Can I use a modern speedlight at f/1.8 on a Yashica Electro 35 CC via PC sync?
Asked 11/6/2020
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I’m using a Yashica Electro 35 CC with a modern Nikon speedlight connected by a PC-to-PC sync cable. The manual says the camera should switch to 1/30s whenever a flash is connected, but mine still varies shutter speed with ambient light depending on the aperture setting. In dim light I’m seeing about 4s at f/16, 2s at f/8, 1s at f/2.8, and only 1/30s at f/1.8, even though the flash fires.
Is it possible to shoot at f/1.8 with flash on this camera, and does the camera need to be at 1/30s for flash use? If not, what is the practical issue with using a modern Nikon flash this way?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
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According to the User Manual, your camera should automatically default to 1/30 shutter speed whenever any flash is connected to the PC port. Your camera must be defective if it does not.
Yes, you can shoot with a flash at f/1.8 but you don’t need to have 1/30 as any slower shutter speed will also work with flash. The problem is that your camera will always expose for ambient lighting and will probably overexpose if any flash is added.
Even if your camera did default to 1/30, how did you plan to control the flash power output with a modern Nikon flash?
If I were in your position, I would load 100 ISO film but set the camera for ISO 400. This would automatically underexpose each photo by 2 stops. I would then use a film era Auto Thyristor flash set up for ISO 100 and the corresponding aperture. The flash sensor on the front of the flash would automatically adjust the flash power for a correct exposure.
Here is an example of a film era Auto Thyristor flash that would be ideal for your situation. eBay Vivitar 283 Auto Thyristor Flash
Originally by user39427. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user39427
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, you can use flash at f/1.8. A flash does not require exactly 1/30s on this camera; slower shutter speeds can still sync, but they also record more ambient light.
Based on the manual, the Electro 35 CC should switch to 1/30s when a flash is connected to the PC port. If it does not, the flash-detection function is likely faulty.
The bigger issue is exposure control: your camera is still exposing for ambient light, so adding flash on top of that can easily overexpose the frame. Also, with a modern Nikon speedlight on a simple PC sync connection, you generally don’t get automatic flash power control from the camera. The flash just fires; the camera and flash are not communicating exposure information.
So the answer is: f/1.8 with flash is possible, but your camera likely isn’t behaving as designed, and using a modern flash this way is hard to control. A period auto-thyristor flash, or a workaround that reduces effective exposure, is more practical on this camera.
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