Strobist - Strobes

A quick reference spreadsheet for comparing the features of small battery operated flash units.

Sync Connection

Power

Weight

Shoe Mount

Handle Mount

Wired

Built in Optical Slave

CLS

Sync Volts

Variable Power

Tilt / Swivel

1/4 20 thread

Zoom head

Replaceable foot

Bare Bulb

HV*

AA

GN @100 @ 35mm F/M

gr

oz

Current eBay Price in $

International Model #

Braun

370 BVC

y

H

64

T/S

y & 3/8

4

58/

60

Canon

380ex

y

4

50-100

Canon

420ez

y

safe

y

4

/30

30-50

Canon

430ez

y

no

y

4

/30

40-80

Canon

430ex

y

no

y

4

200+

Canon

540ez

y

safe

y

T/S

y

y

4

/36

60-80

Canon

550ex

y

safe

y

T/S

y

y

4

/36

200+

Canon

580ex

y

no

y

safe

y

T/S

y

y

y

4

/36

300+

Canon

580exII

y

PC-sl*

y

safe

y

T/S

y

y

4

350-400

LumoPro

LP120

Y

PC/mini

y

safe

32

T/S

y

y

4

130

Metz

45 CT’s

y

Metz

y

T/S

40-80

Metz

60 CT’s

y

Metz

y

T/S

y

Metz

50-100

Nikon

SB-24

y

PC-sl*

Safe

16

T/S

y

y

y

4

60

Nikon

SB-25

y

PC-sl*

Safe

16

T/S

y

y

y

4

60

Nikon

SB-26

y

PC-sl*

y

Safe

64

T/S

y

y

y

4

100

Nikon

SB-28

y

PC-sl*

Safe

64

T/S

y

y

y

4

100-125

Nikon

SB-80

y

PC-sl*

y

Safe

128

T/S

y

y

y

4

125/38

11.8

125

Nikon

SB-80dx

y

PC-sl*

y

Safe

128

T/S

y

y

y

4

125/38

11.8

150

Nikon

SB-600

y

no

y

Safe

64

T/S

y

y

y

4

200-300

Nikon

SB-800

y

PC-sl*

y

y

Safe

128

T/S

y

y

y

4/5

125/38

350

12.8

325

Nikon

SB-900

y

PC-sl*

y

Safe

128

T/S

y

y

y

y

/34

410

Quantum

Q Flash - T

H

64

T/S

y

y

Only

No

160/50

200

Quantum

Q Flash - T2

H

64

T/S

y

y

Only

No

160/50

880

31

250

Sigma

EF500

y

y

y

Sigma

EF530

y

y

128

T/S

y

4

100/31

335

11.8

200

Sunpak

333

y

16

T/S

y

20-50

Sunpak

383

y

16

T/S

70-100

Sunpak

433(D?)

y

16

T/S

y

4

100/50?

10-25

Sunpak

444(D?)

y

16

T/S

y

120?

36DX (444D)

Sunpak

38DX

y

120?

Sunpak

Auto3000

125

Sunpak

PZ5000AF

y

Sunpak

522

y

Bad?

64

T/S

y

y

6

100?/

20

3600

Sunpak

544

y

Bad?

64

T/S

y

y

140/?

Sunpak

611

y

128

T/S

y

y

168?/

Sunpak

622

y

T/S

y

y

y

Sunpak

644

y

T/S

Sunpak

Auto 26SR

Yes

n

y

n

n

16

T/S

y

y

4

86@100 (f) 35mm

$30

Sunpak

Auto 26DX

Yes

n

n

n

n

16

T/S

y

4

26@100 (m) 35mm

$30

Lester Dine

Yes

n

n

n

16

n/a

4

28/14 @100 (m)

$125

Vivitar

Auto Thyristor 550FD

Yes

n

n

n

n

n

Tilt

4

$5

Sunpak

Auto 322D Thyristor

Yes

n

n

n

n

n

n/n

y

4

$5

Vivitar

285hv

y

Vivitar

Bad?

16

T

y

y

y

4

/31

50

Vivitar

283 With VP1

y

Vivitar

Bad?

128*

T

y

y

4

/36

25+30

Yongnuo

YN460

y

no

y

64

T/S

?

4

250

60

Ring Flashes

Sunpak

Auto DX8R (ring flash)

Yes

n

n

n

n

16

y

n

y

4

8@100 (m)

$60-99

Sunpak

Auto GX8R (ring flash)

No

n

y

n

n

yes/levels not marked

n/a

n

AC power

4 "C"

8@100 (m)

$60-99

Sunpak

Auto DX12R (ring flash)

Yes

n

n

n

n

y

n

4

12@100 (m)

$150

Sunpak

Auto DX16R (ring flash)

Yes

n

n

n

n

y

n

4

16@100 (m)

$400

My Gear Bag

Gear I'm Selling

Other strobe links -

David Hobby's Excellent educational blog on lighting with strobes

-

http://www.Strobist.com

Check you Sync Voltage

-

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/06/dont-fry-your-camera.html

Comprehensive List of Fully Manual Flashes

-

http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157604047756388/

List

-

http://brisbanesecondhandbooks.com/photography#Nikon

Has some Flash Durations

-

http://www.joesmalley.com/flashes/

Wiki

-

http://photography.wikia.com/wiki/Off_camera_friendly_flashguns

Nikon flash comparision Chart

-

http://www.bythom.com/flashcompare.htm

*HV - These strobes can be powered by a High Voltage battery like a Quantum Turbo for very fast recycling using a special connector & cable.

* The VP1 is labeled at 1/64 power but there is a dot further on the dial that is about 1/128

*PC-sl =

screwlock PC

Voltage explanations

1. Trigger Voltage - voltage across the sync connection. If this is above 10 or so ??? volts or so you can damage the camera (IF it is connected to the camera (Cable or hot shoe). Older mechanical camera could handle 250+ volts)

2. Power Voltage - Generally 6 volts (4 x 1.5v AA) Some people connect secondary to this and up that voltage a little to get better recycle times. Sealed Lead Acid Batteries (SLA's Usually 6v)  can be connect to the battery compartment with dummy batteries to power the strobe. they last a long (depending on size - MaHa) time but generally don't improve recycle time much.

3. High Voltage Power connection. Always a secondary outlet on some flashes (as far as I know) - This connects with a special cable to a High Voltage (HV 300-350 v) pack - Quantum Turbo, SD8, DCB, Jackrabbit). Advantage - High number of flashes per charge as well as very fast (less then 2 seconds at full power) recycle times.

Last Updated 7/3/09

Please email any additions, corrections, ideas or comments to JASPhoto at gmail.com

Copyright Joseph A. Sorrentino 2009

JAS Photo LLC, Nutley, NJ