Sunpak 544 Auto

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!

Reliable, durable, powerful, acurate, fast!

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.

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 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!

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

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.

Well Built Very Powerfull Great filter accessories Seems power efficient Dynamic

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

Nissin 4000GW Nissin 4200GW

Average

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.

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.

Rollei, Metz, Vivitar, Quantaray

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

If you guys can get it where I got it, it's probabaly one of the best deals around. I bought it brand new and (maybe my dealer got it on the black market, who knows? They probably did.)Even if you get it at the regular proce though, it still is on heck of a deal. The performance, power and control it gives you is hard to beat.

The power is very useful and the manual control allwos you to think when you feel like thinking rather than leaving everything to the flash circuitry. (Don't get me wrong, the flash thinks very well when left alone.)

Can't think of any just yet though some people may need stronger limbs to handle it regularly for long periods like weddings. Once you get over that, you'll be fine.

Sunpak PZ4000AF
Sunpak Autozoom

Never needed it.