Minolta Flash

[Ninja]

Hope this post will help fellow Minolta camera owners who are thinking of getting a flash. ADI flash metering is not as brilliant as I thought because ADI flash metering will cease if you bounce or attached any filter on your D lens or use wireless. TTL metering mode will be set automatically if you bounce, diffuse or use wireless.

Minolta 5600 HS Flash (S$570)
maximum GN is 56m @ 85mm
GN at 50mm = 44m
Auto zoom range= 24-85mm, 17mm with included wide angle adaptor
Manual zoom override= yes
AF auxiliary light= yes (up to 5m)
Hi-speed sync= yes
ADI= yes
Modelling flash= yes (with other 5600HS flash)
Remote flash= wireless TTL (no wireless ADI)
Head type= tilt & swivel
Tilt level= -10 / +90 degrees
swivel level= 270 degrees
manual flash output= full to 1/32
max. strobe frequencey= 100 Hz
Flash exposure compensation= via camera body feature only
2nd curtain sync. (via body feature)= yes
illuminated LCD= yes
weight= 370g
price = S$570

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Sigma EF-500 Super Flash (S$320)
Maximum GN at 105mm = 50m / 165 ft
GN at 50mm = 40m / 132 ft
GN at 28mm = 30m /100 ft
Auto zoom range= 28-105mm, 17mm with build in diffuser
Manual zoom override= yes
AF auxiliary light= yes (up to ?m)
Hi-speed sync= yes
ADI= yes
Modeling flash= yes (if you use the Modeling flash feature, you can check the lighting and shadow effects, before you take the picuture)
Remote flash= wireless TTL (no wireless ADI)
Head type= tilt & swivel
Tilt level= -7 / +90 degrees
swivel level= right (90 degrees) , left (180 degrees)
manual flash output= full to 1/64
max. strobe frequencey= 100 Hz
Flash exposure compensation= via camera body feature only , via manual setting of iso at the flash
Rear Curtain Synchro Flash = yes
illuminated LCD= yes
Auto-power off= yes after 180 secs
weight= 335g
price = S$320

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Minolta 3600 HS (D) Flash (S$230)
maximum GN is 36m @ 85mm
GN at 50mm = 29m
GN at 28mm = 22m
Auto zoom range= 24-85mm, 17mm with included wide angle adaptor
Manual zoom override= yes
AF auxiliary light= yes (up to 7m)
Hi-speed sync= yes
ADI= yes
Modelling flash= yes
Remote flash= wireless TTL (no wireless ADI)
Head type= tilt
Tilt level= 0 / +90 degrees
swivel level= no (if no swivel feature, you can only use bounce to take horizontal (landscape) photo, you can't bounce to the ceiling if you take vertical (portrait) photo. This may limit your bounce-flash pictures to landscape orientation unless you use wireless bounce. Therefore, must think carefully if you need to bounce flash a lot in future especially for hectic day wedding photography)
manual flash output= no
max. strobe frequencey= ?
Flash exposure compensation= via camera body feature only
2nd curtain sync. (via body feature)= ?
illuminated LCD= ?
weight= 260g
price = S$230

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Minolta 5400 HS Flash ($?) (discontinued model)
maximum GN is 54m @ 105mm
GN at 50mm = 42m
Auto zoom range= 24-105mm
Manual zoom override= yes
AF auxiliary light= yes (up to 9m)
Hi-speed sync= yes
ADI= no
Modelling flash= yes
Remote flash= wireless TTL
Head type= tilt & swivel
Tilt level= 0 / +90 degrees
swivel level= 270 degrees
manual flash output= full to 1/32
max. strobe frequencey= 100 Hz
Flash exposure compensation= via camera body feature only
2nd curtain sync. (via body feature)= yes
illuminated LCD= yes
weight= 385g
price = ? discontinued model

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Suntax 928 AF TTL Flash (S$70)
maximum GN is 28m @ 85mm
GN at 50mm = 20m
GN at 28mm = 15m
Manual zoom range= 28-85mm
Auto zoom= no
AF auxiliary light= yes
Hi-speed sync= no
ADI= no
Modelling flash= no
Remote wireless flash= no
Head type= tilt
Tilt level= 0 / +90 degrees
swivel level= no
manual flash output= full
max. strobe frequencey= -
Flash exposure compensation= via camera body feature only
2nd curtain sync. (via body feature)= no
illuminated LCD= no LCD
weight= 270g
price = S$70

 

[sulhan]

Well,.......

I don't quite agree about the bounce flash in vertical orientation of camera usage(portrait).

I think with the 3600HS, you can still have great use of the flash with wireless + ratio . Take the camera off the camera and have it used in wireless more. With the help of the 2:1 ratio, frontal lighting will be soft and background shadow will be reduced (or may be reduced totally) with the bounce flash(off camera).

