & Zone Focus 4X5

[Tin Can]

I did this a decade ago, I will try to improve

I am old and tired so I will be slow to produce

The goal is to shoot without meter

or focus

aim shoot

NOW!!

just like WeeGee


Please join in with real life current examples

I will use a Speed and a Printed P&S Modern 4X5 with studio strobe, Camera Strobe, Flash Bulbs

I hope to shoot daily and not hide failure

I always need a goal!

[Tin Can]

4X5 example from 8 years ago

Handheld, one flashbulb, sport finder, plastic camera, one shot at 3 am closed bar

Turbo by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

[Mark Sampson]

With an electronic flash, use film to figure your exposure at 10 feet (or 8, or whatever) and a given f/stop, say f/16. Then you'll know.
With fixed-output flashes, bulb or electronic, we used a concept called the "Guide Number" to determine the f/stop to use at a given distance.
A well-known practice, details should be easy to find; a Kodak Master (or Pocket) Photo Guide would be a good place to look.
That's how the press photogs did it back in the day.
Best of luck- have fun- show your work please!

[LabRat]

The press fotogs also leaned heavily on their "labrat" to develop by inspection to get a printable neg density...

We have many tools now they couldn't dream of then... You can calculate exposure like they used to, but take a lot of notes while throughly testing materials in many different situations, and then depend on your "little black book" for your B/W adventures...

Steve K

[popdoc]

Guide number + tri-x + D76/Microdol-x + Stroboflash Ii (or #5s or bigger “screw base” bulbs) all put together were as close to foolproof as you could get. Even worked with my Atoron and minoxes and AG-1s beautifully!

Still dip into my stash of bulbs on occasion. Even after more than 60 years of using them, I love that sweet smell of success every time I fire one off.

Have a blast!

Has anyone used flash powder with reasonable success? Always wondered, and wanted to give it a try…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tin Can]

I have a complete Flash Powder Kit, sent to me in the MAIL with a Plate camera

Yikes!

I probably have 4000 flash bulbs but missing a 75, I have 1 50

Amazing how powerful they are and how the tinests is as powerful as some way bigger

I love using them!

I bought bags of them 8 years ago

I have all kinds of flash 'handles'

and cords which are the hardest to find in usable condition

My fav is this

Flash Bulb Gear Gift by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

1933 Flash Gun 12 Inch by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

Honeywell Flash by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

[Dan Fromm]

Interesting, but why handicap yourself?

[Daniel Unkefer]

Could be a bit of fun with this, Sinar Norma Handy with my old wedding flash rig. Mighty Handy Indeed!

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is my old bulletproof Wedding 283 Flash with Mini Soft Box. Great for Press Photography. The Viewfinder is a Mamiya 7 43mm Optical Finder. Also would work good with the Minolta SRT Era Deluxe III Flashgun. The Minolta SRT Era Flash Meter is deadly accurate with my Broncolor stuff and matches it in terms of readings. Also it reads focal plane flashbulbs!

[Tin Can]

I get bored

Father never let me use Flashbulbs, as frivolous, so I shot outside Sunny 16 for 35 years, mostly Slides

Almost always perfect exposure, same Pentax H1, then I took 1 class with someone I think you know, I no longer speak to him

I have progressed in 14 years from 2 Tota's to 4 SB800, to 4 Einsteins with plenty of modifiers

I really like the sound, smell and slow burn, of bulbs especially with slow Packards

My nephew 'lost' the H1, but I have a nice MX and will use it for film testing different lighting

Easiest to do on 35mm that is OK with amps

Interesting, but why handicap yourself?

[Tin Can]

Found this guy testing

Quality of light comparison - Electronic Flash vs M3 flash bulb vs AG-1 flash cube

Quality of light comparison - Electronic Flash vs M3 flash bulb vs AG-1 flash cube