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on Apr 24, 2019 14:02:57 GMT
Posted: Apr 24, 2019 14:02:57 GMT
I've had an ongoing search over the last year or so for a working Contax 540 or 480 flash set. I've never seen a 480 listed, but have run across quite a few 540's. More often than not, they've been non-working or missing integral parts... i.e., no battery box at all, no RTF cord, or the 510v box with no battery, etc., and can't be tested. I have the TLA 20/30/270/360 on-camera flashes and assorted cords and connectors to take those off-camera, or even string a couple together - but - I'd like to find something strong enough in a hammerhead type flash that will be more portable and a lot less messy than a handful of TLA models strung together.
I have the feeling that I'm chasing something under the Contax brand that is unlikely to be easily found in working condition these days, without paying a kings ransom for it. I do have a Metz 45 CL-4 setup that is working on other non-Contax bodies (with a matching adapter), but I'm not sure if it has an equivalent setup for Contax TTL that can be useful for me. As far as I know, there isn't a Contax to Nikon adapter to make use of their SB flashes, or anything else meant to match up a Canon or any other OEM flashes.
Has anyone found a suitable grip flash that has reliable TTL connectivity with a Contax body? Will the Metz work with one of their Contax adapters in TTL mode? My target body is an RX, or at the very least, a 159 or 167.
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on Apr 26, 2019 1:14:18 GMT
Posted: Apr 26, 2019 1:14:18 GMT
I've had an ongoing search over the last year or so for a working Contax 540 or 480 flash set. I've never seen a 480 listed, but have run across quite a few 540's. More often than not, they've been non-working or missing integral parts... i.e., no battery box at all, no RTF cord, or the 510v box with no battery, etc., and can't be tested. I have the TLA 20/30/270/360 on-camera flashes and assorted cords and connectors to take those off-camera, or even string a couple together - but - I'd like to find something strong enough in a hammerhead type flash that will be more portable and a lot less messy than a handful of TLA models strung together. I have the feeling that I'm chasing something under the Contax brand that is unlikely to be easily found in working condition these days, without paying a kings ransom for it. I do have a Metz 45 CL-4 setup that is working on other non-Contax bodies (with a matching adapter), but I'm not sure if it has an equivalent setup for Contax TTL that can be useful for me. As far as I know, there isn't a Contax to Nikon adapter to make use of their SB flashes, or anything else meant to match up a Canon or any other OEM flashes. Has anyone found a suitable grip flash that has reliable TTL connectivity with a Contax body? Will the Metz work with one of their Contax adapters in TTL mode? My target body is an RX, or at the very least, a 159 or 167. I'll PM you a link.
PF
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on Apr 29, 2019 11:43:00 GMT
Posted: Apr 29, 2019 11:43:00 GMT
Hi lumiworx, SCA with the latest adapter (called M5 afaik, including second cutrtain!) is very reliable. I am using the AGFA 383 and a BRAUN Ultrablitz incl macroflsh unit and a METZ 36CT2 with the 159/ST/RX with SCA adapter without problems. If you need a really big flashgun, then look for an old AGFA 643 with SCA (A review in German: www.blitz-fotografie.de/blitzgeraete/staerkster-blitz/ ) or a METZ 76MZ5. And there is a power-grip G-15 by Metz which enables a lot of older flashes as a grip flash (including a battery pack in the grip!) - and the older METZ are really trustable workhorses. Somewhere ... there should be a compatibility list by METZ ... aaah, here it is: www.metz-mecatech.de/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&file=fileadmin/fm-dam/Download/Photo_Electronic/SCA_Archiv/SCA_Adapter_Archiv_D.pdfMore info in German: faq.d-r-f.de/wiki/Metz_SCA-FAQAnd there is a power-grip G-15 by Metz which enables a lot of older flashes as a grip flash (including a battery pack in the grip!) Last, there are also CONTAX adapters for old NISSIN flashes ( 4400? 44600? don't know) - some time I bought one adapter for a bargain, but never found the appropriate flash.
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on Apr 29, 2019 13:32:53 GMT
Posted: Apr 29, 2019 13:32:53 GMT
matthiasausk ... Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll have a dive into the Metz charts first, since that's what I have on hand, but it looks like I'll have a few choices beyond what I thought there would be.
