If anyone's interested, here is the OSRAM Pilot I mentioned earlier. Four of these was what got me started building my own studio falsh outfit many years ago. Even after 12-14 years it still works fine: http://gallery37564.fotopic.net/p10042157.html
The downside of working with stuff like this is: 1) It's more expensive than you think, because camera flashes rather expensive. Find powerfull, but cheap or used ones. Preferably ones with a good built-in triggering cell. 2) The two different power supplies is needed. 3) Slave (triggering) cells for the flashes can be a PITA, because you're never sure if they'll work. Other than that, it's an entertaining way to get stared, if you can't afford a stobe outfit at once. I eventually ende up makine home made soft boxes out of thick steel thread and thin, white cloth and cloth with one silver side (inside) and one black. I made photgraphs like this with it: http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt/DreamHC/Side21.html All the best Jens mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: Jens Bladt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 19. december 2004 17:40 Til: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Emne: RE: Home made power supply for flashes etc. Whenever I go photogaphing with one of my Metz CT 45 flash units, I use a home made battery container. This will allow me to shoot lots and lots of photographs without running out of batteries. The container is pictured here: http://gallery37564.fotopic.net/p10035293.html http://gallery37564.fotopic.net/p10035294.html http://gallery37564.fotopic.net/p10035295.html This battery container is designed to be used with this battery attrap for Metz CT 45 flashes: http://gallery37564.fotopic.net/p10016673.html It can, of course, be used with any 9 VOLT flash unit, I suppose. Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: Jens Bladt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 19. december 2004 16:35 Til: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Emne: RE: Home made power supply for flashes etc. You are right, William. I certainly would appreciate a Guide Number 60 (metric) flash for the main light, 45's for fill-in, background etc. Maybe I�ll get one cheaply someday, but they are qiute rare at the used market :-) Today I use a professional studio (Courtnay and Visatec), but if I use the Metz outfit, I use them in manual mode along with a flash meter. For small stuff (one or two strobes), I often use the TTL-automatics or a separate flash sensor (Mecamat 45-20). Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: William Robb [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 19. december 2004 05:20 Til: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Emne: Re: Home made power supply for flashes etc. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Ewins" Subject: RE: Home made power supply for flashes etc. > Thanks Jens, I've been wondering how to do that exact thing. There > is a Metz > AC adapter (N22/N23) that I believe plugs into the side rather than > replaces > the battery pack and I have been trying to find which pins it uses > for what > and the appropriate voltage and current. The unit itself is > something like > AUD$400 - $500 from memory so I don't want to buy a new one just to > experiment. > I do have a battery pack replacement for use with a Quantum battery > so it > couldn't be too hard to rig up something like your system. Do you > have a > circuit diagram that explains it all? Also consider the Metz 60 series and the Mecatwin (power equivalent to the 45 series head.) wired slave flash units. They aren't TTL, but they are automatic, even when using two or more heads. I think you can hook a half dozen heads up to a Metz 60 power pack, but it takes forever to recharge. William Robb
