9

Persistently on my wish list is a small, portable, auto-mode flash. Non-TTL is a must, as I need to use it on a bunch of different equipment.

But the vast array of flashes out there is a bit bewildering; does anyone have some recommendations?

Intended use is wide/normal lenses, mostly as direct fill. I'll emphasize small; I can live without zoom, bounce, and many other things in preference of portability.

I've used:

  • Vivitar 283 & 285: Just too big, really. Otherwise OK, though maybe a little overpowered for what I typically use it for.
  • Canon 580EX: Also too big. Can dial down the power, but no auto mode, and GN calculations are getting to be a drag.

Edit: for context on 'small' both of these are similar in size to one of my usual cameras, the Zeiss ZI: 138 x 78 x 32 mm (5.4”x3.1”x1.3”). I'm willing to lose a lot of power to find a decent flash that isn't the size of my camera.

|improve this question
  • I know you discounted the Sunpak 383, but it seems to be one of the smaller ones... – John Cavan Aug 15 '10 at 18:32
  • Remember to check trigger voltages before using exotic flashes :-) – Petteri Hietavirta Aug 16 '10 at 12:57
  • So, did you pick something up? I'm curious. – John Cavan Aug 20 '10 at 1:51
  • @John - I'm going to check out the Metz's this weekend. Pretty safe to bet I'll come home with the 20. – ex-ms Aug 20 '10 at 20:34
3

Have you looked at the Sunpak lineup? Some are TTL, but I think they have non-TTL and you can often find them on Craigslist.

To add from my comment, a very popular one appears to be the Sunpak 383 Super which is non-TTL. It's discontinued, but appears to be available on places like EBay. Anyways, BH lists the dimensions as 4.4 X 3 X 2.8" (WxHxD).

Another, similar, would be the Metz 36 Series C-2. Dimensions for that is 2.80 x 4.3 x 3.4", so a little bigger on some dimensions. The Metz 20 C-2 is 2.55 x 3.85 x 2.12", so small.

By the way, I'm not finding much smaller without going to the LED ones. They are an option as well.

|improve this answer
  • you've basically just restated the problem. :-) There's tons of flashes around on the used market, many of which use auto, but I have no idea how to sort the wheat from the chaff without compiling an encyclopedia. – ex-ms Aug 15 '10 at 17:56
  • @Matt - I added the 383, which I know you discounted, but also added the Metz. – John Cavan Aug 15 '10 at 18:36
  • the Metz 20 looks promising. It and the 36 are both available locally, too, which makes them easy to try/handle. Thanks! – ex-ms Aug 16 '10 at 18:02
  • @Matt, no problem. I can say that the Metz gear seems to be pretty solid, I have their ring flash and I really like it. Anyways, good luck with it. – John Cavan Aug 16 '10 at 18:47
0

I have a SunPak 383, and it's a great flash, though I haven't had much luck in Auto mode since I switched to my DSLR.

|improve this answer
  • 1
    Thanks; I appreciate the personal recommendation, but that one's about the same size as the Vivitar/Canon that I have. – ex-ms Aug 15 '10 at 18:16

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.