Flash brands

[Iris]

Hi, I have a little Canon 270ex flash and I think it's time to look at something that offers more flexibility. Are the other brands worth a look, and if so, is there anything you would recommend? At present I think the Canon 430ex is more within my budget but if I could get a good spec Sigma or Metz then I'd definitely look at alternatives

Thanks in advance

 

[modchild]

I can highly recommend the Nissin series of flashguns. I've got a DI866 which is the most powerful hotshoe flash about rated at 60m / iso100. Mines the mark 1 with a plastic mount but the mark 2 is out with a metal mount. I've had absolutely no problems with mine and is a brilliant flash, it is E-TTL compatable and has wireless capabilities. You can get a DI866 (580ex equivilent) for around £200 and a DI622 (430ex equivilent rated at 44m / iso100) for between £100 and £130.

 

[Iris]

That's a great help, thanks Stuart, I'll look at those

 

[JSER]

I have tried and used to many that I have chsen and stuck with two makes. Metz and Sunpak.

BOTH have been going longer than I have been into photography and I am over 50, they are well made and more importantly sorry to say it Nissin, offer proper backup if needed. Also, I have not heard of professionals using Jessops/Nissin or other brands, just Nikon, Canon and Metz.

The Sunpak PZ42X by the way is like the hammerhead 45 CL-4 digital and smaller Metz 44 AF-1 is fired by wireless and the camera also wireless, BUT the Sunpak is a Nikon dedicated, in Manual it doesn't matter wirelessly.

Trying strobe with the setup the other day, well it's different!

 

[Iris]

I got distracted by family life so haven't looked yet but will check out Metz too

Strobe effect looks like it could be great fun to learn and play around with

I can buy afford the Canon 430 at the minute but would just like to scope out the competition too and see how far I can make my money stretch

 

[JSER]

I got distracted by family life so haven't looked yet but will check out Metz too

Strobe effect looks like it could be great fun to learn and play around with

I can buy afford the Canon 430 at the minute but would just like to scope out the competition too and see how far I can make my money stretch

As I say I prefer Metz and Sunpak, I want a quality flashgun and dont want to pay extra for a camera manufacturers badge.

 

[odd jim]

I have tried and used to many that I have chsen and stuck with two makes. Metz and Sunpak.

BOTH have been going longer than I have been into photography and I am over 50, they are well made and more importantly sorry to say it Nissin, offer proper backup if needed. Also, I have not heard of professionals using Jessops/Nissin or other brands, just Nikon, Canon and Metz.

Nothing wrong with Nissin or Jessops (particually the AFD360) for an amateur or even semi pro, the AFD 360 is particually good and offers useful features the lower end Canon's dont (such as the swivel head, the most useful aspect of any flash IMO).

I bought one to use as a slave and its better than my lower end Canon and have started using this as one of my main flash units. Of course the Canon is built better but TBH the Jessops one is built pretty well, and for only £79 is still the photography bargain of the century.

Metz are very good, but can still be very expensive. I have one (mecablitz 58 AF-2) and I like it but was it worth paying more over the Jessops AFD360? No.