The cost of digital flash units!

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 15:56:35 -0500, RichA <none@none.com> wrote:

>The Olympus flash for the E1 is around
>$700 Can. What ever happened to the days
>when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
>283/285 that cost about $100/ea??

I'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
cost only about $70 USD.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:28:25 -0500, Larry <lastingimagery@comcast.dotnet> wrote:
>In article <b5hgu010c1k24gle16j5h6r5ar4frp5pjq@4ax.com>, drk_gently@yahoo.com
>says...
>> 'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
>> cost only about $70 USD.
>>
>
>I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had the
>oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.

Is Sunpak and Quantaray the same company?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

In article <3bZFd.555$ru.15@fed1read07>, shadowcatcher@cox.net says...
> "Dirk Gently" <drk_gently@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:4flgu0hag0m68mup8n7p20h0n73t9nodq1@4ax.com...
> > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:28:25 -0500, Larry <lastingimagery@comcast.dotnet>
> > wrote:
> >>In article <b5hgu010c1k24gle16j5h6r5ar4frp5pjq@4ax.com>,
> >>drk_gently@yahoo.com
> >>says...
> >>> 'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
> >>> cost only about $70 USD.
> >>>
> >>
> >>I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had the
> >>oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.
> >
> > Is Sunpak and Quantaray the same company?
> >
> Quantaray is the house brand of Ritz Photo. Sunpak is a manufacturer of
> flashes, and pretty well respected.
>
>
>

At the time I bought the one I have it was listed as:

Quantaray/Sunpak Q838.

It does NOT, however, have the word "Sunpak" anywhere on it.

Thats really all I know about it other than the fact that it seems to do the
job.

For what I paid for it ($89 US), if it quit working tomorrow it owes me
nothing (over 2000 shots with it), and I would buy another in a NY minute.

I already plan on picking up a second unit on Monday.


--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Ct.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Larry" <lastingimagery@comcast.dotnet> wrote in message
news:MPG.1c522e2395b0f4e19898b4@news.comcast.giganews.com...
> In article <3bZFd.555$ru.15@fed1read07>, shadowcatcher@cox.net says...
>> "Dirk Gently" <drk_gently@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:4flgu0hag0m68mup8n7p20h0n73t9nodq1@4ax.com...
>> > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:28:25 -0500, Larry
>> > <lastingimagery@comcast.dotnet>
>> > wrote:
>> >>In article <b5hgu010c1k24gle16j5h6r5ar4frp5pjq@4ax.com>,
>> >>drk_gently@yahoo.com
>> >>says...
>> >>> 'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
>> >>> cost only about $70 USD.
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had
>> >>the
>> >>oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.
>> >
>> > Is Sunpak and Quantaray the same company?
>> >
>> Quantaray is the house brand of Ritz Photo. Sunpak is a manufacturer of
>> flashes, and pretty well respected.
>>
>>
>>
>
> I just had a look at the "SUNPAK" 383, and it seems identical to the unit
> I
> have except for the name on the case.
>
> Internals look the same, switches, settings, adjustments are the same..
> I'de
> guess The Quantaray Q838 is made in the same factory, though I cant prove
> it.
>
> As I said, I always thought Quantaray was JUNK 'till I used (then bought)
> the
> Q383.
>
>
> --
> Larry Lynch
> Mystic, Ct.

Well, since all Quantaray/Ritz does is market what they get from others, I
guess they have to hit on a good one every once in a while...

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

RichA <none@none.com> writes:

> The Olympus flash for the E1 is around
> $700 Can. What ever happened to the days
> when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
> 283/285 that cost about $100/ea??

Well you can still use the Vivitars. They work the same way they did in the
film world (ie, somewhat limited, but generally usuable). Also, the FL-36
should be shipping now, and is somewhat cheaper than the FL-50. Promaster
might be an alternative, though they only sell in the states.

--
Michael Meissner
email: mrmnews@the-meissners.org
http://www.the-meissners.org

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"RichA" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:0ecgu01d237asokpcoq7cgt1rdhrlbo8bv@4ax.com...
> The Olympus flash for the E1 is around
> $700 Can. What ever happened to the days
> when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
> 283/285 that cost about $100/ea??
> -Rich




Use the Sunpack 433 D or 422 D (for OM), you can get it for $60 on Ebay.
Or the Vivitar 285, same price.


In my experience, TTL on digital isn't no where near as good as it is on a
35mm camera, so a thryristor is just about as good, and you gain one stop
on the X sync speed (can sync at 1/320 on a third party flash).


Patrick

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 09:27:38 -0800, "C J Campbell"
<christophercampbellNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>"RichA" <none@none.com> wrote in message
>news:0ecgu01d237asokpcoq7cgt1rdhrlbo8bv@4ax.com...
>> The Olympus flash for the E1 is around
>> $700 Can. What ever happened to the days
>> when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
>> 283/285 that cost about $100/ea??
>> -Rich
>
>They went the same way as the day of the $200 SLR.
>

Those I remember. Pentax K-1000, Canon T-70.
-Rich

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

RichA wrote:

>>They went the same way as the day of the $200 SLR.
>>
> Those I remember. Pentax K-1000, Canon T-70.

I miss my little Minolta X-700 with Tamron 70-210 one-touch zoom... *sigh*