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on May 2, 2019 17:53:04 GMT
Last Edit: May 2, 2019 17:53:31 GMT by matthiasausk
lumiworx: Here at my home in Germany is a 36CT2 for "sale" (meaning: just a smackerel of something + P&P) - don't know where you are located.
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on May 2, 2019 20:05:11 GMT
Posted: May 2, 2019 20:05:11 GMT
Thanks... I'm in the US. I found a Metz SCA 3802 shoe adapter for Contax bodies with 3-pin/5-pin TTL contacts (everything from 159MM to 167, AX, RX, N1) and a Metz SCA 3001c adapter cord. These are supposed to work with the 45CL-4 I have now. I still have the regular PC socket sync cord for the Metz head if these fail to work as expected. I should know in a week or so if I'll get TTL functions with these, once I get both pieces to test. If everything else fails, I've rigged up a makeshift flash bracket that should work for mounting a TLA 280 or 360 with an off-camera sync adapter so that I can use Contax flash gear only. I used a Nikonos flash plate, a 1970's table-top tripod from K-Mart as the 'grip' (like a Yashica ST-7 or a Bilora Stabilet) that has a 1/4-20 socket on the bottom, a threaded cold shoe on top of it, and an odd-ball attachment screw I had from a 139 winder to hold the tripod. It's stable and does the job.... kinda. :)
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on May 5, 2019 0:06:13 GMT
Posted: May 5, 2019 0:06:13 GMT
The SCA 3802 adapter came today, and so did the 3000c combo sensor and cord. After trying to find a manual online for both (nothing, nada) I discovered that there's a secret little compartment in the 3000c head/box/thingie that needed 4 AAA batteries. After getting those in, both of the flash tubes on the 45CL-4 would fire with the shutter being triggered. I tried the whole setup on several bodies (159, 167, RX) and the in-camera flash indicator would pulse after each flash, and, the Metz head's 'OK' indicator would flash. I assumed that I was getting TTL sync, with all those indications.
I'm not so sure now after finding the little fold-out door (also cleverly hidden) on the rear panel of the 3802 adapter, and seeing that it contained several tiny switches. One of those was the on/off switch... which was in the 'off' position! Toggling it to be on didn't change anything with any of the indicators. I also noticed what looked like a small rectangular LED hole, but it was stone-dark.
The Metz head has a top-mounted dial for setting flash modes. It was set to TTL mode before I started, and would normally be there when used on a Bronica to get TTL sync from it, so I know it does work in that setup. After twisting the dial to any incremental power settings under Auto mode, the LED on the 3802 adapter popped on in bright red. Firing several frames in Auto mode still made no change to how any of the indicators were lit. The only difference was the adapter's LED staying lit when the head was in Auto mode.
According to the manuals for every body I tried, the pulsing flash icon in the viewfinder means that the TTL's auto calculation was correctly fired, and when it stops pulsing and returns to always-on, that means the flash has cycled and is ready again. That's exactly what I see and everything seems to indicate that no matter what I try (short of turning on high-speed sync on the 3802 which does kill the flash) I get a flash on each shutter hit, and it acts like it's been completed correctly in TTL.
So... Is it possible that everything is in TTL mode and working properly, or do I really need a set of manuals - or - is something 'stuck' in some way that only seems like it's working in TTL mode? Thoughts, hints, suggestions, links to on-line 3802/3000c manuals...?
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on May 6, 2019 2:44:57 GMT
Posted: May 6, 2019 2:44:57 GMT
Probably not without buying another module. But one could always use a spare. Will PM you a list of links.
PF
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on May 6, 2019 6:02:08 GMT
Posted: May 6, 2019 6:02:08 GMT
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on May 8, 2019 18:53:04 GMT
Last Edit: May 8, 2019 18:54:19 GMT by lumiworx
ridgeblue99 's list of links lead me to another 3802 adapter module (NOS, in a blister pack), complete with a set of manuals. I thought it was better to have both a working module plus the manual, than trying to use a questionable module with no documentation at all. It showed up today and I can confirm that I wasn't entirely on the right track with the first module. Now I know I have 2 working modules/adapters, and detailed instructions on how to use them. Oddly, the only thing labeled as "On', isn't really the power switch!?!? The Metz SCA 300/3000 series modules have spartan controls, with no readouts and one text label to assist with setup - yet the system itself is nearly as extensive as the basic (i.e., non-remote and non-wireless) TTL functions that a Nikon SB-600/800/900 would have. Given the tech of the time, I don't fault Metz at all - but - it makes it difficult to set their system up without a good read-through of their manuals. Without them '"your mileage may vary", and your confidence in your flash setup to accurately perform correctly will too.
