Small flash: Metz 20c or Sunpak PF20XD or...

[froyd]

A little while back I was asking for a TLA280 equivalent that was not Contax dedicated. I soon learned such beast did not exist.

I'm looking at alternatives and willing to forego the second (direct) reflector, for a flash unit that:

1) is SMALL, pack of cigarette small, not SB-15 small
2) has a low voltage, so not Sunpak Softlite 1600 and their ilk
3) GN of 20
Auto mode with at least 2 aperture settings
4) Desired but not required: PC sync, bounce head, 28mm coverage, takes 2 AA

The flash will need to work with a variety of cameras, but principally with my travel gear: Rolleiflex, Leica M (analog), and Contax G (hence the low voltage constraint)

Right now, I'm leaning toward a Metz 20c, but the Sunpak PF20XD is smaller and has the added bonus of working is slave mode, potentially making it a good companion to my digi P&S which has a wimpy built-in flash. The Sunpak also has a wider coverage area, useful for the 28mm on the G.

The big disadvantages of the Sunpak are the lack of PC sync (will need to buy a hotshoe to PC adapter) and no bounce.

For the Metz, I count size as a disadvantage and the max 35mm cover. However the built-in PC port will make it easier to use with the Rollei.

Anything else I should consider, especially older flash units with compact shape and lower voltage?

I looked at a few older Nikon SBs (20-22-15) but all looked too big.

Also, I'm trying to spend $50 or less, so no Leica flash.

The

 

[pb908]

i have compile some small flash models, with 2AA batteries, auto feature on this thread :
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109663

so far a cheap pentax af160 flash ($15) works for me.

 

[froyd]

I had seen you thread, which is where I got the idea of the Sunpak and the Metz.

Having a hard time making mike my mind, because of the slave feature of the Sunpak, the tiny size, and the wider coverage angle. On the Other hand, the Metz has bounce and a PC terminal.

I'm adding the Nikon SB30 and the Hexar HX18 as other models to research.

 

[NeeZee]

I have the Metz 34cs. Have you considered it? Small, GN 28 (still 20 with diffusor for 24mm coverage). No AA batteries but long battery life. Sync cable port. 3 aperture auto setting or full power manual. really light weight. love it with my leica iiif!

 

[NeeZee]

and 2 different slave modes by the way...

 

[froyd]

NeeZee,

I've looked at the metz 34c, and saw that can be found for $50. I did not see any voltage info on the botzilla page. Is it under 6v?

Also, while small, it is bigger than the Sunpak and the SB30. It's size seems to approach the Metz 20c, and at that size I would expect bounce capabilities.

 

[drewbarb]

I use a Nikon SB 30 for my small flash. It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes, has two auto aperture settings and three fully manual power settings, along with TTL auto with some Nikon cameras. It doesn't use AA's- it uses a CR123a lithium, which is easy to find and lasts a very long time on the lower power settings, which are all I use with it; this also gives good fast recycle times, if that matters to you. No bounce or swivel, but it does have a built in wide angle diffuser that Nikon claims will cover 17mm; I've found it to cover 21mm handily. Voltage is listed at 4.6, if that's low enough for you. Worth looking for, IMO.

 

[sevo]

I've looked at the metz 34c, and saw that can be found for $50. I did not see any voltage info on the botzilla page. Is it under 6v?

Metz recently scrapped most of their legacy online documentation. But IIRC it was not introduced until the mid nineties, so it should be more a decade into the "safe age" as far as Metz trigger voltages are concerned. In doubt, its currently available version, the "34 CS2 digital", positively is safe (and can slave to digital pre-flashing cameras, which the older 34 CS and CS-2 can't).

 

[froyd]

Update... ended up snatching a too cheap to pass-up SB-15 from the bay. Probably to big and heavy for what I need, but I'll give it a whirl.

Thanks for the input everybody!