Which flash to keep?

[Rickinocal]

Ok, so I mentioned I could use a new flash from Santa. I got two from different people. I'm looking for the forums collective wisdom as to which to keep. Neither of them are expensive ones, but a second would just gather dust.

I got a Sunpak DF4000u and an Opteka IF980N.

The Opteka feels sturdier, has a better bag. The Sunpak is both Canon and Nikon compatible, the Opteka is Nikon only. (I have a Nikon D5300)

Incidentally, both have an external power jack, but neither came with a power cord.

Do any of you use one or the other and can throw out a recommendation?

Thanks, Richard

 

[geru]

Ok, so I mentioned I could use a new flash from Santa. I got two from different people. I'm looking for the forums collective wisdom as to which to keep. Neither of them are expensive ones, but a second would just gather dust.

I got a Sunpak DF4000u and an Opteka IF980N.

The Opteka feels sturdier, has a better bag. The Sunpak is both Canon and Nikon compatible, the Opteka is Nikon only. (I have a Nikon D5300)

Incidentally, both have an external power jack, but neither came with a power cord.

Do any of you use one or the other and can throw out a recommendation?

Thanks, Richard

Sounds like one flash (sunpak) is a manual flash? If the Opteka is ITTL capable I’d keep it.

 

[John Crowe]

The capabilities of both flashes seems identical, including TTL, but the Sunpak is almost twice as powerful. I have known the Sunpak name for over 30 years, so that too would help me decide on the Sunpak.

 

[lehill]

Ok, so I mentioned I could use a new flash from Santa. I got two from different people. I'm looking for the forums collective wisdom as to which to keep. Neither of them are expensive ones, but a second would just gather dust.

I got a Sunpak DF4000u and an Opteka IF980N.

The Opteka feels sturdier, has a better bag. The Sunpak is both Canon and Nikon compatible, the Opteka is Nikon only. (I have a Nikon D5300)

Incidentally, both have an external power jack, but neither came with a power cord.

Do any of you use one or the other and can throw out a recommendation?

Thanks, Richard

I don't have a recommendation, but I found some specifications so others can have a look:

Sunpak DF4000U

Opteka IF980N

It's interesting to see the Sunpak DF4000U has a bunch of extra pins on the flash foot. I guess only certain pins match Canon, the other pins match with Nikon. So they can say their TTL flash is compatible with Canon AND Nikon. This particular model seems to be a Best Buy exclusive.







--
Lance H

 

[BrownieVet]

Ok, so I mentioned I could use a new flash from Santa. I got two from different people. I'm looking for the forums collective wisdom as to which to keep. Neither of them are expensive ones, but a second would just gather dust.

NO, it would NOT gather dust.
Sooner, if not later, you will learn to use two flash or MORE for creative lightinge.
I use as many as 4 flash to achieve lighting effect. . . . sample below




UNEDITED taken with THREE flash.

I got a Sunpak DF4000u and an Opteka IF980N.

As you pointed out, the gift you received cost about $50 each (brand new)

The Opteka feels sturdier, has a better bag. The Sunpak is both Canon and Nikon compatible, the Opteka is Nikon only. (I have a Nikon D5300)

Incidentally, both have an external power jack, but neither came with a power cord.

Each Power Pack may cost more than both flash . . .

you might be able to get power cords from eBay. Perhaps Best Buy might carry the power cord.

Do any of you use one or the other and can throw out a recommendation?

Just KEEP both.
I have a 9 year old Sunpak that set me back $150. Mine may not even be as good as yours but is made in Japan as certainly durable.

Thanks, Richard

 

[tedolf]

Do either have the ability to act as an optical slave flash?

If so keep both. One can be used to trigger the other in a dual flash set up. very common in portraiture work, macro work, etc.

Tedolph

 

[BrownieVet]

Do either have the ability to act as an optical slave flash?

If so keep both. One can be used to trigger the other in a dual flash set up. very common in portraiture work, macro work, etc.

Tedolph

I doubt the OP knows . . . sure both can be use as slave and trigger.
Moreover, the camera built-in can also trigger both flashes as slave . . . at the same time.

 

[tedolf]

Do either have the ability to act as an optical slave flash?

If so keep both. One can be used to trigger the other in a dual flash set up. very common in portraiture work, macro work, etc.

Tedolph

I doubt the OP knows . . . sure both can be use as slave and trigger.
Moreover, the camera built-in can also trigger both flashes as slave . . . at the same time.

Do they have optical slave sensors?

A lot of modern flashes do not.

Tedolph

 

[BrownieVet]

I doubt the OP knows . . . sure both can be use as slave and trigger.
Moreover, the camera built-in can also trigger both flashes as slave . . . at the same time.

Do they have optical slave sensors?

A lot of modern flashes do not.

Tedolph

what part of "YES" do you not understand?
Why not do a basic internet search for the SPECIFICATIONS of both flash?

 

[tedolf]

I doubt the OP knows . . . sure both can be use as slave and trigger.
Moreover, the camera built-in can also trigger both flashes as slave . . . at the same time.

Do they have optical slave sensors?

A lot of modern flashes do not.

Tedolph

what part of "YES" do you not understand?
Why not do a basic internet search for the SPECIFICATIONS of both flash?

Congratulations.

You made it to the "ignore" list.

