Smallest Flash with Bounce Head?

[wlewisiii]

I don't use flash often, but I like having it available and want to get as small a unit as possible with a bounce head to use with my CL. I know about the venerable Vivitar 283. Is there anything even more compact or should I set my course on one of them?

Thanks,

William

 

[peterc]

The Nikon SB-15 is fairly compact. It swivels, tilts etc. I got mine used for under $30CDN.

Peter

 

[JohnL]

I have been researching this, and I think I'm going to get a Sunpak 383 which runs about $80 new. I too would appreciate other suggestions.

 

[clarence]

You could take a tiny pocket flash unit and mount it on an inexpensive swivel head. The flash connection has to via pc sync though.

I used one of these:
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=7852

It has a stepless tilt range of about 135 degrees, so you can either point it at your subject's feet, or at the sky.

Clarence

 

[wlewisiii]

That would be a cool solution, but, alas, the CL has no pc sync outlet only the hotshoe.

Thanks!

William

 

[clarence]

Well, then you could use this instead:
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.ph?cPath=777_1&products_id=7849

I think it's a new product. I've never seen it before, and I certainly would've bought it instead.

Clarence

 

[wlewisiii]

Hmm. $38 at B&H. That's a real possibility. I'll have to look at that more. Thanks!

William

 

[clarence]

It's a really convenient, flexible and compact solution because everything's modular and you can separate everything. If you used an extra long pc cord, you could detach the flash and hold it anywhere you wanted.

As for diffusion options, I took the Sto-fen Omni-Bounce diffuser I normally use on my Vivitar 285 and used rubber bands or cellophane tape to attach it to the flash.

Clarence

 

[back alley]

i have a sunpack softlite 1600a.

it's tiny and has a movable head for bounce.

lengthwise it fits from my fingertips to about mid palm and about as wide as 3 fingers.
or 4.5 inches x 2.5 inches...

joe

 

[back alley]

look here 1600a

hth

 

[dcsang]

Vivitar 2800

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...640&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Dave

 

[flashover]

Dave beet me to it. Vivitar 2800. alot smaller then the 283. I have both and the 283/285 ar bigggggggg

 

[flashover]

Dave PM me your address again please I have something for you.

William I have a 2800 with the filters I got at value village. PM me if you are intrested John

 

[Nick R.]

The SB range of Nikons are quality units that can be had pretty cheap. I have the 15 that Peter mentioned and it works well. But I suggest that any flash is a pain so you might as well go bigger to get more features. I've recently started using a Nikon sb25. It's large but its more sophisticated controls help with flash pictures.

 

[back alley]

but if small is the key you can't beat the 1600a...🙂

 

[peterc]

but if small is the key you can't beat the 1600a...🙂

The problem with going really small is you lose power and flexibility. A mid-size flash like the SB-15 (270g without batteries) gives you a guide no of 82 (feet) with the choice of auto for several apertures up to about 20 feet.

Peter

 

[back alley]

agreed.
i'm just going by the title of the thread.

 

[peterc]

agreed.
i'm just going by the title of the thread.

I know. I've just found that whenever I bought smaller, less featured flash units, I ended up not using them because the situations where I found I had to resort to flash required something more sophisticated (or at least a better flash would have made it a lot easier).

Peter

 

[dnk512]

There are several small units with bounce, too. My advice is against them. I have a no-name, a vivitar and a nikon SB30 (smallest and with the most options Yes, they are easy to carry, but they do not have enough power. If you bounce you will need even more power. Stick with a vivitar 283 or (in my case) sunpak 383. The 383 will be on the big side for your small cl (but it is more compact than the 283), but it will output enough light. Try a small unit, you will find that you will not have enough output to be able to bounce and you will be using it straight on. At least those are cheap ($15).

 

[clarence]

Regarding power issues, I find that with ASA 400 film, power output, even when bounced, is sufficient, as long as the ceiling is not too high, like in a church, for example.

With bounce flash, you would probably be photographing subjects that are about 1-3 metres away from you anyway. Any further and the flash becomes a point source of light. It not only makes the lighting look artificial (if you have enough power to bridge the distance), and it does need greater power output or a higher film speed.

With a small unit, you could use it as a direct source of light from the side instead, if you choose to use low speed film. I believe there's a thread here somewhere describing how to go about it.

Clarence