3rd Party Flash on Nikon D70

[wkong]

Hi
For those who have used a 3rd party flash on D70, please share your experience.
Thank you

[westwest2]

why dun get a sb600 instead...3rd party not really safe...

[scenar]

should get sb600, one of the strengths of nikon is the wireless flash built-in into some bodies like d70/d80/d200.

3rd party flash imm kills that capability..

With sb600/sb800 U prob get more reliable flash metering too!

[longkangman]

Originally Posted by westwest2 why dun get a sb600 instead...3rd party not really safe...

why leh?

[scandisk]

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/flashes/fl...ls.asp?id=3257

http://sunpak.jp/english/products/pz42x/index.html

[ortega]

nikon has the best flash system in the world - enough said

[leyo04]

Originally Posted by wkong Hi For those who have used a 3rd party flash on D70, please share your experience. Thank you

I suggest getting the sb600 if you are on a tite budget. the wireless mode is really impressive. Lots of sb's being sold at BnS, just try your luck.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by wkong Hi For those who have used a 3rd party flash on D70, please share your experience. Thank you

Why are you considering a 3rd party flash?? If you're going for a Metz, the price would be pretty close to the SB-600 and most users here would rather reccomend a SB over a 3rd party device.

[Siraj]

Please lah.. don't use 3rd party. I'm using a D70s. I have both the Sigma EF-500 DG SUPER and SB 600. I was at first tempted by the guide number for SIGMA flash. It was close to that of SB800 but for a prize of SB600. I tot it made sense to purchase the Sigma flash...how wrong could I ever be...

The ttl is really not good. I often ended up with wrongly exposed pictures either too much or too little flash. In the end I resorted to using manual settings. I paid so much for ttl but it failed me.

After loads of frustrations I went out to purchase the SB800. Nothing compares to it as yet. Best flash for D70....Why go for third party? Don't waste money. Pay a bit more for quality. Lesson learnt.

[spazzer]

don use 3rd pt flash may have some prob with hotshoe later imho

[Siraj]

Originally Posted by spazzer don use 3rd pt flash may have some prob with hotshoe later imho

I'm curious... if the hotshoe does get damaged somehow.. is it repairable? Can Nikon service centre repair it?

[swordman]

No point getting 3rd party, not that cheaper anyway. get the SB600, highly recommended $300+ only.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by westwest2 why dun get a sb600 instead...3rd party not really safe...

Will it explode?

Originally Posted by spazzer don use 3rd pt flash may have some prob with hotshoe later imho

Such as?

While I strongly believe in using Nikon Speedlights over any third party flash on a Nikon body, I've never heard or seen any hotshoe problems that arise from using third party flash.

Originally Posted by Siraj Please lah.. don't use 3rd party. I'm using a D70s. I have both the Sigma EF-500 DG SUPER and SB 600. I was at first tempted by the guide number for SIGMA flash. It was close to that of SB800 but for a prize of SB600. I tot it made sense to purchase the Sigma flash...how wrong could I ever be... The ttl is really not good. I often ended up with wrongly exposed pictures either too much or too little flash. In the end I resorted to using manual settings. I paid so much for ttl but it failed me. After loads of frustrations I went out to purchase the SB800. Nothing compares to it as yet. Best flash for D70....Why go for third party? Don't waste money. Pay a bit more for quality. Lesson learnt.

Very true. The Sigma is known for its inconsistent TTL. Even the Canon variant is also really inconsistent. One third-party flash that is really good is the Metz 54MZ, but then again, pricing isn't really excitingly cheap.

[jnet6]

Originally Posted by calebk Very true. The Sigma is known for its inconsistent TTL. Even the Canon variant is also really inconsistent. One third-party flash that is really good is the Metz 54MZ, but then again, pricing isn't really excitingly cheap.

I do agree that one of the best "3rd" party flash maker is Metz, this model 54MZ* (latest should be 58AF).
As i have one and the output of the flash is very consistent plus good colours too.
For other models like the hammerhead 60CT*,i've used it before, it gives a very good and powerful flash when you know your exposure well as using only in full manual mode, despite of "old" technology.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by jnet6 I do agree that one of the best "3rd" party flash maker is Metz, this model 54MZ* (latest should be 58AF). As i have one and the output of the flash is very consistent plus good colours too. For other models like the hammerhead 60CT*,i've used it before, it gives a very good and powerful flash when you know your exposure well as using only in full manual mode, despite of "old" technology.

One thing to note is that the 3rd party makers rely entirely on reverse engineering the data transfer that goes on between the camera and the flash/lens. So they can never achieve the actual range of commands that the camera is able to handle. Nikon/Canon etc will not give them the proprietary protocol.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by jnet6 I do agree that one of the best "3rd" party flash maker is Metz, this model 54MZ* (latest should be 58AF). As i have one and the output of the flash is very consistent plus good colours too. For other models like the hammerhead 60CT*,i've used it before, it gives a very good and powerful flash when you know your exposure well as using only in full manual mode, despite of "old" technology.

However, the 58AF's user interface only consists of four buttons. I hear it's quite un-user-friendly compared to the older interface of the 54, which had the jog dial.

[wkong]

Originally Posted by wkong Hi For those who have used a 3rd party flash on D70, please share your experience. Thank you

Thank you to those who are concerned about me getting a 3rd party flash and also to those who have given valuable advice about Nikon flash.