instantphoto.eu Polaroid Big Shot and other flash solutions
The very expensive National PW-110 adapter set aside, I have found other flash solutions.
This is a Rollei adapter for Magicube cameras.
The
adapter above was supplied with the "agfa pocket lux" flash in the old
version for the 2000 series, but be careful: this is not the 234
version for the 2008 series and also not the 901. You can attach any
flash that has a PC socket.
In the United States, you can find
Kalimar flashes for 126X and for Pocket Kodaks. Their guide number
is quite small, about 16 in my opinion. As the standard film was 200
ISO, that was enough in those days.
The first is a Kalimar K-462
for 126X cameras. I got it for $5 + shipping. It attaches directly to
the base of the Big Shot. I taped it with duct tape to try it. I put
lighten/darken to the farmost lighten setting.
Not pretty, but functional.
You can also use it as master flash and install a more powerful slave flash. A very nice solution for portaits.
The flash and its original box.
The second one is much more common, a Kalimar Strobe A for Kodak Pocket. I got it for $7.00 + shipping.
The flash and its original box. I have unscrewed the metal base to try its function.
The flash attached to the Big Shot, just for testing.
As it hangs in front of the
viewfinder, this is not viable, but at least it flashes. You should
either remove the rivet from arm, turn it 180° and reattach it (it
then hangs on the right side), or you only keep the arm and cable that goes into the flash. You can
solder a standard connector to the cable. And there you are with a device that
replaces the unfindable National PW 110.
And here are the results. The guide number is weak, lighten/darken has to be set to the farmost lighten setting.
Inside (upper photo), there is not enough light. Outside (lower photo)
it's just enough to let you use the Big Shot even with a faint flash.
