Flash bulbs

Sonnar · 01-20-2005

Hi,
the vintage flash unit like the V2 adapter (to see here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...867986220&rd=1 looks great for showing, but is there a chance to get bulbs for it in present? which kind, type or name of bulb was it?

cheers, Frank

pshinkaw · 01-20-2005

It was/is a bayonet style lamp base. Very similar to the type of base used in automotive turn signal lamps up through the last century but with only a center contact on the base. The lamp has two small pins protruding on the sides which lock into a"bayonet" style socket.

The lamps can still be found on e-Bay. Other, smaller sizes such as M-3's could also be used with a step-down adapter. The tricky part about using lamps on this vintage camera is that there were "M" sync bulbs and "F" (focal plane shutter bulbs) sold. I think this Canon used the F bulbs only, although it also has an "X" sync for electronic flash.

M3 bulbs could be used for either M or F sync, but the adapters are not very common (they used a smaller base).

I just found out the other day that some sizes of flash bulbs (I think M size) are still made and sold in Japan for use in a stencil type printer.

-Paul

Bill K. · 01-20-2005

I believe that the bulb in that flash is a #5 B (B for blue). Some of these flashes used regular batteries (AA) while others were BC type using a high voltage battery (22.5V) and a capacitor. The battery & capacitor may be difficult to find these days.

Bill K.

pshinkaw · 01-20-2005

Is the coupler on the 7S wired to M sync only or can it fired as X sync?

I have often wondered if the guts of one these BC flashes can be removed and replaced with a small electronic flash, the flash tube residing ahere the bulb ordinarily is placed. There a quite a few old electronic flashes around that were made to be used on small P&S cameras. Some require only an AA battery and are quite small.

I have an old Leitz CHICO flashgun that I have considered fixing up this way.

-Paul

jlw · 01-20-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by pshinkaw
Is the coupler on the 7S wired to M sync only or can it fired as X sync?

Canon 7s switches sync mode automatically depending on how you set the shutter speed -- if you set it to the X position it's set for X, or sets itself for M at other speeds.

Note that the 7s does NOT have a bayonet ring around its PC socket for attaching older Canon bulb flash units.