Difference between revisions of "Strobonar"
m (sentence cap) |
(Intro date of oval-reflector Futuramic II) |
||
Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
'''Strobonar''' was the brand used by [[Honeywell]] for a long-lasting series of electronic flash units. | '''Strobonar''' was the brand used by [[Honeywell]] for a long-lasting series of electronic flash units. | ||
− | The Heiland division of Honeywell, based in Denver, Colorado, originally used the Strobonar brand on electronic flash units powered by a separate battery pack. (These could also use AC household power.) In 1958, Heiland introduced one of the earliest self-contained [[flash|electronic flashes]], the '''Futuramic Strobonar'''. This was still an imposingly-large "potato masher" design, and the original list price of USD $59.95 would equate to roughly $470 current (2011) dollars<REF>[http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm Inflation calculator] from the US Department of Labor [http://www.bls.gov/home.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics].</REF>. | + | The Heiland division of Honeywell, based in Denver, Colorado, originally used the Strobonar brand on electronic flash units powered by a separate battery pack. (These could also use AC household power.) In 1958, Heiland introduced one of the earliest self-contained [[flash|electronic flashes]], the '''Futuramic Strobonar'''. This was still an imposingly-large "potato masher" design, and the original list price of USD $59.95 would equate to roughly $470 current (2011) dollars<REF>[http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm Inflation calculator] from the US Department of Labor [http://www.bls.gov/home.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics].</REF>. Starting with the 1961 '''Futuramic II''', all the large Strobonar models had a distinctive oval lens over their flash-tube reflector. |
The Strobonar name was reused over the following decades for successive models, eventually shrinking to more compact shoe-mount flash units. Honewell was a pioneer in flashes which used a photocell measuring light reflected back from the subject to control the duration of the flash pulse, thus offering autoexposure for flash shots—these models carried the '''Auto/Strobonar''' name. Later versions of the "potato masher" models, such as the Strobonar 882, could use a separate '''Strobo-Eye''' mounted in the camera's accessory shoe to achieve this control even with off-camera flash (and the [[Pentax_Spotmatic#The_Spotmatic_SP_IIa|Pentax Spotmatic SP IIa]] included this sensor in the camera body, just below the rewind crank). | The Strobonar name was reused over the following decades for successive models, eventually shrinking to more compact shoe-mount flash units. Honewell was a pioneer in flashes which used a photocell measuring light reflected back from the subject to control the duration of the flash pulse, thus offering autoexposure for flash shots—these models carried the '''Auto/Strobonar''' name. Later versions of the "potato masher" models, such as the Strobonar 882, could use a separate '''Strobo-Eye''' mounted in the camera's accessory shoe to achieve this control even with off-camera flash (and the [[Pentax_Spotmatic#The_Spotmatic_SP_IIa|Pentax Spotmatic SP IIa]] included this sensor in the camera body, just below the rewind crank). |
Revision as of 00:16, 21 December 2011
| ||
|
Strobonar was the brand used by Honeywell for a long-lasting series of electronic flash units.
The Heiland division of Honeywell, based in Denver, Colorado, originally used the Strobonar brand on electronic flash units powered by a separate battery pack. (These could also use AC household power.) In 1958, Heiland introduced one of the earliest self-contained electronic flashes, the Futuramic Strobonar. This was still an imposingly-large "potato masher" design, and the original list price of USD $59.95 would equate to roughly $470 current (2011) dollars[1]. Starting with the 1961 Futuramic II, all the large Strobonar models had a distinctive oval lens over their flash-tube reflector.
The Strobonar name was reused over the following decades for successive models, eventually shrinking to more compact shoe-mount flash units. Honewell was a pioneer in flashes which used a photocell measuring light reflected back from the subject to control the duration of the flash pulse, thus offering autoexposure for flash shots—these models carried the Auto/Strobonar name. Later versions of the "potato masher" models, such as the Strobonar 882, could use a separate Strobo-Eye mounted in the camera's accessory shoe to achieve this control even with off-camera flash (and the Pentax Spotmatic SP IIa included this sensor in the camera body, just below the rewind crank).
As electronic flash units increasingly became a built-in feature of many cameras, and with inexpensive Asian imports undercutting the remaining marketplace, Honeywell ultimately retired the Strobonar line.
Notes
- ↑ Inflation calculator from the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Links
- Honeywell Strobonar manuals for various models, from Mike Butkus' OrphanCameras.com
A 1971 advertisement of the Honeywell Strobonar flash lineup scan courtesy Michael Raso (Image rights) |