This is a real work horse Probably one of the most reliable pieces of photo equipment I ever owned I used it for weddings, etc I adapted or a digitial via Wein safe sync To my syrprise, it worked immediately on my Canon DSLR ( I hadnt used it in several years )Powerful solid unit- like a small strobe

It is bulky to carry; doesnt have dedicated TTL feature of my Canon 420 flash It has variable power ratio Maybe needs external battery pack for quivk continuouS use

It is a little bulky to carry- use it as main, ora supplemental light in my home studio- some use Stoffen, etc to soften light- I also have filter holser

Customer Service

Never had problem with either Sunpak or Vivitar 285 over all those years

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Another older, super reliable strobe is Vivitar 285 (also has variavle powerful, etc0

Variable power ratios are very useful.
Tilt and swing bouncing makes for soft, well controlled lighting.
Power is sufficient for bouncing, even with distant subjects.
Accepts filters over the flash head.
Can remove flash from bracket and hold it high off camera to control shadows.
Good recycle time and capacity from readily available AA Alkaline cells. Just keep spares handy if on a long shoot.
Bright, off camera lighting means no red-eye, and no delay.
Effective automatic and manual modes.

Only one: There is a screw-down knob which locks the camera bracket to the flash. If one forgets to tighten that thumbscrew, a bump from the wrong direction can cause the camera to fall away from the flash and onto the floor. This happened to me once, but never again. Pilot error, really. Just be forewarned and be careful. Honestly, I don't know how they could have done it any better. Serious photography is for thinking people.

This well conceived flash has served me very well for many years, and it continues to do so as well as ever. I have never had a single failure of any sort with it.

Customer Service

Never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Ultrablitz Matador 500
Honeywell Strobonar

Reliable, durable, powerful, acurate, fast!

I've had this flash for almost a decade! Actually, I haven't used it much in recent years but I pulled it out the other day and put it back to work.
I used it this week as part of a 3 light studio setup together with a couple of reflectors as well.
In this set I had it on a lightstand off camera together with a lumiquest softbox. It was used as the fill light but also as the trigger to 2 large studio strobes. It was much easier having that one cable from the fill light as opposed to hooking up the larger units.
Needless to say - I shot several hundered frames the other day and the sunpak performed flawlessly!
It will definitely not be going back into such a long hibernation period again!

Separate battery magazine for easy battery changing. Battery life is great. One button release from bracket (with safety, to prevent accidental release). Great consistency of light.

After 10+ years of using it, I have not found any. I love it.

I have had this strobe unit for many years, so mine may be an older model of the above, not sure. I guessed at the purchase price, but I remember it being under $200.00 at the time.

This has been the most reliable strobe unit! It's durable, extremely functional, and travels well. And as you can see, it will give you many years of great service.

Customer Service

I don't know how Sunpaks customer service is, because I've never had to call them!

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I had a similar bracket strobe made by Metz. I hated that thing! The head could come off and be used on a hot shoe mount, and the mounting brackets on the main bracket CRACKED after about a year, making the entire thing useless. I paid to have it fixed, not sure why.
The light was not as consistent as the Sunpak, and it was not as powerful. If the strobe said to set the camera on f/8, it would underexpose. I constantly had to open up the f/stop more than the guide said. Very frustrating.

My Sunpak blew the Metz out of the water!

well built, not as big and bulky as my former Rollei and interchangable base is a must have feature when multiple cameras and formats are being used at one time!

The hot shoe adapter cord option is a bit weak and was replaced with my Rollei adapter. bit of a battery eater in a rapid use situation.

GREAT flash especially considering I obtained NIB in trade for shooting one roll of b&w film for a retailer. A bit large to lug around in a fast paced situation but great for group/event type photos and the control you have over the output makes it #1 for oddball artsie stuff I usually shoot. I would pay full retail having owned the unit for just over a year. I have used it with my TLR medium format, Rollei sl35, P&S, and even digital cameras with no problems.

Customer Service

so far none needed, though for smaller units I have had great customer service and see no reason to expect less than stirling experience!

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Rollei, Metz, Vivitar, Quantaray

Great construction,broad variable flash output, high guide number for the money, looks really professional

havn't found a single one yet

I am very impressed with both the construction and the capability of this strobe. My slides have never looked better or more evenly lit since I've been using this flash. I really can't say enough about it. It's the best handle-mount auto flash you can buy for the money today! Buy it now. Trust me, you will never regret having spent the money.

Customer Service

havn't needed it yet

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 283
Vivitar 285HV

i love this flash, variable power from full to 1/64, tilt is very easy and versatile

none

buy this flash, it is amazing you can do anything you want with it, lots of accessories, probably the best flash ever built

Customer Service

never had a problem

Similar Products Used:

sunpak 3600 auto zoom

Very dependable flash. I have used one for wedding photography for the past 10 years or so, and have never had any problems. recycle time with the quantum battery is great. I highly recomend this flash!

none really, I have two, and one is alot louder when it ic recycling. I mainly use it for back up (I have never had to use it) or outdoor fill. In a church it sounds like a siren. (well maybe not quite that loud) This has never been a big enough problem to send it in for repair.

If you want a flash that you can depend on day in and day out, with plenty power, and great automatic features, you should take a good hard look at this flash before you buy anything else.you can measure the output with a good light meter, and you will get extremely concistant results.It's to bad that the rating only goes to 5, because this flash is definently a 10!

Customer Service

never needed it

Similar Products Used:

vivitar 283
vivitar 285

Great recycle time, light-weight, powerful

???

i love using this flash, it hasn't failed me in three years of proffesional work. I'd recomend this to anyone.

Customer Service

Good so far

Similar Products Used:

Metz 45 cl

very durable
It has been crunched and munched. Still pops like the first day.

Not a wide enough range for close up shots.

This is a great flash for the $.

Customer Service

never needed

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444