Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

thequintessentialman · **Novatron M240S -** 05-08-2010, 07:49 PM

I was out with the wife at a few yard sales today and ran across a pair of "very experienced" Novatron M240S strobes. It was the heads only, nothing else. I have no idea what these things are worth (or what to do with them either...) but after some discussion we arrived at $10 for the pair. They seemed to to flash OK, although I haven't tested the Edison socket yet. I did take them apart and got the rattle out (I do have a good understanding of capacitors and the inherent dangers if not handled properly, thanks.)

Now I have to figure out how to fire them when I take a picture. Everything I have done up to now was with a camera mounted (SB-900) flash. Open to suggestions. I'm still doing some web searching, but does anyone know a good source of info for these things?

Sometimes I can't decide if I am an amateur photographer or just an equipment addict...

bondarnes · 05-08-2010, 10:55 PM

Novatron - The experts in photographic lighting equipment

janikphoto · 05-09-2010, 12:50 AM

pics of what you acquired? I started out on novatron gear, and it worked fine for the money. It was the "alien bees" of the 1980's and 90's, I guess you could say...

DEMDeepEllumMusic · 05-09-2010, 01:48 PM

Ok see if the slave function works, turn on one to slave and then test fire the other and see if it will fire off the second one, then do the reverse to check the other one. I would just fire them with a wireless trigger using the edison sockets and if the built in slaves work then you would just need one trigger to fire the primary.

BTW used they should run over $100 each if the tubes are in good shape, you should be able to get modifiers and reflectors for them off of ebay or craigslist.

thequintessentialman · 05-11-2010, 09:59 PM

Here are some pics of the flash heads.

When I said Edison socket, I was referring to the Edison base light bulb socket at the flash lamp. Are you saying that I can get a flash slave that screws into that?

Thanks
John

janikphoto · 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thequintessentialman

...When I said Edison socket, I was referring to the Edison base light bulb socket at the flash lamp. Are you saying that I can get a flash slave that screws into that?

Thanks
John

That "edison" socket is where the modeling lamp screws in. I think he was talking about the ac style plug on the back for a slave. They make slaves that can plug in there, instead of a wire directly from the camera or a pocket wizard type of radio sync. With that being said, it looks like they already have slaves built in. I see what appears to be a tiny photoelectric sensor on the back and it even says "slave on" near it. Also, the 4493 stamped on the back may be a production date of April 4, 1993? Maybe...

bondarnes · 08:42 AM

The monolight in the picture has a built in optical slave with an on/off switch. It has three power settings and just needs a modeling light to screw into the socket. Owing to the diameter of the flashtube, a standard tungsten bulb will not fit. The original Novatron heads came with a 40 watt appliance bulb. Most of the later products used a Phillips mushroom shaped bulb. 100 watt was the largest available. I have found other bulbs over the years that would fit, but don't give you an accurate WYSIWYG lighting pattern. It appears this unit is set up for a softbox, so all you need is to find one that will fit. A Chimera or Photoflex would probably work.

DEMDeepEllumMusic · 05-12-2010, 06:55 PM

Yeah I was talking about the slave plug in the back-wasn't sure what you were calling an edison socket. On the bulbs you may be able to find a modeling light for it on line.

thequintessentialman · 05-15-2010, 08:22 AM

Is the color temperature and/or CRI important for the modeling light bulbs or is that just to show where the light and shadows fall when aiming the heads...?

bondarnes · 05-15-2010, 12:27 PM

Unless you are shooting at extremely slow shutter speeds (below 1/4th sec.) the 100 watt modeling lights will have no effect on your image. I had 300 watt bulbs in mine and got a slight bit of warming around 1/30th sec. at ISO 200.

JMM · 06-05-2010, 04:29 PM

I come across those every once in a while while searching for Novatron Monolights. I assummed they were not monolights but needed a powerpack. Am I wrong?

The sync on the back of the head is to plug in an AC to PC plug which either plugs directly into your camera (if equipped) or into a hotshoe to PC adaptor. This will allow them to fire directly from your camera without a radio flash. You need to buy a special adaptor for most radio slaves to work, except pocket wizard, I think. Novatron has it own size reflector and snoots, barndoors and softboxes must be made specifically for novatron to fit.

thequintessentialman · 06-05-2010, 10:34 PM

Each of these two lights has its own power cord that plugs into standard A/C wall outlet; from what I think I understand, this is a monolight.
Regarding the sync port on back of lights; does that require anything more than a momentary contact closure to fire the lights?

JMM · 06-06-2010, 09:46 AM

That does make it a monolight.

You need to buy an AC to PC cord PM210S Paramount 10' Straight Sync Cord, Household (AC) Male to PC. The ac end of the cord plugs into the light, the pc end plugs into your camera, if your camera has one. If not, you can purchase a Hotshoe to PC G440 Adorama Hot Shoe to PC Adapter, Single Outlet without Connecting Cord. sell Nikon AS15. Connect your light to your camera with the cord, set your camera to manuel. I use 1/125 shutter speed. You will need a light meter or trial and error to set your aperture.

JMM · 06-06-2010, 10:06 AM

Do they fire with you push the test button? Have you turned them both on, made sure the slave was on ON on both, and pushed the test button? This should fire both lights?

If you are in the Magnolia area, you are welcome to come by and I will test them for you. The lights you have are no longer made as far as I can tell. Are they continuous hot lights or studio flash? Is the flash tube replaceable? I have never had to replace one of mine as of yet, but have a spare in stock if it is the same tube.

If you decide it is not worth your testing and want to sell them for what you paid, let me know. I already own Novatrons and like to stay in the novatron family so I do not have to buy different barndoors and softbox rings.

thequintessentialman · 02-26-2012, 01:23 PM

OK, didn't realize it has been almost two years... I pulled the strobes back out today and followed the leads presented here. Only one of the strobes has an optical sensor and responds to my SB900. Apparently these things are telepathic though; if set to slave, they both will fire together when the SB900 flashes. (I'm suspecting a signal sent back through the cords...)

Thanks to all of you.
John