Flashgun recommendations

[tundrakurmitsa]

I'd like to ask some questions about flashguns, so I think I don't have to start a new topic. I had a very powerful Nikon flashgun which I got from my dad but it got wet and is not working properly . I have been using small Rollei flashguns when I like to take quick shots because I can carry one in a Pelicase clipped on my belt. I also have some other flashguns but none of them is as powerful as my Nikon was. I have heard and read many recommendations for Vivitar 285 and 283, and also Sunpak 433. How powerful are these flashguns? I would need a flashgun with which I could illuminate for example a pitch of 15 m or more. I have got two Fireflies but I'm going to buy only one powerful flashgun at first.
[gmod]I moved your post to a separate topic seeing as the one posted to was nearly 10 years old! [/gmod]

 

[damo8604]

I use yongnuo flash guns, they're cheap enough to buy brand new and output wise they match the Canon branded flashes.

I bought 2 flashes and radio triggers for a little over ?100 on eBay. It was a Hong Kong seller but the stock is on the UK

 

[rom82]

You will probably get a million different options on this topic but there are lots of different systems that work. Personally I would avoid 'new' flashguns as they are expensive and overly delicate. The Yongnuo are a good compromise but if you are patient you can buy better built and brighter flashguns built in the 80s and 90s (generally) on Ebay. I also think Fireflies and poor compared to the *much* cheaper Yongnuo slaves. The only drawback of the latter is you can only use flashes with a trigger voltage of <12V

The best way to know a flashgun's brightness is by its Guide Number, a calculation may be found by googling the flashgun model (if you are interested I can dig out some links for this). You will generally not get a flashgun brighter than one with a GN of 45 meters. At the top of this range are the excellent but very large METZ 45 flashes. These are fantastic but cumbersome. The Vivitar 283 is fairly hardy and has a GN of about 37m. I like them as apart from being bright and well built they are simple for people to use . However, by comparison most standard flashguns will prob weigh in at a GN of about 25 or 30 meters. It;s likely the Rollei are at the lower end of this scale.

Lightening up a pitch of 15m is not hard to do but more than that will get a lot harder. One solution is to just use more flashes. If you can suffer hauling around a Metz 45 they are well worth it but it depends on the cave and are not suitable everywhere.

 

[cavemanmike]

flash bulbs and bits and bobs on UCET'S forum under for sale/wanted.
good luck

 

[TomTom]

I find the YONGNUO YN-560 II pretty good. I've been increasingly less caring with mine and it keeps on going, more than enough to cause suitable blindness. They seems to go for ?35-?40 so not bank breaking to get two or three for larger areas.

I can't find an appropriate picture right now but I believe this was at 1/4 power (perhaps 1/8),

18mm - f7.1 - ISO400 - 1/60s

 

[mrodoc]

Agree that youngnuo  are the way to go. Not only can they be wireless slaved they also have reasonable 'line of sight' built in infra red slaves. They are very powerful, have a zoom function and can have their intensity varied from 1/128 upward. Just used them first time whilst in NZ and even Martyn Farr was impressed.

 

[Rob]

I've been using Yongnuo flashes and radio slaves for +5 years and am very happy with their cost and reliability. My suggestion, against natural desires, would be to go for the simpler ones (typically the older versions) as otherwise the extra function button's hide and confuse the simple power up/down buttons, especially for your slave monkey using them for the first time!

 

[mrodoc]

I've been using Yongnuo flashes and radio slaves for +5 years and am very happy with their cost and reliability. My suggestion, against natural desires, would be to go for the simpler ones (typically the older versions) as otherwise the extra function button's hide and confuse the simple power up/down buttons, especially for your slave monkey using them for the first time!

I Would agree with that. The 2 seems as good as the 3.

 

[pwhole]

It appears that Yongnuo slaves don't support Pentax models - does anyone know of a reliable flash/slave system other than Fireflys that work with Pentax? In particular the K20D.

 

[tundrakurmitsa]

Thank you for the replies. There are currently a couple of Vivitars on Ebay but for some reason just now everybody seems to want them, and the prices go high, unfortunately. Is Vivitar 283 as good an option as 285? What about Sunpak 433? I can also check those other options you were suggesting.

 

[Rob]

One point to be wary of, both the Vivitar 283 or 285 have a swivel switch on the front to determine the power output. If i remember correctly only one of the versions has pre-determined levels (i.e. 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 of the full output), where as the other one doesn't. They both have an optical feedback system, driven through different grade filters within the swivel. With these filters in my opinion it's much harder to set the level underground.

 

[rom82]

I dont know of the Sunpak 433 (never heard of it) but my experience of Sunpak is that generally they are great flashes, I have a few. You will find Vivitars  easily available but they are always in high demand because everyone want them for the same reason as you do: they're good reliable flashes and therefore popular! So, you will prob need pay >?20 for a 2nd hand one without a guarantee that it will work.

Looking on Ebay for 'flash joblot' often turns up some bargains but ultimately you need to learn/use guide numbers to know what flashes are decent in terms of light output and you also need to know trigger voltages or you can risk blowing your digital camera or slaves.

This page helps with trigger voltage and GN: http://dpanswers.com/roztr/volt_finder.php

 

[DannyW]

I use the Yongnuo 560 IIIs and they are great, triggering them all with their cheep trigger as they have built in recievers, pretty tough as well.

Just a little more power would be nice for better hand held, large chamber shots

 

[DannyW]

https://flic.kr/p/qJUzgX
This is shot with 1 vivitar 285 at the bottom and a 560 III at the top, hand held at 80th/second

 

[Antwan]

Nice pic! Took a second to realise how big it was cos the second person is so small

 

[DannyW]

There is now a Yongnuo 560 IV which has in built power control for multiple slave flashes which would be fantastic, I have one ordered as well as a Pixel King wireless trigger with a range of 300m so my idea is to trigger the 560 IV with the Pixel King which will then in turn trigger its own bank of slaves to overcome the problems I have been having with triggering the 560 IIIs behind rocks or around corners. Will post a write up once I give the setup a good test underground.