GF-1 Flashes for sale

[Tom Diaz]

I bought a new GF-1 on the well-known auction site for US$148. There seem to be a few more available.

I am not a big flash user. However, on the occasions I use one, I like to bounce the light. Also, the built-in flash is partly blocked by the 24-85mm lens which I also use sometimes.

Anyway, I was not all that keen on this flash at its original price, but it seems worth trying at this kind of discount.

Tom

 

[Tom Diaz]

Update--received this today from the vendor in China.

The GF-1 is really a very nice unit. Maybe at $249 or whatever it seemed too expensive, but at $148 it is a good deal. It has a typical TTL mode and two slave modes. It also comes with a nice little snap-on combination slave stand and tripod adapter. With that, you can set the unit over on a table or tripod and trigger it with the built-in flash. (That way you can use the EVF, too, if you're an EVF user.)

From a few quick test shots, it seems like the TTL/bounce mode (with the flash on camera) works very well, as does the off-camera slave mode.

The GF-1 has a nice little built-in "catch light" panel that you can use, in bounce mode, to deflect a little light forward, maybe to make someone's eyes sparkle.

No sample pictures yet, since you've seen enough of my cats. A couple of my cute daughters are coming to visit soon. Maybe that will do it.

Tom

 

[CliveC]

Just noticed that the flash is available in quantity on eBay for around US$50.
I guess for that price, there's no reason to go third party (not that there are any that work with Ricoh's TTL system I don't think).

Surprised they haven't been snapped up by GR users, but I guess it may be a bit hefty for typical users of that camera and street use.