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Do anyone on UHH still use potato mashers?
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Aug 5, 2022 09:32:54   #
Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado
 
Yep, just two days ago!

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Aug 5, 2022 10:03:14   #
Najataagihe
 
If I could figure out how to use my SunPak 555 with my D5600s, I would, but the abilities of high ISOs make the potato masher a bit obsolete, unless I need to light up a stadium.

It pairs, beautifully, with my old FG, however!

That quick-detach bracket was a joy to use.

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Aug 5, 2022 10:14:39   #
gmontjr2350 Loc: Southern NJ
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
Never a lump when you use an electric hand-mixer.


We like the occasional lump and find the consistency of electric mixer potatoes too pasty or something.
We also leave the skins on.

George

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Aug 5, 2022 10:18:22   #
gmontjr2350 Loc: Southern NJ
 
Bridges wrote:
If you don't understand the question, I assume your answer is no.

That is, does anyone! I started to ask the question differently, but after posting, noticed my question turned into gutter language! Sorry.


Potato masher, and other analog flashes pose a danger to digital cameras do they not? Or so I've read on the Intarwebz which are the authoritative source.

George

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Aug 5, 2022 10:19:48   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
gmontjr2350 wrote:
We like the occasional lump and find the consistency of electric mixer potatoes too pasty or something.
We also leave the skins on.

George


Add a bit of warm whole milk, crème and / or butter. You can get a velvety smooth delicacy.

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Aug 5, 2022 10:27:31   #
User ID
 
Bridges wrote:
So far no one has understood the question posted as it is in the main photography section, or everyone is having fun with the question!

I think theyre mostly just jerking your chain. Ive tried using my big Metz to clobber taters and its just ineffective.

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Aug 5, 2022 10:29:09   #
User ID
 
gmontjr2350 wrote:
Potato masher, and other analog flashes pose a danger to digital cameras do they not? Or so I've read on the Intarwebz which are the authoritative source.

George

Thaz just typical ignorant internet myth.

"Analog flashes" ? All flashes are analog.

Size or shape are no risk. Just check the trigger voltage. I use a big ancient Vivitar on all my latest cameras but its trigger is only is 7 volts. I have a few other oldies, even small ones, with ~90 volts at their hot foot. Those must not be used directly on newer cameras.

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Aug 5, 2022 11:42:42   #
pendennis
 
Finally gave up on all my potato mashers. I owned Honeywell, Metz, and Sunpak. All were great light sources in their heydays, but their power output, especially the Honeywells, were overstated vis-á-vis their advertised output. The Honeywells later were used as stand lights, and grouped in twos. The downfall to them was the need for ni-cad cells which needed periodic replacement or usage of external packs like Turbo. However, they worked well with their AC adapters and the old Larsen Reflectasol umbrella adapters.

The older Honeywells put out a nice warm light, which was perfect for wedding shots. The initial guide numbers for them, i.e. K2 GN of 80 was overly optimistic. I did get better results with the Metz 45 and 60 models, as well as the Sunpak 622 line.

Later on I moved on to the Armatar LR200 and LR300, and the Turbo lights for portability.

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Aug 5, 2022 11:57:21   #
pendennis
 
gmontjr2350 wrote:
Potato masher, and other analog flashes pose a danger to digital cameras do they not? Or so I've read on the Intarwebz which are the authoritative source.

George


A lot depends on the trigger voltage of the original flash. There are older lights out there that generate over 300 volts, and would fry a newer camera, which usually is safe with up to 8 volts, or so.

There are some adapters which make it possible to use high voltage lights with the camera hot shoe.

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Aug 5, 2022 12:06:14   #
gmontjr2350 Loc: Southern NJ
 
pendennis wrote:
A lot depends on the trigger voltage of the original flash. There are older lights out there that generate over 300 volts, and would fry a newer camera, which usually is safe with up to 8 volts, or so.

There are some adapters which make it possible to use high voltage lights with the camera hot shoe.


I still own a Vivitar 283 with the hand grip and extension for the hot shoe. I used it with my Minolta 35mm cameras but now it just sits in a box. I think the trigger voltage was too hot.
I went with a Metz and a Yongnuo.
And alas, no one seems to have picked up on my earlier reference to potato mashers versus modern hand grenades.

George

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Aug 5, 2022 14:21:18   #
therwol Loc: USA
 
Bridges wrote:
If you don't understand the question, I assume your answer is no.

That is, does anyone! I started to ask the question differently, but after posting, noticed my question turned into gutter language! Sorry.


I understand the question. No anyway. My Aimes Hershey 250 watt-second flash died in 1981. I don't know if anyone even makes these any longer. The Metz units have been discontinued. If I were to use my Crown Graphic again, I'd look into finding a used one.

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Aug 5, 2022 14:40:00   #
Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
Add a bit of warm whole milk, crème and / or butter. You can get a velvety smooth delicacy.


You can't tell by taste anymore, lumps are the only way to know that they are real.
And yes, with milk and butter.😋

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Aug 5, 2022 15:35:57   #
gwilliams6
 
As a long time photojournalist, I have used all the early strobes since the late 1970's. The Honeywell Strobonar and Metz Mecablitz were the industry standard "potato mashers" for many years. They were great for the time. Then Vivitar came out with smaller more compact strobe units.

I actually still have a couple of my Metz strobes in storage. My guess they would still work with the battery packs.

Cheers

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Aug 5, 2022 16:05:17   #
jcboy3
 
Bridges wrote:
If you don't understand the question, I assume your answer is no.

That is, does anyone! I started to ask the question differently, but after posting, noticed my question turned into gutter language! Sorry.


Not for years; cameras have much better ISO capability and you can get a lot of light out of other style lighting.

But Nissin still makes one (the NG10), if you want a modern equivalent.

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Aug 5, 2022 16:21:28   #
therwol Loc: USA
 
jcboy3 wrote:
Not for years; cameras have much better ISO capability and you can get a lot of light out of other style lighting.


Digital cameras have much better ISO capability. If you want to go really old school and take pictures with something like a press camera, you're very limited if you don't carry a flash, the bigger the better. I was very creative with my relatively powerful flash when I used a camera like that, combining bounce and fill to avoid harsh shadows. The camera is in the closet. The flash died years ago.

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