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Which flash I should buy,please

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AlexD50

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Hi
I really need help I want to buy flash. I have d50.
What I have to check when I buy it.
could you tell, what differences in flashes:
sb 400
sb 600
sunpak 738af

Thank you
Alex
 
Well, several months ago I bit the bullet, went all the way and bought the SB 800. I had debated with myself between the SB 600 and the 800, and finally decided that if I was going to spring for a flash unit, it might as well be the top of the line, once and for all. So far I have not been disappointed in my choice.
JimCo
 
There's extremely few people regretting a SB-600 or 800.

When I decided I wanted one I looked around for used ones. Only ones I could find where from people getting rid of their whole nikon equipment and even those were very rare.

I always say, if you can afford a 800 by all means go for it, if you're in doubt ask if you'll end up buying all the extras (gels, bounce, etc) that come with the 800 or if you need the wireless functionality.
--
Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/
 
I went back-and-forth between the SB-600 & SB-800 and wound up convincing myself that the extra money for the 800 was going to worth it in the long run. I haven't regretted, or been disappointed by, that decision! If you can afford the extra bucks, go for the 800.
 
bucksguy14 said:
I went back-and-forth between the SB-600 & SB-800 and wound up
convincing myself that the extra money for the 800 was going to
worth it in the long run. I haven't regretted, or been disappointed
by, that decision! If you can afford the extra bucks, go for the
800.
Click to expand...
Thank you for all you replies sb 600 is very good but ,
What do you know about sunpak 738af .

thank you again.
 
Who has told you that the Sunpak works with iTTL? I just did a google search and the only hits I got were long lists of flashes being sold on ebay. The term iTTL was not linked to that flash. I'm sure there would be lots of hits on the net because having iTTL compatiability is a big thing. It would be first on the list for the description on the flash.
I think it's only TTL wihich is not the system being used by the D50.

Guy Moscoso
 
The Sunpak 738AF isn't in Sunpak's current line of flash units and I don't believe it works with Nikon's iTTL system which is a must-have feature unless you want to do all of your flash the manual way which isn't fun for anyone that just wants to take pictures.

If you want to go with Sunpak, it seems there are two choices, the PF30X and the PZ40X. The PZ40X has a higher guide number and would be the better choice of the two flashes.

However, I've heard that third-party companies like Sunpak haven't managed to implement iTTL as well as one would like. So my personal recommendation is what everyone else here is recommending.

If you can afford it, the SB-600 is the best value for your money with the choices you've listed. Failing that, the SB-400 will be ok, but about as limiting as the built-in flash already on your camera.
 
I checked on both the Adorama and B&H sites for Sunpak 738af and Nikon, and didn't get a hit on either website. That tells me that when 2 of the largest camera supply stores don't have a link between Nikon and the Sunpak flash that it's something that I'm definitely not going to be interested in thinking about, let alone buying!
 
I agree with most of the posts here. I hesitated about buying the SB-600, I mean it costs almost as much as another camera! But it offers wonderful (and simple) results. Nikon's flash system is brilliant and you certainly want to be able to take advantage of it. This means an SB-600 or SB-800, to include the wireless possibilities for remote off-camera use.

No doubt the SB-800 is even better but I have never found my SB-600 wanting and the 800 is a LOT more money, at least here in the UK. And now I have the D80 I can control the 600 wirelessly even without having the 800.

If budget is an issue, the SB-400 might be worthwhile. I don't know as much about it but I believe it does get you into iTTL. But it is more limited - no wireless capability, it only swivels vertically but not horizontally, and it is less powerful. However it does cost less and it certainly looks sleek!
--
Chris
 
I purchased a Sigma EF-500 for my D50. It seems to work ok with iTTL, though I can't compare it to much else on this camera. Combined with a Lumiquest mini softbox, it works very nicely.

I had read about some quality control issues, and after about 3 months now I'm having a problem. The flash makes an audible sound as you change the lens zoom, and now on the camera it just constantly makes this sound, like's constantly adjusting itself. If I lower the wide-angle diffuser it still works.

I'm sorry now that I didn't invest the extra to get an SB600 or SB800. I plan to get the SB800 next, despite the additional cost and weight, to gain the additional power and options (difuser, filters, 5th battery). You can add the options to the SB600, except things like Master / SU4 mode.
 
I should make one more addition to my previous message: I plan to get the SB800 as well as a D200, once I've saved the cash. Mostly, I'ld like to take advantage of the wireless Commander mode.

I now use an old Sunpak flash with a cheap wireless slave add-on, combined with either the Sigma or the in-camera flash.
 
Thank you all
After reading all your replies, I will make a good gift for myself and buy
sb 600, inspite of, it cost aprox( 250can)
thank you
 
I don't think you will regret it, Alex. I used to avoid flash shots whenever I could, now I welcome the chance to use the SB-600.

I advise that you also buy a diffuser. Many on here have, like me, the Stofen Omnibounce, works well and it's only about $20, but there are others.
--
Chris
 
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