This is a list of flashguns that work well used off camera, often with other flashguns of same or different make and model.
Features to look for[]
- Manual setting
- Manual power settings down to 1/32 or 1/64, or 1/16 in a pinch
- PC cord terminal
- Internal slave
- CLS system capabilities (especially if used with TTL features)
- Doesn't fall asleep - power save mode can be irritating if it can't be turned off in manual
Features that can be problematic[]
- Power save mode
- High trigger voltage - some modern DSLR's can be damaged.
- Automatic zoom feature
Strobist friendly flashgun models[]
- Digital Concepts 952AF (rebranded Exakta DPZ 38AF)
- Dörr DAF42 (rebranded Exakta DPZ 38AF)
- Exakta DPZ 38AF (available mainly in Eastern Europe. Optical slave, TTL, Manual ratio to 1/16)
- Nikon SB900, SB800, SB600 (compatible with latest CLS)
- Nikon SB26 etc - used manually
- Sakar 952AF (rebranded Exakta DPZ 38AF)
- Soligor DG-420 Z (rebranded Exakta DPZ 38AF)
- Sunpak 383 (and virtually identical models. Slightly high trigger voltage)
- Sunpak 422D (Very inexpensive nowadays, swivel/tilt head, safe trigger voltage)
- Sunpak 433D (Very inexpensive nowadays, swivel/tilt head, safe trigger voltage)
- Vivitar 283 (cheap and powerful, but dont stick it on your camera's hotshoe!!!)
- Vivitar 285 (cheap and powerful, but also dangerous to digitals due to high trigger voltage)
- Vivitar 285HV (cheap, powerful, safe for digital cameras)
Please add more flashguns and more features.
NB, I don't know for sure who's actually manufacturing the Exakta - might actually be Sakar?