Tedolph

 

[BrownieVet]

I doubt the OP knows . . . sure both can be use as slave and trigger.
Moreover, the camera built-in can also trigger both flashes as slave . . . at the same time.

Do they have optical slave sensors?

A lot of modern flashes do not.

Tedolph

what part of "YES" do you not understand?
Why not do a basic internet search for the SPECIFICATIONS of both flash?

Congratulations.

You made it to the "ignore" list.

Tedolph

 

[JasonTheBirder]

I have shot a fair amount of portraits. I start with single light and then move to two. I am always amazed at how a second light can improve the portrait by eliminating shadows created by the key or adding some cool dynamic like a bit of hair light.

 

[Rickinocal]

The capabilities of both flashes seems identical, including TTL, but the Sunpak is almost twice as powerful.

Hi there, thanks for the response. I'm not well educated on the specs of flash units, so I must be misunderstanding how the power is expressed.

The Sunpak has a guide number of 190' / 58m, while the Opteka has a guide number of 278' / 85m, both expressed at 100 ISO.

Doesn't that make the Opteka more powerful than the Sunpak, not the other way round?

 

[Rickinocal]

Sounds like one flash (sunpak) is a manual flash? If the Opteka is ITTL capable I’d keep it.

No, they both have i-TTL capability.

 

[Rickinocal]

Ok, so I mentioned I could use a new flash from Santa. I got two from different people. I'm looking for the forums collective wisdom as to which to keep. Neither of them are expensive ones, but a second would just gather dust.

NO, it would NOT gather dust.
Sooner, if not later, you will learn to use two flash or MORE for creative lightinge.
I use as many as 4 flash to achieve lighting effect. . . . sample below


UNEDITED taken with THREE flash.

I got a Sunpak DF4000u and an Opteka IF980N.

As you pointed out, the gift you received cost about $50 each (brand new)

The Opteka feels sturdier, has a better bag. The Sunpak is both Canon and Nikon compatible, the Opteka is Nikon only. (I have a Nikon D5300)

Incidentally, both have an external power jack, but neither came with a power cord.

Each Power Pack may cost more than both flash . . .

you might be able to get power cords from eBay. Perhaps Best Buy might carry the power cord.

Do any of you use one or the other and can throw out a recommendation?

Just KEEP both.
I have a 9 year old Sunpak that set me back $150. Mine may not even be as good as yours but is made in Japan as certainly durable.

Thanks, Richard

Thanks, and to everyone else who responded. Given the prices, yes, I'm going to go ahead and keep both and have a play with twin-flash setups.

 

[BrownieVet]

The capabilities of both flashes seems identical, including TTL, but the Sunpak is almost twice as powerful.

Hi there, thanks for the response. I'm not well educated on the specs of flash units, so I must be misunderstanding how the power is expressed.

The Sunpak has a guide number of 190' / 58m, while the Opteka has a guide number of 278' / 85m, both expressed at 100 ISO.

Doesn't that make the Opteka more powerful than the Sunpak, not the other way round?

The Sunpak GN conforms to the industry standard of publishing.
I seriously doubt the published GN of Opteka.

Nikon SB-910 which is the most powerful Nikon Flash and Nissin MG8000 Extreme has GN very similar to Sunpak. Both Nikon SB910 and Nissin MG8000 Extreme sells for close to $5000. However, GN alone is NOT the only measure and indicator of the quality of Flash unit. But that is beside the point for your two flashes.

Bottom line, just keep both.

 

[Rickinocal]

The capabilities of both flashes seems identical, including TTL, but the Sunpak is almost twice as powerful.

Hi there, thanks for the response. I'm not well educated on the specs of flash units, so I must be misunderstanding how the power is expressed.

The Sunpak has a guide number of 190' / 58m, while the Opteka has a guide number of 278' / 85m, both expressed at 100 ISO.

Doesn't that make the Opteka more powerful than the Sunpak, not the other way round?

The Sunpak GN conforms to the industry standard of publishing.
I seriously doubt the published GN of Opteka.
Nikon SB-910 which is the most powerful Nikon Flash and Nissin MG8000 Extreme has GN very similar to Sunpak. Both Nikon SB910 and Nissin MG8000 Extreme sells for close to $5000. However, GN alone is NOT the only measure and indicator of the quality of Flash unit. But that is beside the point for your two flashes.
Bottom line, just keep both.

Thanks, I'll do that. Maybe I'll go outside some evening and take a few identical pictures with each as a comparison. If I do I'll post them.

 

[Rickinocal]

Both flashes have optical slave sensors.

I didn't know that, but I was able to find the info.

Richard

 

[John Crowe]

Double check. I found the the Sunpak quoted in metres (190) and the Opteka quoted in feet.

I believe I found the Opteka on their website, which I trust. Oddly enough I could not find the Sunpak on their website, and had to go by a review.

Of course you have the flashes so you can check directly. Just make sure both are quoted in metres or feet.

 

[Rickinocal]

Of course you have the flashes so you can check directly. Just make sure both are quoted in metres or feet.

On some testing out to as far as they were usable earlier, the Opteka is clearly more powerful. It was still illuminating my target subject at least 5m further out than the Sunpak. I'll post some pictures soon to illustrate.

Another note is the sound of the zoom in the flashes. While you could clearly hear the zoom in the Opteka working, that in the Sunpak was *loud*. Offputtingly loud.