Flash recommendations for Hasselblad please

<p>I tried to connect it to an old Vivitar today but it seems to be dead. The lights come on with new batteries, but it won't fire. Tested on the Hasselblad and and canon eos-3 with a hotshoe. So I suppose I'm going to want a flash. It works fine with strobes, but if I need something portable...I have nothing.<br>

I want something inexpensive, and I don't want to have to lug a battery pack or anything. Any suggestions? Thank you!</p>

 

<p>The Metz "potato masher" strobes were commonly used by wedding photographers.</p>

<p>I've never used an on-camera flash on my system so I have no specific recommendations.</p>

<p>- Leigh</p>

<p>I have used Metz and Vivitar flash both with no problems on Hasselblad for over 30 years.<br>

If you flash will fire with the hot shoe but not the cord, then you need a new cord. <br>

Or try with a different lens. I have never had the contacts in a lens go bad , but they can.<br>

The flash units with the higher trip voltages eat cords faster.</p>

<p>One of my favorite flash units is a 283 converted to bare bulb, with a bantum battery pack, on a superwide camera. The barebulb gives great coverage with that lens.</p>

<p>I have used both the Metz potato masher and currently one of the smaller shoe mounted flashes which I find to be a lot more portable. I believe my model is the 54-Z. You also need to get the generic Metz adapter and, of course, a short PC cord. I get my exposure reading using a flash meter, set my speed and aperture and I'm good to go. I usually just put the Metz on auto and it gives me perfect exposures. Bear in mind that the Hasselblad lens have a fastest flash sync speed of 1/500 second compared to today's DSLRs which usually only go up to 1/125 second.<br>

You didn't mention if your 'blad has a cold shoe mount. I use either an eye level prism with a flash mount, or an attachable hand grip which also has a flash mount on it.</p>

 

<p>I've used an old Metz 45 CT for many years. It looks very similar to the 45 CL shown here.<br>

Hasselblad used to market an 'own brand' version of something similar.</p><div></div>

<p>I like having the choice of using the rechargeable battery shown here, or the empty cage which holds standard AAs</p><div></div>

<p>Although it is not in the same league as the Metz flashes, my Sunpak 622 does quite well. It is getting tough, however, to get the proper adapters for the Sunpak for the Hasselblad cameras with integrated flash function (e.g., 503).</p>

<p>I use a small Metz with my Hasselblad, but also a Nikon SB-11 potato masher (very powerful), and even an old Honeywell potato masher (actually 2). They are all fantastic as far as color quality.</p>

<p>I've been using the Hasselblad Proflash, which, to my knowledge, is a Metz 45. It's great for weddings etc. And if you have a 503 body, it also offers TTL. I got mine for a bargain, I think they can be found on auction sites at reasonable prices.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone! I'm going to my local camera store this morning so I'm going to print this out and hope they have something in the used case!</p>

<p>"I want something inexpensive, and I don't want to have to lug a battery pack or anything. Any suggestions?"</p>

<p>If you don't find something in the used case that is both cheap and reliable... try faster film!</p>

<p>Actually I just needed some cords to use my canon flashes in M. hehe- I didn't think about that :)</p>

<p>This is what I did to setup my Hasselblad for flash. The flash is an inexpensive Sunpak 383 that I had around.</p>

<p>Lots of good suggestions for the Hasselblad 500 series here. If you are looking for a flash system for the H-series (H1, H2, H2D, H3D, H4D) the Metz Mecablitz 54 MZ-4i is lightweight and powerful. Article here:<br>

http://www.hotwire-digital.com/training/camerastraining/77-hasselblad-flash-photography-with-metz-54-mz-4i<br>

$299 street price<br>

John<br />---<br />Hotwire-Digital.com</p>