503cx
Hasselblad 503CX with Carl Zeiss T* 80/2.8 CF lens and Braun 370BVC flash.
There is preciously little information available on the 370BVC, so here are some details:
Guide number 37 at ISO 100.
Swivel/tilt flash head, unlike many similar units, the flash head does not contain most of the electronics and is fairly small and light. This really helps with balance of the unit when used handheld.
The unit has extensive controls for both its auto and manual mode, allowing adjusting ISO and aperture in auto mode, and output level in manual mode.
Power is provided by 4 AA cells, unit responds very well to using nimh type rechargable cells. The AA cells are contained in a holder. When this flash unit was current, the battery holder could be ordered separately, and if you can find one or more spares, you'll do yourself quite a favor, it makes swapping batteries a lot easier.
Early cut-off for reduced output is done with a trisistor, resulting in quick recycling times and saving battery power when not using full output power.
The center of the control dials functions as status indicator for auto mode (lights up green when auto mode could provide sufficient output for the settings and scene.
Color temperature: 5600K
Measured trigger voltage on my unit is 21.5V, but beware, there may well be multiple implementations of this flash, make sure to measure the actual unit you want to use, and consult the manual of your camera for information on safe trigger voltage.
The measured trigger voltage should not pose a problem for any camera using mechanical flash sync, and should also be safe on the PC sync socket of most modern cameras, but I strongly recommend using a 'safe hotshoe adapter' or wireless trigger for this flash when using it with any post 1980s camera.
I have boxes full of legacy flash units, but this is one of my favorites due to its combination of full manual controls (and extensive controls in general), fast recycling times and decent battery life, pretty good auto mode and output power. The only thing in which I find this unit somewhat lacking is it not having an optical slave sensor, and that is pretty easily solved.
(picture taken using a Tokina AT-X 90/2.5 macro at f/5.6)
503cx
Hasselblad 503CX with Carl Zeiss T* 80/2.8 CF lens and Braun 370BVC flash.
There is preciously little information available on the 370BVC, so here are some details:
Guide number 37 at ISO 100.
Swivel/tilt flash head, unlike many similar units, the flash head does not contain most of the electronics and is fairly small and light. This really helps with balance of the unit when used handheld.
The unit has extensive controls for both its auto and manual mode, allowing adjusting ISO and aperture in auto mode, and output level in manual mode.
Power is provided by 4 AA cells, unit responds very well to using nimh type rechargable cells. The AA cells are contained in a holder. When this flash unit was current, the battery holder could be ordered separately, and if you can find one or more spares, you'll do yourself quite a favor, it makes swapping batteries a lot easier.
Early cut-off for reduced output is done with a trisistor, resulting in quick recycling times and saving battery power when not using full output power.
The center of the control dials functions as status indicator for auto mode (lights up green when auto mode could provide sufficient output for the settings and scene.
Color temperature: 5600K
Measured trigger voltage on my unit is 21.5V, but beware, there may well be multiple implementations of this flash, make sure to measure the actual unit you want to use, and consult the manual of your camera for information on safe trigger voltage.
The measured trigger voltage should not pose a problem for any camera using mechanical flash sync, and should also be safe on the PC sync socket of most modern cameras, but I strongly recommend using a 'safe hotshoe adapter' or wireless trigger for this flash when using it with any post 1980s camera.
I have boxes full of legacy flash units, but this is one of my favorites due to its combination of full manual controls (and extensive controls in general), fast recycling times and decent battery life, pretty good auto mode and output power. The only thing in which I find this unit somewhat lacking is it not having an optical slave sensor, and that is pretty easily solved.
(picture taken using a Tokina AT-X 90/2.5 macro at f/5.6)