[photo-3d] Re: standard flash with XA (was XA2 twin rig0

[CanterMike@xxxxxxx]

Mark kernes writes, in part:

<< I'm particularly interested in whether there's an adapter that can 
 change the dedicated flash port to a regular PC port so I can use my Vivitar 
 285 with the system if I like. >>

To which Ray Moxom replies:

<<Just get an A11 flash (working or not), remove the guts, fit a PC contact
and/or a hot shoe to the A11 and soldered to the (proprietary) connector.
Voila! One custom XA-to PC or hot shoe (or both) connector for your XA or
XA2 twin rig.>>

While this is entirely feasible (and I have done so myself, some years ago, 
and lived to tell about it) I now feel that this may allow entirely too much 
current through the camera's shutter contacts, causing premature shutter 
failure.  I now believe that it is much safer to use the A series flash 
(regardless of model, 1L, 9M, A11 or A16) as a trigger for a (more powerful) 
slaved flash.  Since the cameras default flash aperture is f4, on an XA you 
can stop down further and (most of the time) the additional light from the on 
camera flash is insignificant.  On an XA2, however, you will want your off 
camera flash to approximately match f4, so you may need to filter or redirect 
the light produced by the on camera flash.  You can tape a small piece of a 
Wratten #87 gel filter over the Olympus flash, which will allow it to trigger 
any standard (white light type) slave without affecting the exposure (of 
standard films).  Alternatively you could fashion a mirror out of a bit of 
foil to send the light off in a safe direction, triggering the slaved flash.


Mike Canter