For the ADI, it is obvious indeed that you cannot use it off the camera as the measurement of distance is for measurement of distance from camera.........

Well, i think the Wireless function alone is really a PLUS factor for minolta cameras. I personally use the wireless often in bright condition (sun behind subject) and have it placed on the floor with the flash foot. Then illuminate the face or surface to do a fill in flash.

.....Its a great flash......


see ya......

Regards,
Me

 

[Kevin]

How does the Wireless TTL work. Through Infra? Can the Sigma 430 Super works for WIreless TTL as well?

 

[isomers007]

besides using 3600hs or 5600hs...any other flash to be used for my d5? thinking of getting one...but their prices held me back

 

[nhyone]

The 5400HS has modelling flash. The 5200xi, which is its predecessor, is very similar to it except it does not have HSS and modelling flash.

The guide number determines how high a ceiling you can bounce off.

 

[isomers007]

Juz found out that the Vivitar 728AF Mi works with the D7/D5.

Dedicated Flashgun
Guild Number: 28/100 ISO
AF Computer Operation
Thyristor
Bounce Head: 0-90 degrees
Zoom Head: 28-85mm
Recycle Time: Approx. 0.5-9 Sec
Auto Check Button
Flash DurationL 1/1,000 to 1/40,000 sec.
Uses 4 AA Batteries
Battery Life: 120-2500 flashes, depending on distance
Dimension: 148mm x 70mm x 45mm
Weight: 235g

dunno about the price though. :dunno:

 

[ninelives]

Originally posted by Kevin
How does the Wireless TTL work. Through Infra? Can the Sigma 430 Super works for WIreless TTL as well?

to use Minolta wireless flash, u need to trigger it from the built-in flash. It serves like a radio channel. When the built-in flash fire, the hot-shoe flash will also fire.

 

[Kevin]

Thanks guys...

Anyone know how much is the Sigma 430 Super?

 

[rubric]

Hi. I own a Dynax 5 but am totally clueless about flash. I think the manual says must use a minolta flash. Is that true? If not, what's an affordable (less than $300) third party flash with moveable head? Need flash for macro work as well as informal portraits. BTW, what's guide no? Many thanks.

 

[rubric]

What does "flash zoom is at 85mm" mean? Use 85mm lens and flash? Is there an idiot's guide to flash on the net? ;p

 

[mpenza]

this might be useful: http://www.chem.helsinki.fi/~toomas/photo/flash-faq.html

 

[rubric]

Quite an illuminating reply! Thanks!

 

[nhyone]

Originally posted by Ninja
For example, the provided GN for the Minolta 3600HS flash is 36 meters at 85mm when using 100 iso film.

You forgot about the aperture. The flash manual will tell you what aperture is used. It's typically f/1.4.

In other words, you have much less power than you think, especially at the wide end.

 

[mandysst]

hi,

i am actually looking for a 5400HS flash. look like it is discountine. should i then get 5600HS? it is slightly over price for me. is there any second hand shop that i can look at?? also, is there a websites which have the manual of a 5400hs flash??

thanks

cheers

mandy

 

[ralphii82sg]

Originally posted by mandysst
hi,

i am actually looking for a 5400HS flash. look like it is discountine. should i then get 5600HS? it is slightly over price for me. is there any second hand shop that i can look at?? also, is there a websites which have the manual of a 5400hs flash??

thanks

cheers

mandy

theres one at 'TCW' and another at 'Alex Photo' (second level, same building as CP)

hope this helps...but be prepared to pay around $300+(if i remember correctly) for a second hand 5400HS

 

[rubric]

Stupid question, but is it alright to use the 5400hs with the Dynax 5? What should I look out for when buying second-hand flash?

 

[mandysst]

Originally posted by rubric
Stupid question, but is it alright to use the 5400hs with the Dynax 5? What should I look out for when buying second-hand flash?

yes , it is okie..i am using that now... 5400 with dynax 5, the results is brillant!

 

[rubric]

That's great news! How much did you pay and where? Did you test it before hand and how?

 

[YSLee]

Originally posted by nhyone


You forgot about the aperture. The flash manual will tell you what aperture is used. It's typically f/1.4.

In other words, you have much less power than you think, especially at the wide end.

No, it's typically f/1.0 at ISO100.

 

[mandysst]

Originally posted by rubric
That's great news! How much did you pay and where? Did you test it before hand and how?

er.... actually i got it from a fren who is changing his whole set of equ, so i know he sold me to at a very low price.... kekekek... he know i am broke mah!!!

i know the market price for second hand is probably going to cost u about 320.

cheers