Lighting project?

[DrEntropy]

Or exercise in craziness...
I've a few Vivitar 285 flash units, they've been true workhorse lighting for decades. A number of them have lost the photo-diode capability to regulate output and were "consigned" to do stuff only at full discharge. A bit too "hot" for some of the digital imaging without changing distances to subjects, and that's impractical most times. Started looking for possible ways to "manually" control output and found several sites with info. So now we're into "prototyping" a control for the purpose. Drew up a schematic, got some bits-n-pieces, doing a kitchen table assembly. The project so far:





Essential coffee component included!

 

[DrEntropy]

Assembled unit, works with RF remote trigger, too. I used a linear pot so find the slightest adjustment makes a major output change. May try a logarithmic one to see if that will change. And my Minolta flash meter has gone "Tango Uniform" on me.

 

[DrEntropy]

Second unit complete. Can now use off-camera flash with a second unit to open up shadows, with interiors or portraits. A third will come, back-light/hair light or augmentation for other interior shots. Found another Minolta III-F on Ebay, will need it to dial in the various units' placement/intensity of output to balance a scene.



The phone jack is for various other triggering devices.

 

[DrEntropy]

A bit awkward in terms of height, RF trigger is made to be used with light stand & umbrellas but for now this is how it works for attaching and detaching from the camera.

 

[GregW]

I'll guess the next thing is to use the light meter to mark where on the dial your power settings are? So they'll correspond with the calculator.
Fun little project.

 

[DrEntropy]

May also set up a dual indicating scale so there's also an EV number for distances. Like 10', 20' etc.

But all bets are off (or well guesstimated) with reflectors and such. Another "justification" for replacing the flash meter.

 

[DrEntropy]

Found a "fully functioning" Minolta III-F on Ebay for reasonable money from an outfit I've purchased from for a long time, in Indianapolis. It came yesterday, unpacked it and got batteries in it. Ambient side worked. But switching to the flash metering selection, it was dead. Got on the blower, talked to a nice guy there and explained the issue. He said apparently somebody didn't thoroughly test it, apologized and sent me a return UPS label and will refund the money.

This morning I got out my dysfunctional one, split the case and lightly applied some CRC 2-26 to the ambient/flash selector switch, figuring there's nothing to lose. Snapped all back together and now it WORKS. Happy camper! The 'gizmo' on the 285 can be adjusted in one stop increments, it functions as it should. I've enough cases and components to put together three more. Small things that amuse me.