Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

By mid week I will have money together to order my 5D mkIII and have begun to wonder about flashguns
Ok eventually it will be a Speedlite or what ever the modern version of my Metz CL60 hammerhead is, but for now, just want a small, tiny, low powered pocket gun, sort of size of the remote hotshoe type accessories.

Can be totally manual with low GN, just something to give that little bit of fill in, or enough for party/group type ' snapshots'

Main criteria is physically small for easy carry

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Be sure to get one with a delayed flash trigger because a regular slave flash will fire on the camera's preflash. These with a g=40 sell on Amazon for less than $15.
Excuse me, price drop now $6.60 with bracket. It has a 1,2,3,4 preflash delay on the trigger.
http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER%C2%AE-Digital-Bracket-Cameras-Without/dp/B002X3VBFK

Alternate is a Seagull SYK-5 adapter with similar (dial controlled) delay. See discussion on how to use:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1025&message=31787939
Used with old high volt trigger flash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV8-qC_FdXI
Yes, I know they are low cost! So find an equal for $150 and feel good and not embarrassed in public. Hint, on my old Chrysler Labaren, I replaced the emblem on hood and trunk with Mercedes medallions

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

Either I mis understood your answer, or you have mis understood my question.

I am after a really small light weigh flash to fit on the camera hotshoe, not to use it remotely.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Check out Nissin and Yongnou flashes. Lots of people here use them, and they are less expensive than Canon flashes. Just be aware that "small and light" translates into "small amount of light." I have a Nikon SB400 that is small and light, but it's output is nothing like my larger, heavier SB600.

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

Oh, yes, a low GN is fine. I checked the ones yo mention, but they still look quite large, thats why I say i'd like a small one the sort of size that the hot shoe remote senders are.,

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

--------------------------------------
Your request was.....
"... just want a small, tiny, low powered pocket gun, sort of size of the remote hotshoe type accessories."
"Can be totally manual with low GN, just something to give that little bit of fill in, or enough for party/group type ' snapshots'"
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Key words: LOW GN....Fill Flash.... size of remote
Set your priorities and do not dance around,,,, we realize you really want small physical size, high out put, and very low price... hard to find .... buy what will work for now... save your $ and then buy your wish. Remember your wish may end up equal to or larger than the camera you want to take to the party...... I hate reality, don't you?!

If you read the specifications on the suggested units.... The flash will do both on camera and off. You stated not what you want to end up with eventually being replaced by a much better one for the camera. You asked for small and low G #. The SYK 5 allows you to use any old flash you have and protects the camera from over voltage. Both units will be of use after you buy the unit you want and do not want to buy at this time.
Yongnou flashes run $100-200+ if I recall correctly.

Low G units are useful for even lighting. Example using 4 plus the on board flash will illuminate the subject more evenly than using a jigano nuclear deluxe on camera flash. We have had forums on flashes... there is a definite advantage to off camera flashes.

Also you plan to buy more expensive in the future suggesting you did not want to pay much for the "just for now" units. Using an old unit may blow your camera circuits if you do not use a buffer like the Seagull's .... yes there are pocket wizzards but again those cost $ and to what advantage the all use much the same isolation circuits. Do a search and educat your self on these circuits or just take my word for it. Let me know if the expensive ones contain magic components and magic circuits when all you want is an isolated trigger with back voltage protection.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Yong Nuo 460 go for less than $50 each. Totally manual down to 1/64 power. Also can be used in optical slave modes (1 and 2). YN460 is a great value--I use them exclusively and have never had problems with them.

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

Well thansk for the info that some units may end up blowing the cameracircuitry, thgat is not something I had even thought possible, I just thought the flas acted as a trigger to fire the flash, never realised there was any feedback to the camera via the hotshoe. I will quite happily take your word for it

I do not know what you mean by ' Don't dance around' I thought I was very clear, a small low output low GN flash. It does not have to be particularly cheap, I jsut want a small one, to carry all the time. I assumed that if it was small physical size it would be a low power gun.
But all this talk of buffers, circuits, wizards etc, has lost me, never knew such stuff existed and even that there was any need for stuff like that.

I had not considered going for an old units, was thinking of buying new

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Neilp, my dance around comment was based on your statement... "Either I mis understood your answer, or you have mis understood my question. I am after a really small light weigh flash to fit on the camera hot-shoe, not to use it remotely."

http://www.instructables.com/id/Use-old-flashes-on-new-DSLR-cameras./
NOTE not all of these remote shoes are isolaters... The SYK will fire if your on board small flash fires. If you want a simple flash use the one I suggested or another low cost (typically small)new flash. New flashes are designed to be used on digital cameras and their limited voltage tolerance. Hay, give it a try, $6 you can not go far wrong.. (did not mention shipping did I!)

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

Ah OK, I thought, you thought I was after a remote flash, since you mentioned these 'remote shoe ' devices.

What I meant by 'remote hot shoe accessory ' was the size of them. I have seen litte hot shoe attachements that allow firing of remote flashes. I was after a real flash, but in the physical size range of those adapters. Not as small as the one in the Instructables link,,that would be asking too much!!

budrakey

Why not use the Canon Speedlite 270EX it is easily pocketable and no worries about messing up your new camera.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Speedlite-270EX-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001XURPR2

Neilp Loc: Jersey, C.I.

Hell yes, problem solved, that looks small enough
Cheers