Small Fill-In Flash Recommendations

[giganova]

I am looking for a small flash that I can use as a fill-in flash.

I have a Metz from the SCA300 series, but I can't manually dial-in the flash intensity since it is always at 100% power. In Auto mode, it is too strong as a fill-in flash, too.

Any suggestions which small flash would be suitable as a fill-in flash?

Thanks!

 

[charjohncarter]

The Minolta 320x has manual flash power settings, but it isn't small. The Vivitar 2600d and its brother have only full power manual and auto. Its Guide Number is low so I can use it for fill flash.

Here is a good tutorial, it is a little over the top on adjusting. But still useful: two pages.

http://www.shutterbug.com/content/u...s-informal-word-style-key#s8XKefy8sMHQelex.97

 

[drewbarb]

I like the Nikon SB-30; it's tiny, and has three manual power settings and four auto aperture settings, as well as Auto/TTL (thats only usable with some- but not all- Nikon cameras). Really great for situations when I need just a little fill, and/or want to use just a little sparkle of flash shooting wide open. Here's a link to a useful review: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb30.htm

 

[oftheherd]

I have used the Sunpak 322 http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro....H0.Xsonpak+322.TRS0&_nkw=sonpak+322&_sacat=0 but it may not be for digital use if that is what you are looking for. Of course, as fill flash you would probably use it with a flash slave anyway.

 

[jamin-b]

I use a small Metz (don't have access to the model number where I am now - I think it's the 20 C-2) that in addition to "M" has setting for F/2.8 and F5.6, which I use at F/4 and F/8, respectively, for fill flash.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

I have the same Metz 20 C-2. It's a great size for rangefinder cameras. It has tilt and a business card can slide behind the tilting head as a bounce card.

I see B&H has what looks like the same flash called the Bolt VS-210 for $20 cheaper than the Metz, with auto modes at f4 and f2 instead of f5.6 and f2.8.

That's hardly surprising. The first version of this flash I own is from Sunpak which had an auto mode at f4 and slave mode. That one though hasn't been available for some time.

I like them because they take standard AA batteries and fit into a small Domke-F-5xa with 3 lenses and a camera.

 

[ForestCap]

Toshiba ES 20. Two AA bat. Has A and M modes.

Vivitar 45. One AA bat. Really small size and not strong light. Only M mode.

Neither can tilt, neither has manual intensity adjustment.

 

[rbsinto]

Years ago, many camera stores sold small flashes as counter specials for just a few dollars each, and I'd often grab one or two to use when I did small table top set-ups.
Virtually all of these were no-name, bare bones, non-dedicated, with no adjustable power settings, so I'd quench them to the power level I wanted by taping successive layers of Kleenex over the flash window, and measuring the resulting light bursts with my flashmeter until I got the intensity I wanted.
Worked like a champ.
You might still be able to buy little inexpensive flashes like these in camera stores. Worth a look.
Robert

 

[presspass]

Many of the older Nikon flashes could be used on auto mode. Once you set the f stop, you could then dial in a reduction number, sometimes as low as two stops less than you would normally use for that ISO and f stop. Failing that, get a small auto flash and simply use it at one or two stops wider open than the f stop on the lens.

 

[nikon_sam]

Years ago, many camera stores sold small flashes as counter specials for just a few dollars each, and I'd often grab one or two to use when I did small table top set-ups.
Virtually all of these were no-name, bare bones, non-dedicated, with no adjustable power settings, so I'd quench them to the power level I wanted by taping successive layers of Kleenex over the flash window, and measuring the resulting light bursts with my flashmeter until I got the intensity I wanted.
Worked like a champ.
You might still be able to buy little inexpensive flashes like these in camera stores. Worth a look.
Robert

I do the same thing with a Nikon SB-15...either I use a regular table napkin or I also have the LumiQuest UltraBounce...
http://lumiquest.com/

 

[mdarnton]

I second some sort of old Nikon recommendation. My favorite is the SB-20, which has a tilting head. I run it on an old Leica CTOOM, the metal version, which in combination with the tilt head gives me a lot of bounce options. Used direct it has W/N/Tele settings, and the ability to select a stop for auto or dial down manual in steps. It's a bit larger than the SB-30, but extremely versatile.

The CTOOM is really a great flash bracket and has provision for using a center screw as well as going on Leicas, and makes a pretty good left-side handle. My Nikon FG fits perfectly, for instance. Since it doesn't have a hot shoe, I use a corded hot shoe adapter in it, with the flash on that. It's my go-to rig for parties (with M4 and 21mm lens, bounced).

 

[giganova]

Good recommendations, thanks!

I've done what many suggest, i.e., put the flash into Auto, and instead of the f/5.6 the flash suggests, I set my aperture to f/8. Works well, except that I have a huge depth-of-field when stopped down so far.

Has anyone tried putting a ND (neutral density) gel in front of the flash to dim it down 2 or even 3 f-stops and use manual instead?

 

[Photosynthetech]

I would look at the Sunpak pf20xd. I picked one up a while ago for my rangefinders and fujis. It's been great while used in manual and a perfect compact size.