External flash for 602Z and equivalent

[mpenza]

Originally posted by e_liau
6. When you want to manually set the flash power by adjusting the zoom coverage, the +/- flash compensation,
7. When high-speed sync flash output is necessary.

Point 7 is not necessarily true. On the 602Z, the internal flash could sync at high speed too.

 

[s2s1]

Any suggestion for newbie of s602z? Thinking i seldom use external flash so want to buy a cheap one to try.

Which model is below $100 and worth for newbie to buy?

Somebody selling Metz 36 C-2, what's the diff with 32 Z-2? How far can 32 z-2 reach? Anyone know the proce of a new set of 32 c-2?

http://www.metz.de/1_metz_2000/m_pages_english/main_index_e.php3?link=4&sub=1&linkname=mecablitz

 

[Gr|ever]

Newbie here too...

What do you consider when buying an external flash? 1 thing I know is how powerful the flash will be (is there a term for that?). What other factors do I need to know? Why is some external flash so much more expensive then the rest?

Thanx in advance.

 

[s2s1]

Originally posted by Gr|ever
Newbie here too...

What do you consider when buying an external flash? 1 thing I know is how powerful the flash will be (is there a term for that?). What other factors do I need to know? Why is some external flash so much more expensive then the rest?

Thanx in advance.

:dunno:

Hope can hav some guide too here. R u using s602z?

 

[Gr|ever]

Originally posted by s2s1
:dunno:

Hope can hav some guide too here. R u using s602z?

Yeah... I'm using S602Z. Almost totally clueless about external flash, except the fact that it's able to illuminate things... Help anyone?!

BTW, your avatar of Selina is SO chio!

 

[s2s1]

Originally posted by Gr|ever
Yeah... I'm using S602Z. Almost totally clueless about external flash, except the fact that it's able to illuminate things... Help anyone?!

BTW, your avatar of Selina is SO chio!

Haha, i copy it from somewhere.
I'm newbie to external flash too. Do u want buy together after my exam?

 

[Gr|ever]

Originally posted by s2s1
Haha, i copy it from somewhere.
I'm newbie to external flash too. Do u want buy together after my exam?

Eh... if we can get cheaper price when buying in pairs, why not?! But 1st thing 1st... we need to know the stuff we're getting. That's why I was hoping someone here might help us out.... No replies to my questions as yet.

 

[s2s1]

Originally posted by Gr|ever
Eh... if we can get cheaper price when buying in pairs, why not?! But 1st thing 1st... we need to know the stuff we're getting. That's why I was hoping someone here might help us out.... No replies to my questions as yet.

Think getting those famous in voting, eg. Vivitar 285HV and Metz 32Z1, unless somebody can intro 1 less than $100 but good for s602z.
How much is ur budget?

 

[oooh]

hi guys, i currently selling mine @$80 metz 36C-2 + omni bounce, it's a very good flash much smaller and nicer than vivitar n 32z1, drop me a msg in you are interested


spec
Zoom Head@ 28mm 35mm 50mm 85mm
90,60,45,30 degree

35mm ISO160 F2.8 30m
85mm ISO160 F2.8 45m

 

[mpenza]

an intro to flash:
http://www.chem.helsinki.fi/~toomas/photo/flash-faq.html

an intro to automatic flash:
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam/User-Guide/EXT-FLASH/NIKON/NIKON-use-A-990.html

The second article is very good at explaining how to use automatic flash (which is what most/all of the S602Z users are using).

 

[s2s1]

Originally posted by mpenza
an intro to flash:
http://www.chem.helsinki.fi/~toomas/photo/flash-faq.html

an intro to automatic flash:
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam/User-Guide/EXT-FLASH/NIKON/NIKON-use-A-990.html

The second article is very good at explaining how to use automatic flash (which is what most/all of the S602Z users are using).

