I need a flashgun - but where from?

[Mad Dave]

Hi Guys,

I need a flashgun for a work event, and whilst I would love to go and splash the cash on an SB800 Speedlight, I don't have the funds. So, i'm left needed a flash, but not wanting to spend much. I have a £45 Jessops jobbie which works very well with my film cameras, but of course the D70 doesnt support it as it has some new metering method.

Anyway, ive seen one on this page:

www.warehouseexpress.co.uk/index.cfm?photo/flashguns/sigma.html

Its the £99.99 one im looking at. Its pretty much at the top of my price range, and I kind of begrudge spending that much as its for a work job that I need it! If I could find a decent Speedlight in a sale for not much more, id be tempted though.

Any suggestions?

Dave

[te51cle]

Have you tried looking at the secondhand kit in dealers windows ? Not sure where in Wiltshire you are but Swindon and Salisbury have some good dealers. Bath is another good place that might not be too far.

If you don't need a zoom feature on the flash unit and if you're willing to put the camera in manual mode to let the flashgun itself do the metering then you could go for a Vivitar 283 or 285 (a reliable 2nd hand buy) or a Sunpak Auto 383 Super for about £65. There's also the Metz 36C2 for about £50 which might suit you nicely, reasonable spec and a name to impress the girlies. All available new from Speed Graphic.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks mate. Im actually based just outside Salisbury. When I checked a few weeks back, none of them had any decent 2nd hand flashguns.

re Metz impressing the girlies - I think if I started naming bits of photographic equipment in an effort to pull, i'd probably kill myself

[V6GTO]

I gave my 17 year old daughter my Metz (CT45)(along with a Canon T90 and about £3 grands worth of lenses) when she started photography at collage. It was the perfect excuse to go out and buy the EOS 1n and some autofocus lenses!
Can't say I got on with the Metz very well.

Martin.

[simpo two]

I don't think you'll find any second-hand flash which is fully D70-compatible.

The only models I know of are:
1) Nikon Speedlight SB600
2) Nikon Speedlight SB800
3) Sigma similar to what you suggest but it MUST state 'NA Super iTTL' in the title.
4) Metz make one as well I think.

Personally I wouldn't feel happy trusting indy brands on an important event, so if budget is an issue I'd go for the SB600. You can get a cheap one from an eBay Power Seller in HK etc.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks Simpo. Ill check out the SB600, but theyre still nearly £200 surely?

Ill check out eBay, but I need it for the 26th Feb, and I'm always a bit dubious about buying stuff from abroad on Ebay.

[simpo two]

Mad Dave said:

Thanks Simpo. Ill check out the SB600, but theyre still nearly £200 surely?

Yes, but then on your photography checklist you can cross off 'flash': tick, done. Unfortunately you're in Wiltshire or you could borrow my SB800 for the day. I fear you'll have to take the bold view that if you've got to have certain tools to do the job, you have to get them... and you've left it a bit late for an import. Time for trip to Planet Cash...

[Mad Dave]

simpo two said:

Mad Dave said: Thanks Simpo. Ill check out the SB600, but theyre still nearly £200 surely? Yes, but then on your photography checklist you can cross off 'flash': tick, done. Unfortunately you're in Wiltshire or you could borrow my SB800 for the day. I fear you'll have to take the bold view that if you've got to have certain tools to do the job, you have to get them... and you've left it a bit late for an import. Time for trip to Planet Cash...

Fair comment. I only found out yesterday that I was taking the photos - I thought our official photographer chappie was doing it. I can't grumble though; I enjoy doing it, and work are paying for my creative photography course.

[Mad Dave]

I've just telephoned a few local camera shops and one of them has an SB800 in stock. A bit of research on the web suggests that its worth the extra few quid over the SB600 so i'm going in to have a look at it at lunchtime. I'm hoping Jessops may have one too, as they often price match t'internet. I also have my D70 Voucher book somewhere, so i'll have a look at that before I go.

I was tempted to scrimp, but I might as well buy one decent bit of kit, than a crap one that i'll have to replace sooner.

My Mastercard is cowering in the corner and my Barclaycard is looking smug - it's already full

[simpo two]

Mad Dave said:

I've just telephoned a few local camera shops and one of them has an SB800 in stock.

Wild man! The SB800 is slightly more powerful than the SB600, but the main difference is in wireless and multiple flash capabilities (not something I need right now, but at least I'm future-proofed)

Mad Dave said:

I was tempted to scrimp, but I might as well buy one decent bit of kit, than a crap one that i'll have to replace sooner.

Spot on


Oh, just one thing - the SB800 manual is even harder than the D70 manual

[Mad Dave]

Well, i've got it. £269. Jessops would match my internet price of £239 but didnt have any in stock. Ordering can apparently take a week - so I thought it was worth the extra £30 to make sure I got it in time.

Thanks for your advice John.

Dave

[Gibo993]

Aggghhhhh, the forum strikes again.

Yesterday: "My limit is £99.99"

Today: "£269 bargain!"

Its like peer pressure and drugs, "It all started with a Kodak 110, what harm could one little picture do........."

[Mad Dave]

Yes, Yes, I know!

It went from debit card to credit card, so the budget was raised