powerful flash.light weigh.

not sync with newer model cameras.

i bought this minolta program 3500XI for use on my Sony A100, its light weigh, works great with Sony A100, its doesnt work in program mode, but i use it with A mode or manual mode.i use it at 125/sec at f4.0 with 200iso for most shots at about 5-15 feet.. its so bright, it can covers the entire room in wide angle, i use it with plastic dome, and bounce it at 45 degree up to ceiling.The red eye infront of flash is bouncing back the light, it does make some noise when its bouncing.ill get used to it.It has Minolta D series mount, its not a typical hotshoe mount.
i love it for what i paid..a keeper for long time.

Customer Service

none so far.

Similar Products Used:

sigma...

Nice simple flash. Fast recycling times, especially when combined with NiMH or NiCD. Wireless Flash ready. The zoom is a bit noisy when compared with 5400hs.

No test button and no LCD. The buttons are somewhat a bit hard to push, compared to 5400hs and 5400xi.

Great flash, nice features and good value if you can find it used. The price ranges about US 80-130 used. I use this flash when 5400hs is just too much (a situation that seldom appears) and for slave in wireless mode. I owned 5400hs, 5400xi and 3500xi and I could say that it's very nice to have a portable studio in your camera bag.

Customer Service

None needed. Yet

Similar Products Used:

5400hs, 5400xi, Nikon SB-22

Off Camera Remote, Lots of Power, Ease of use, auto zoom head

Cannot connect to cable when off camera. This limits off camera synch speed to 1/60 sec forcing larger aperatures on portraits than desired, no manual mode or test flash.

A great Minolta flash for the price. However, if you are a bit serious about your photography, spend the extra money on the 5200HS which is more powerful, has a lot more features and all the above weaknesses are eliminated

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 283, Minolta 5200

Small, light, powerful. Some really nice features like bounce head, "lo" setting, wireless capabilities, good AF illuminator, several focal length settings, etc.

No "test" button (what the heck were the folks at Minolta thinking??). Also, the rubberized control buttons are recessed too far into the plastic shell. They are hard to push sometimes, especially if you're wearing gloves.

A very good flash, at a fairly reasonable price. If you can afford it, buy the 5400HS instead (the features on it are awesome!).

Customer Service

Not yet.

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 283, 285HV, 730 AF.

Versatile with a GN 35 meters(at 105mm and ISO 100) , Auto and Manual zoom, wireless/remote off-camera TTL flash control

No horizontal swivelNo "test" button

Extremely useful especially on wireless/remote mode which you can't find in competition. Buy a second hand unit. There's lots out there. Brand new ones are fairly expensive although its good value for money.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Sunpak

Full minolta specific wireless capability,
quite powerfull for it's price range,
wide range zoom capability.
Easy of use, relativaly not expensive
for the performance delivered.

Absence of total manual mode (full power), modelling light, LCD panel
terminal for ext. sync cord and so
would be nice, though those features
exist on more expensive and robust models, like 5400HS.

Great unit for the price, although having more cash the 5400HS would be definitely the choice, especially in case of using in home based studio portraiture.

Customer Service

Not needed so far

Similar Products Used:

None

Off camera flash with 7xi. Simple and easy to use.

No flash test button.

It's a flash. Only purchase if used with xi cameras.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

None

Wireless with Maxxum bodies, zooming head.

None

Powerful flash. A test fire button, and flash power feature would be nice, but I guess that's why you'd move up to the 5400. I got mine used for a great price.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 5200xi

it's the cheapest of the Maxxum/Dynax flahes & offers total remote-control compatibility with any Maxxum/Dynax

non

this is an alright flash but it doesn't swivel horizontally so there's some limitation. It doesn't come with a filter for soft-flash & maybe it should; compared to other compatible products from other independent flash manufacturers, it is also pricey

Customer Service

very good

Similar Products Used:

Sunpak