Flash for Hasselblad?

<p>Looked in the archives but quite old. Have a 500 C/M, 503 CW and 500 ELX and various lens. Need to take some interior shot of rooms and an occasional portrait inside. This is NOT professional work. I am NOT getting paid. Would like recommendations for a flash unit, new or used, with the above equipment. Thanking you in advance. </p>

Renting Einsteins from lensrentals.com

<p>Sorry was looking to buy something not rent</p>

<p>Leonard, these are tasks that call for serious off-camera flash. Luckily, you have what many people (including myself) describe as the greatest studio camera ever made. If you're in the USA, a couple of White Lightning or Novatron flashes with stands and umbrellas should do the trick. Elsewhere, there are similar brands and I'm sure that somebody will chyme in with recommendations.</p>

<p>For occasional work in a non-professional environment I often go the simple route: Vivitar 285 (with a light modifier) on a Hassy handle. Relatively inexpensive, portable, and most often works good enough.</p>

<p>I have been using a 500CM with my Canon 430EXII speedlites (up to three) with the RadioPopper JrX. I just mount the Radio transmitter in the cold shoe of the metered prism finder and hook the lens PC sync to the transmitter. Kind a fun to synch at up to 1/500th for a change!<br>

I hook the transmitter up to the sekonic first to get the power levels right and determine the aperture and shutter speeds.</p>

<p>There are even cheaper radio systems (if you even want off camera flash) but I like being able to adjust all three flashes from one location.</p>

<p> </p>

Regardless of price the 640ws ( maximum) Paul C. Einstein E640 remans the state of the art all manual monolight on the

market today . A nine stop energy (output) range adjustable in tenth of a stop increments, short flash duration, constant

color temperature from flash to flash and power setting to power setting,fan cooled and a 250 watt-Quartz-Halogen

modeling light. It's not perfect but it's very close and it is only $499.95. http://www.paulcbuff.com/e640.php

 

Lighter weight? The LumoPro LP180 all manual hotshoe mount flash is flat out terrific: rugged and as powerful as any

hotshoe mount flash with a slew of useful features. http://lumopro.com/LP180.php

<p>I'll second Brian S. Vivitar 285. I also use a Vivitar 365 (have since around 1981 or so).</p>

<p>I also have 4 Paul Buff White Lightning mono strobes. Excellent!</p>

<p>I've used the Vivitar's as well. With the 503 you can also use the Quantum Flash (expensive) but in TTL mode if you like working that way.</p>

<p>Leonard,<br>

The other gents have it covered for studio light setup. If I need a good inexpensive studio setup, I would definitely my question here!</p>

<p>I notice you have the older 500 C/M & 500 ELX, both non--TTL camera. <br>

For portability, as requested by several people here, I used my Vivitar 283 or 285.<br>

Inexpensive and widely available.<br>

For more powerful flash for TTL for the 503 CW, I use the Hasselblad 4504 TTL ProFlash, a simple Metz CL-4 with the Hasselblad TTL module built-in. A decent Flash Guide number of 148. I also have the Hasselblad D-Flash 40.Both are still service by Hasselblad. Just service is available, as both discontinued by Hasselblad. <br>

As an alternate, you can use Metz CL-4 and the Sunpak 120J flash, as both are still sold and serviced support is still available. <br>

For both flash system, I use a Quantum Battery + as my main power source. Both are module and TTL module are available New or Used.</p>

 

<p>I use Sunpak 544's with both my Hasselblad and Nikon digital and film cameras. They are tough as nails and quite powerful. They can be found on Fleabay for very reasonable prices.</p>

<p>These cameras all have a standard PC connection so you can use literally any flash you want. If you're using a modern TTL flash just put in in manual or auto aperture. <br /><br />No need for anything fancy, especially if you're just starting. Even though I own a Nikon SB-900, I use Vivitar 283 and 285 units every day, and my studio lights are older Novatron monolights. As with most flash questions, go read the Lighting 101 section at <a href="http://www.strobist.com">www.strobist.com</a> With a used Vivitar, an umbrella and a lightstand you can be up and running for around $100 for a basic setup. Learn to use that before you spend money on anything else. Do not rent quite yet -- if you're beginning, you need to keep a flash long enough to learn how to use it. You can have a Vivitar setup to keep forever fore less than a single day's rental.</p>

<p>Simple and sound advice, Craig. Thanks!</p>