considerations for choosing a 3rd party flash

[DMajor]

Hi

What are the considerations for choosing a 3rd party flash?

I have bought my canon 500D a few months back and have not been doing any flash photography.

Thanks

DM

 

[chalib]

Compatability

Function

After sales service

 

[DMajor]

how about brightness? and whether the camera can compensate the exposure?

what kind of functions can a flash have? i thought it just .. flash

or how far the flash can reach?

 

[powergoo]

Many ppl choose 3rd party flash coz of price.
I had use an old 380EX flash for many moons & serve me well. I still shoot with old Metz 32CT2 sinle pin flash in AV or M mode though.

Recently, I did a test and boufght a used Suntax D730AFC. Sometimes, u r lazy and need a reasonable small flash to use.

It's fine for ocassional flash where u need double the output of yr camera's bultin flash. Also it recycles very quickly!

However, when used in bounce, I noticed almost everytime thskin tone is redder, am I am sure i bounced off a perfectly white ceiling. wierd!
Flash output is not so consistent, as it fires even when not fully charge, when I do a 3fps burst in 6 to 8 shots.

So far that's what I noted. So not for serious work! Will try bouncing off a card and see how it goes!