Thank you! The links are very useful! :thumbsup:

 

[s2s1]

Originally posted by oooh
hi guys, i currently selling mine @$80 metz 36C-2 + omni bounce, it's a very good flash much smaller and nicer than vivitar n 32z1, drop me a msg in you are interested


spec
Zoom Head@ 28mm 35mm 50mm 85mm
90,60,45,30 degree

35mm ISO160 F2.8 30m
85mm ISO160 F2.8 45m

The GN unit is 'meter' or 'feet'? If it's feet, the "35mm ISO160 F2.8 30m" should be 10m only? :dunno:

http://www.metz.de/1_metz_2000/m_pages_english/4_mecablitz/m_mb_techinfos/m_meca_tab_36_C_2.html

 

[mpenza]

Metz's specification is in metres.

You don't need to specify the aperture when listing the guide numbers, so you could simply discard the F2.8 in oooh's post. Anyway, for easy comparison, at max zoom of 85mm, ISO100 the 36C2 has a GN of 36m.

35mm ISO160 F2.8 30m
85mm ISO160 F2.8 45m

32Z1 and 32Z2 both has a max GN of 37m at 85mm, ISO100. The difference is not really significant but the 32Z series could swivel horizontally in addition to tilting vertically (36C2 could only tilt vertically like the Vivitar 285HV).

 

[s2s1]

Originally posted by mpenza
Metz's specification is in metres.

You don't need to specify the aperture when listing the guide numbers, so you could simply discard the F2.8 in oooh's post. Anyway, for easy comparison, at max zoom of 85mm, ISO100 the 36C2 has a GN of 36m.

35mm ISO160 F2.8 30m
85mm ISO160 F2.8 45m

32Z1 and 32Z2 both has a max GN of 37m at 85mm, ISO100. The difference is not really significant but the 32Z series could swivel horizontally in addition to tilting vertically (36C2 could only tilt vertically like the Vivitar 285HV).

Is it the GN listed normal under f2.8 (when not mentioned)?
coz from the 2nd link u gav:
"For example, suppose we use ISO 100 and a flash of GN 50. If we choose to use F8.0, the flash-subject distance should be less than or equal to 50/8 = 6.25 ft"

So the max distance can ur object be related to ur appeture number.
From the Metz spec "Guide number by ISO 100/21° and 50 mm == 30", this 30m is under f2.8, or i need 30/2.8 = 10m ??

:dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

 

[mpenza]

The F2.8 is redundant. It does not make any sense to include it as it does not mean anything. It's like stating GN 10m, 10kg. 10kg makes no sense for GN and is redundant. No one should list GN with aperture. GN is only relevant when quoted together with the ISO setting and the flash zoom position (if any).

GN = Aperture x Distance or
Distance = GN / Aperture

Aperture depends on the exact setting for the camera's lens. e.g. you're using a flash with a GN of 30m. If you're using F11, the max flash distance will be 30/11m. If you're using F2.8, it's 30/2.8m. You could change the Aperture under the manual exposure mode or the aperture priority exposure mode of the camera.

 

[s2s1]

Ok, thank u! Got a clearer pic now.

"Guide number by ISO 100/21° and 50 mm == 30"

So, from the spec of Metz 36 C-2 above, my obj max distance can be 30m/2.8 = 10.7m when i set my camera to ISO160, f2.8 with 50mm zoom. Correct?

How if i set my camera to 35mm (widen without tele)? How to calculate now?

 

[mpenza]

GN changes with ISO. If it's ISO 160, the GN will be higher compared to the specs for ISO 100. For every doubling of the ISO, GN increases by 1.4x. I'm not exactly sure the multiplier if ISO increase by 1.6x.

If you want to know the exact range for different ISO and zoom setting, buy the flash and check the manual. For some flash with LCD, the exact range is shown on the screen for different ISO, aperture and manual power settings. For other flash, there's usually some kind of table on the flash that shows the various distances.

You don't need to manually calculate though. The 2nd article I quoted teach you to use the automatic mode. Read it for more information.

 

[oooh]

hmm.....i don't think u need to remember all this, jus use the manual calculator behind the flash, problem solved Actually i don't find the guide number accurate it's juz to provide a brief guide, ur surrounding lightings may change it :bwhat:

 

[s2s1]

ok. Thank you very much! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[mpenza]

yup, it's just a guide (pun intended). It greatly depends on the environment you're in. If you're indoors with white walls and ceilings, the reflections of the flash off them will carry the flash further compared to when you're outdoors.