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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Photography Equipment => Lighting => Topic started by: patballard on May 02, 2009, 11:04

Title: Old Lighting Equipment
Post by: patballard on May 02, 2009, 11:04

All of you who have read my earlier post about having two houses 1500 miles apart know what I'm talking about. I've been in New Mexico this last week sorting through our storage area there. I found a box of lighting equipment that I bought in the early 80s to photography the handwoven rugs and textiles that I was making at the time. I bought them from Spiratone, who is no longer in business. All of the equipment is in perfect working order. Will the strobe flashes and slaves work with my digital camera? I don't want to damage the camera.

Thanks for the help.
Pat

Title: Re: Old Lighting Equipment
Post by: batman on May 02, 2009, 11:19

Ah yes spiratone, nostalgia again. .. Bought my first darkroom daylight tank and instant processor from them, lol... I am ageing myself.

For mounting the strobe to your camera, hell no ! It will damage your DSLR.
But if you still have one of those remote flash trigger sensor, you could use them as slave strobes. Using the on camera flash as the master . You could make some test shots to find the empirical exposure setting, and then use Manual from there on.

But as far as using a non dedicated flash on camera, I wouldn't suggest it. The circuitry is different, even with the same brand but diff models.

btw, some of those older strobes may have warmed up and could now give you a pleasant skin tone , unlike the brand new flash tubes that are cold and frigid looking.

Title: Re: Old Lighting Equipment
Post by: patballard on May 02, 2009, 11:37

Thanks for the help. That's pretty much what I was thinking. Nothing in life is ever that easy. I'll mess around with the alternatives until I get a workable set up. There is a flash meter that will fire the strobes.

Yes, I was dating myself by admitting that I bought equipment from Spiratone new!

Thanks again.
Pat

Title: Re: Old Lighting Equipment
Post by: batman on May 02, 2009, 11:42

Quote from: patballard on May 02, 2009, 11:37

Thanks for the help. That's pretty much what I was thinking. Nothing in life is ever that easy. I'll mess around with the alternatives until I get a workable set up. There is a flash meter that will fire the strobes.

Yes, I was dating myself by admitting that I bought equipment from Spiratone new!

Thanks again.
Pat

Well, if you DSLR has a bulb feature, it could work too. You know the old View Camera technique?  Set the aperture, set the shutter to T or B, with the lens cap on. Carefully remove the lens cap, trigger the flash. Close the shutter.
Of course this is done in studio or outside in low ambient lighting. We used to paint light to expose a whole building, for example.

Could be an interesting experiment for you. Use the lowest ISO of course 64

Title: Re: Old Lighting Equipment
Post by: patballard on May 02, 2009, 11:45

This is why I love the Microstock Group. Thanks for the input. I have weeks of fun ahead getting all of this up and running.

Thanks again, batman.

Pat

Title: Re: Old Lighting Equipment
Post by: batman on May 02, 2009, 11:47

Quote from: patballard on May 02, 2009, 11:45

This is why I love the Microstock Group. Thanks for the input. I have weeks of fun ahead getting all of this up and running.

Thanks again, batman.

Pat

pleasure. love to see some of the results. PM me.