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Group: Moderator
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Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on May 10, 2019 13:52:33 GMT
Posted: May 10, 2019 13:52:33 GMT
I've had an ongoing search over the last year or so for a working Contax 540 or 480 flash set. I've never seen a 480 listed, but have run across quite a few 540's. More often than not, they've been non-working or missing integral parts... i.e., no battery box at all, no RTF cord, or the 510v box with no battery, etc., and can't be tested. I have the TLA 20/30/270/360 on-camera flashes and assorted cords and connectors to take those off-camera, or even string a couple together - but - I'd like to find something strong enough in a hammerhead type flash that will be more portable and a lot less messy than a handful of TLA models strung together. I have the feeling that I'm chasing something under the Contax brand that is unlikely to be easily found in working condition these days, without paying a kings ransom for it. I do have a Metz 45 CL-4 setup that is working on other non-Contax bodies (with a matching adapter), but I'm not sure if it has an equivalent setup for Contax TTL that can be useful for me. As far as I know, there isn't a Contax to Nikon adapter to make use of their SB flashes, or anything else meant to match up a Canon or any other OEM flashes. Has anyone found a suitable grip flash that has reliable TTL connectivity with a Contax body? Will the Metz work with one of their Contax adapters in TTL mode? My target body is an RX, or at the very least, a 159 or 167. Hi - I have quite a few RTF540 and more importantly RTF540T flash guns with their power packs, colour filter sets, TLA Adapters and TLA Adapter IIs plus all the other cables and connectors and even the AC Power Unit; in my opinion, they are the best flash units ever produced by Contax. They are powerful, versatile and go on year after year - even when used for strobing. The ability to lock the unit with the old Contax RTS firing at 5fps was so helpful and I often use 3 sets in a studio set-up for capturing motion in multiple colours.
The TLA480 is very powerful too but is a much more basic unit with little of the flexibility of the RTF540 BUT it is fully compatible with all post RTS Contax (and Yashica) cameras, including the 645, G-series and N-series. I also have the impossible to find PS130 AC Power unit for the TLA480. The price of the TLA480 with the PS120 Power Pack (always sold separately back in the day!) is still over the top imho. What you might not know is that there is an almost identical model that you can find s/h and like the TLA480, it was made by National and it's their PE-480SG. And guess what, it's nowhere near as costly as the Contax version; in fact, apart from the branding, the only difference is in the power connectors which are not cross-compatible. But all other specifications are the same; I have 2 of these and quite often use them instead of the Contax gun when I'm out and about with the Contax 645. If you decide to buy a National gun, it's always worth picking up their slave unit which will also attach to the Contax TLA480 (Contax never offered one) to enable remote triggering should you ever need it.
One good thing about the big Contax guns (and the quite powerful TLA360+PS220) is their low trigger voltages, allowing them to be used manually with most digital SLRs and CSCs.
My first choice would be the RTF540 (though its TTL capability is restricted on some later cameras) but the National PE-480SG would be a very good, and much cheaper, alternative.
One footnote: I found 2 RTF540 sets with Power Packs that I bought in 1981 and had forgotten about for over 35 years; I feared the capacitors would have failed by now (like many current flash units) after such a long period of non-use. Imagine my delight when after popping in 12 AA batteries, I heard the familiar whine of the capacitor charging, saw the orange ready light glow, pushed it and heard that fabulous, loud crack as the gun fired. They were made to last back then - no planned obsolescence like today!
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on May 10, 2019 17:06:33 GMT
Posted: May 10, 2019 17:06:33 GMT
Thanks for the info on the National, biggles3. A cursory search shows that there were a few in Japan on the Yahoo Auction site that sold for 1500-6000 Yen ($13-55 USD), but nothing here in the states. I did find a few of it's lower-numbered siblings (PE-381/360/320), but none of them seem to do TTL, with only a standard PC sync cord to connect with. There was one PE-560MG PP-ZN/P3 set, but is listed as parts only, and looks to be another 510 volt battery setup. I'll have to be on the lookout for the PE-480SG. One tidbit for history buffs... the National brand of flashes was made by Matsushita (later, a.k.a. Panasonic), and first distributed by Fuji Photo - well, in the Hong Kong market, at least.
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