Instruction manual
system
has a TTL
mode
or
auto
for
any
camera
system,
and
saves
out
your
favorite
settings
in the
program
mode
of the flash. The
Qflash
has a flexible
flash
head that takes
a
variety
of flash
diffusers,
or
even bare bulb.
In
manual
mode
you
have
19
different
settings from
f/1.4
to
f/32.
Choose
any
X-stop
setting
for
accurate
auto
ratings. Visible
and
audible under-
and
overexposure warnings tell
you
which
way to
adjust.
One
Qflash
can
also control
the
exposure
of an
unlimited number
of
Qflash slaves.
They
also feature stroboscopic
mode
with rates
of
1-50
flashes
per
second.
If you
need power
in a
small package, Quantum's
answer
is the
Bantam battery.
This
small,
lightweight
battery
can
reduce your recycle time
by
half
and
double
the
amount
of
full-power
flashes.
The
popular
Quantum
Battery
1+
is a
high-capacity
rechargeable power pack
for
demanding
flash and
digital
applications requiring
the
power
of 4
AAs.
SIGMA
Sigma's newest entries into
the flash
arena
are the
EF-500
ST and
EF-500
Super, with
a
powerful guide number
of
165
with
ISO
100.
Their
power-zoom
heads
can
accommodate lens focal
ien
6
;h«
from
28-105mm,
and
extend
to
17mm with
a
built-in
Wide
Panel.
The
swivel head
can
rotate
left
180°, right 90°,
and
tilt
up 90° and
down
7° for
close-up photography. Exposure
options
include TTL,
or
manual
at
full
or
X<>
power.
The
Super also features wireless slave functions,
rear-curtain
sync, stroboscopic
effect,
high-speed
sync, red-eye reduction
and a
modeling lamp, just
like
a
studio
flash.
Both units support Sigma,
Canon,
Minolta, Nikon
and
Pentax
AF
camera
systems.
The
EF430
Super, with
a
guide number
of
142,
is
designed
to
work with Sigma,
Canon,
Minolta,
and
Nikon(D) camera systems.
The flash
supports
TTL
exposure, bounce, automatic
flash-fill
and
the
zoom
flash
head
automatically
adjusts
for the
focal lengths
from
28-80mm.
It
also features wireless off-
camera
TTL
exposure when
a
second
slave
unit
is
set. Rear-curtain
flash fires the flash
just
before
the
shutter closes
and
stroboscopic
flash is
also possible
at
various
intervals
up to 18
times
per firing.
When
the
light
level
is
low,
a
special
focus-assist light
helps
the
camera's autofocus system lock
in
on the
subject.
SUNPAK
One of the
largest selections
of
flashes
comes from Sunpak.
You
will
SIGMA
EF-500
find
small
flashes,
powerful
flashes,
ring
flashes,
underwater
flashes,
bracket-mounted
flashes,
slave
units
and flashes
with parabolic
reflectors.
With almost
two
dozen
different
models
of flashes for
every brand-name
camera,
you
should
easily
be
able
to find a
flash
for
any
purpose.
To
make your choice
easier,
Sunpak
has
created
four
distinct
groups: professional series, shoe-mount
autofocus,
dedicated
flash
with
fixed-
mounts,
and
shoe-mount
flash
units.
For
professional work
you can use the
handle-mount
622
Super
Pro
with
a
whopping
guide number
of
200.
It has
seven
interchangeable
flash
heads, seven auto aperture
settings,
and a
wide range
of
Autofocus
and TTL
dedicated modules, which makes this
one of the
most
versatile handle-mount
flash
units
on the
market.
The
MZ4000AF
shoe-mounted
flash has a
motorized head that
can
power
zoom
from
28-80mm
in
four distinct settings.
It is
available
for
Nikon
Canon,
and
Minolta camera systems.
Sunpak
offers
two
ring-flash
systems.
The DX-
12R
is
designed
to
work with both 35mm
and
medium-format systems with
filter
diameters
up
to
77mm.
It has a
guide number
of 40
with
ISO
100
film. A
smaller version
of the
ring
flash
is
the
DX-8R
which
has a
guide number
of
26
with
ISO 100 film.
VIVITAR
More
than
25
years
ago
Vivitar
introduced
its
283 flash, and it is
still
available today.
It has a
tilt
head
for
bounce
flash,
fast
recycle with Auto
Thyristor circuitry,
an ISO 100
guide number
of
120,
four
auto f-stop settings
and
remote sensor
capability.
Its
sequel,
the
285,
has
built-in
SUNPAK
622
SUPER
variable power,
and
special
fitting on the
front
of the
head
for the
attachment
of
lenses
and
color
filters.
The
840AF
has a
power head that
automatically
adjusts
its
illumination
angle
to
match
focal
lengths
from
28—80mm.
The
unit
has a
guide
number
of 120
with
ISO
100, complete
TTL
auto operation
and is
available
for
Canon,
Minolta, Nikon
and
Pentax
AF
cameras.
The
730AF
has a
manual zoom head that
can
adjust
to
35mm, 50mm,
and
85mm
focal
lengths.
It
has a
swivel head
for
bounce
flash and its
guide
number
of
115
provides complete
TTL
autoexposure
flash
operation.
Smaller units include
the
728AF,
560D,
2800,
2000,
and the
very small
16A/16M
flash
units.
If you
want
a
ring
flash,
Vivitar
has the
5000
and
840AF
the
6000AF
macro ring
flash
systems.
•
VIVITAR
SERIES
2002
PHOiographic
Buyer's
Guide
63