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Sunpak 544 Auto Flashes

4.92/5 (13 Reviews)

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  • DedicationNot Dedicated
    Guide Number140 @ ISO 100 (35mm.)
    Flashe TypeRegular Flash
    Mount TypeHandle Mount
    BounceWith Bounce
    Min. Recycle Time9 Seconds
    Weight24.65 oz.
    Product ID21882061

Product Description

The Auto 544 has tilt and swivel capability and delivers a powerful 140 guide number with ISO100 film. Featuring auto thyristor circuitry that provides a 4 f/stop aperture range and auto coverage from 1.6 to 50 ft, the Auto 544 includes power ratio control from full to 1/64 power.


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Reviews 1 - 5 (13 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Hank Osaurus a Expert

Date Reviewed: May 29, 2011

Strengths:    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.


Weaknesses:    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.

Bottom Line:   
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.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $190.00

Purchased At:   Wolf Camera in Atlan

Similar Products Used:   Ultrablitz Matador 500
Honeywell Strobonar

Type of photography:   People

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by danimach a Professional

Date Reviewed: December 20, 2006

Strengths:    Reliable, durable, powerful, acurate, fast!

Bottom Line:   
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!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Type of photography:   People

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Jolynn Bales a Professional

Date Reviewed: April 18, 2006

Strengths:    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.

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

Bottom Line:   
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.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $150.00

Purchased At:   Roberts Distributors

Similar Products Used:   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!

Type of photography:   People

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by jamestom a Professional

Date Reviewed: January 25, 2005

Strengths:    Well Built
Very Powerfull
Great filter accessories
Seems power efficient
Dynamic

Weaknesses:    PC Sync cable a litle on the light side.
Average Product support.

Bottom Line:   
For anyone contemplating a choice between this side flash or dedicated name brand this is the flash to get.
This unit is being currently used with Canon 10D and the results are consistet and fantastic. No problems with distance as this flash is very powerful. In auto mode it really does a great job. In manual it does an even better job. It never over exposes or under exposes, its just that consistent.
I bought this flash to back up my Nissin 4200GW which is also great, but this just seems to be better in auto mode. Bounce photography is also fantastic.
Another great feature is that you can dial in any power ration on the hop, all the way down to 1/64th power, unlike some other flashes you have to navigate by a series of button pushes.
For me it is very flexible and fast to work with and I know where I am at a glance.
The system gets even better when using flash triggers in a multiple flash system with gel filters available optionaly.
Flexibility is what its all about, and in this flash you have flexibility and the speed to do it in.
However there is a down side, I cant get anyone in Australia to get parts from as this is the US model, I had to make my own PC Sync Cable because I gave up in the end.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $45.00

Purchased At:   Ebay Store

Similar Products Used:   Nissin 4000GW
Nissin 4200GW

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Kaligus a Expert from Where I land USA

Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001

Strengths:    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!

Weaknesses:    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.

Bottom Line:   
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.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Similar Products Used:   Rollei, Metz, Vivitar, Quantaray

Type of photography:   Fine Art


Reviews 1 - 5 (13 Reviews Total) | Next 15

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  • DedicationNot Dedicated
    Guide Number140 @ ISO 100 (35mm.)
    Flashe TypeRegular Flash
    Mount TypeHandle Mount
    BounceWith Bounce
    Min. Recycle Time9 Seconds
    Weight24.65 oz.
    Product ID21882061


 

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