Potato masher or top-mount flash?

[fraley]

I'm debating whether to get a 'potato masher' Sunpak 544 manual flash, which is mounted on a side bracket, or a Sunpak 383 which is a much smaller manual flash mounted on the hot shoe. Any advice? I'll be using it mostly for fill flash outdoors and some portraits indoors. I don't really mind the extra bulk of the 544 but maybe its size will scare my subjects!

 

[pshinkaw]

The 544 can be a little scary. My wife and I both have them and they are terrific flashes. I refer to mine as "the eyeball burner".

My kids say that they always know when I am in the audience at a school function because my flash is brighter than all of the other parents' flashes. I've actually used it to show them what part of a large room I'm in by flashing the ceiling!

They are actually auto, but do not have dedicated modules. They also have proportional flash settings. Which can be nice. I especially like mine with a TLR/leaf shutter for fill flash work in daylight. The bottom of the handle has a tripod socket, so it can be mounted quite a ways off-camera if desired.

The 6 AA's are a bit much. After the recycyling time starts to lengthen past 16 seconds I usually retire them to my Walkman.

-Paul

 

[fraley]

Thanks, Paul, that's helpful to hear about some real-life use! I guess proportional limits the amount of flash to 1/2, 1/4, etc? Sounds ideal for fill flash..

 

[SolaresLarrave]

For fill flash... how often will you need the power of a potato masher if you're using it for fill? If I were in your shoes, I'd go with a more "conventional" unit: a Vivitar with variable output, a 283 or 285 (depending on the camera you'll use it with).

I've used the Leica SF20 flash unit for fill with my Leicas and the Contax TL40 with my Contax G1, and always get good results when I lower the intensity a couple of stops. That way you're not risking a washed out look in the final print! 🙂

 

[back alley]

is this for an rf camera.

faster lenses or faster film - no flash needed.

joe

 

[pshinkaw]

Francisco is right. If it's just fill-flash you need, a pocket flash is probably all you will need.

I use the 544 because I sometimes need a powerful flash to light up a room. My wife's family is rather large, and a holiday group picture can be 35 or more people. I also want to do individual portraits sometimes, and Sunpak makes a portable umbrella that folds up into a tube the size of a 3-cell flashlight. It fits on the 544's filter holder.

I wanted one flash to put in my luggage that would do everything I need to do on a family gathering. Since I use older cameras like Mamiya C33's and Nikon F's, I didn't need hotshoe capability.

An even better handle mount flas than the Sunpak is one of the Philips handle mount units. they have been discontinued and can be found on e-Bay for anywhere from $10 to $50. Search under both Philips with one L and with 2 L's. They are just as powerful as the Sunpak, are smaller, use only 4 AA batteries instead of 6, and best of all, have automatic exposure even with proportinal power (automatic 1/16th!) The Sunpak won't do that. Don't pay too much.

When I just want a small pocket flash, my favorite is a Vivitar 200, also discontinued. They sell on e-Bay from $2 to $20. I like them because they have a 4-5 second recycle time using a 9-volt smoke detector/transistor radio battery. I keep one in each of my camera bags.

-Paul

 

[rover]

The 283s and 285s are pretty big right? I considered them, but when she saw one my Bessa was scarred!! I bought a little Metz 34 (something or other) which is very nice. It doesn't bounce, but I don't use it that often. I have a Sunpak 555, similar to the 544, which I use with my Hassy. Matched up with Bessa there is no doubt who the man in that relationship is.

 

[RML]

is this for an rf camera.

faster lenses or faster film - no flash needed.

joe

Exactly what Mr K was thinking when he dreamt up the new Bessas; no flash shoe needed!

 

[Pherdinand]

"I bought a little Metz 34 (something or other) which is very nice. It doesn't bounce" 😀 did you try? From how high? 😀

 

[jordi]

I've a question about the flashes what you mention. Are the Metz 34 and Vivitar 200 usable with my Bessa R? And are a sensible choice?