Hotshoe flashguns, Branded or not ??

B16JUS

B16JUS

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Justin
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Is it best to keep to the main brand flashguns or are the likes of metz or even the jessops own brand any good ?

Nikon wise looking at a sb400 or sb600 but it seems a lot of lesser brands are a lot cheaper but do they do the same job ?

J
 
B16JUS said:
Is it best to keep to the main brand flashguns or are the likes of metz or even the jessops own brand any good ?

Nikon wise looking at a sb400 or sb600 but it seems a lot of lesser brands are a lot cheaper but do they do the same job ?

J
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It depends on how you intend to use them mate, for off camera work then all you really need is full manual control and preferably a pc sync input. I have a Jessops flash, really basic job with no pc sync input but does have an optical slave, works just fine when in range.

If it's TTL your after than the proprietary guns will offer the most reliable options, although, there are brands like Yongnuo that also offer seemingly good options for TTL.

If it's Nikon's creative lighting option then you'll definitely want SB-600's, SB-800's or SB-900's.
 
I've found the main difference between cheap and expensive flashguns to be the build quality, although their functions and power come in to it aswell.

If a cheaper flashgun has the functions you want (ttl or manual slave etc) and you know you won't bashing it/them about everywhere you go, then I reckon you'll be fine with any brand. I have a Canon 430EXII, and a YongNuo YN-460 and performance wise they seem extremely close (I haven't had the YongNuo very long so I'm still getting used to it!) but the build quality of the Canon is way better, but at 5 times the price, it bloody should be!! :D
 
The23rdman said:
CLS is Nikons (superior) version of e-ttl.
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indeed, it's a very intelligent method of triggering, you can control a bunch of the more recent SB guns via a master unit on camera.

Radio triggers are more reliable but you take the swings with the roundabouts as far as the CLS functionality is concerned.
 
Slimbert said:
Ahhhh yes I remember now, I've seen Ryanyboy using it at a wedding with some SB900s :thumbs:
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I used to use it quite alot befroe I dropped one of the only two SB-800's I have :bang:, that was over a year ago and I still haven't had it repaired :bonk:

Although CLS can be limited in certain circumstances, it's a very helpful feature that I do miss sometimes.

I should really get that 800 repaired, I'm a little worried how much it will cost though :'(
 
Tyke Tiler said:
I'm a little worried how much it will cost though :'(
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More than you want it to! ;)

I'm guessing Canon don't have an equivalent system?? Not that I need it, I'm just wondering (I'm using the YongNuo RF/TX triggers)

Dean (The23rdman) has gone and got me hooked on using flashes so I'm trying to get my head round it all atm....!! It's not going well :shake:
 
Metz flashes are very good, I have an MZ54 which I've used with a KM5D and an A700. There seems to be a problem with ttl at 2.8 on the A700 with it over exposing by two stops but I can stick the flash in auto, the camera communicates the aperture and ISO to the flash and the exposure is perfect every time with the added bonus of no pre-flash causing the subject to blink.
 
Slimbert said:
More than you want it to! ;)

I'm guessing Canon don't have an equivalent system?? Not that I need it, I'm just wondering (I'm using the YongNuo RF/TX triggers)

Dean (The23rdman) has gone and got me hooked on using flashes so I'm trying to get my head round it all atm....!! It's not going well :shake:
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yeah, not always as clever as cls but you get wireless off camera flash with 580exIIs 430exIIs ST-E2s and 7ds
 
Slimbert said:
and you know you won't bashing it/them about everywhere you go
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Oddly enough, I originally got the YN460-II flashes because I anticipated I would be bashing them around everywhere I go. :)

It'd be a lot cheaper to replace one of those than an SB-900 if they died

The23rdman said:
CLS is Nikons (superior) version of e-ttl.
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CLS != TTL. CLS is simply a method of controlling remote Nikon flashes without ever having to leave your camera. It *can* utilise TTL, but it is not TTL. :)

B16JUS said:
Are these little nikon sb400's any good ? or is a bigger unnamed better ?
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Not really, they're pretty much a slightly less useless popup flash. They'll only work on the hotshoe or a TTL cable, you can't use them as slaves in a CLS setup, and I don't believe you can set manual power on them if you attempted to put them on radio triggers.
 
got the Yongnuo works really well almost to the point im wondering what a £300 flashgun would offer that this doesnt

J
 
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