The best flash for beginners and advanced photogs alike.
Trying to assign a specific star rating value for this flash unit is meaningless unless the person reading the review understands what the device is, what it does, what it is intended to do, and MOST importantly what it is NOT. This is NOT a small, easily portable, pocket sized flash, so trying to rate it on size and weight is strange, for me. This is a huge flash unit, as far as "small" camera flashes go. It is the largest flash I have ever seen, and with batteries in it, it is appropriately heavy. However, compared to a Nikon SB900, or even sb700, it seems comparitively lightweight, or rather, the weight is about the same, but because the flash itself is so much larger, it seems as though it would weigh more.
But I have nothing negative to say about this flash. It is delectably, delightfully, and refreshingly simple. There are only four adjustments you can make, and only two of them involve a button or dial. There is an on/off button, and there is a large knob on the front which you dial up or down through 4 manual stop adjustments, and then four additional settings which are either color coded (purple, blue, red and yellow) which I have not yet determined the meaning of. I believe that they are a part of the "auto-thyristor" technology the flash offers, which can maybe be thought of as the first kind of automatic exposure mechanism for a flash.
I have digressed terribly here, so to get back on track, the point is that this is an awesome, sturdy, simply, reliable, and VERY INEXPENSIVE portable flash unit, that is probably THE BEST FLASH IN THE WORLD to use for a beginner, or advanced level photographer - for the price of these units, you could buy 6 of them for the same price as a Nikon SB900, and you will really learn about lighting, because it is a manual flash exposure.
This flash ROCKS.Read full review
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