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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> wedding flash question for D70
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 06/27/2005 02:38:39 AM · #1
Hey guys,

I just recently was hired as an "amature" photographer for super cheap. The wedding is at the end of July. I need a flash ASAP. I'm going to order one online probably tomorrow....but I need some last minute recommendations. I've shot many graduations for a company with a D70 + Sunpak 544 setup with great results. Could I buy the 544 and safely use that for an indoor/outdoor wedding? Also....when I shot for the grad company, the Sunpak 544 had some kind of RC car battery to power it. Those batteries worked GREAT. Shot over 500 pics without ever losing power. The buffer time between shots is almost nothing as well. I need to know what kind of RC car batteries I can buy if I order this flash....is it hard to rig it correctly? Has anyone done this?

Thanks for your help....its stressfull because I've only shot one other wedding and now this gig is coming up fast....I need a flash....I need it soon!

Thanks for you help and suggestions ahead of time.

Chris Anderson
 06/27/2005 02:48:06 AM · #2
Chris, if the sunpack does it for you, stick with what you know. Otherwise I'd go with the Nikon dedicated flash.
 06/27/2005 03:04:54 AM · #3
Yeah...I hear everyone talking about the SB-800. I also was recommended the Metz 60.
 06/27/2005 03:14:22 AM · #4
I don't know about Nikon flashes, but this thread on SportsShooter some people recommend the Vivitar 283 above Canon's top-end flashes.
 06/27/2005 06:31:52 AM · #5
The SB-800 and 600 were basically made for the D70 (and higher end)...works great for me! I know they have a TTL and TTL-BL that is triggered through what the camera senses (is set too or reads-ie: aperture, shutter speed and metering).
 06/27/2005 09:10:23 AM · #6
I am not familiar with the Sunpak you speak of, so i cannot help there.

What mode did you use it in? TTl or Auto or ?? There is lots to think about when shooting your first wedding, so letting the flash/camers carry some of that load is the way to go.

The SB600/800 would probably be my first choice in TTL mode. Second choice would be the Metz 54 and thirdly Sigma EF500DG Super.

If you had a Canon I'd have a different set of options for you.

Get a flash bracket - you will have ugly shadows on portrait shots without one (a Lightsphere 2 works well, but takes time to get).
 06/27/2005 09:45:06 AM · #7
I had a Sunpak 433AF flash (HAD being the operative word here) and shot a wedding last weekend, during which the flash died. It was working great for a while, but then it overheated. I put new batteries in it twice during the evening, hoping that after turning it off and giving it new juice it would work, but it was completely useless after the first hour or so. It won't even power up now with more new batteries. I don't know if it was just a bad one, or if I did something wrong, or what, but I thought I'd let you know my meager experience with Sunpak. Good luck! :o)
 06/27/2005 05:40:02 PM · #8
I use a SB-600, but do not shoot weddings.
 06/27/2005 06:38:08 PM · #9
If you want to venture away from thr Nikon system, the Metz MZ54 and the Sigma Super DG 500 get good reviews. The Metz units are great, but expensive.

Also, you will want some kind of diffusion, Look at the Lightsphere II from Gary Fong. It's a weird looking thing, but the results speak for themselves.
 06/27/2005 07:09:31 PM · #10
I use the SB800 & 600 and they are great. If I get a third flash, I will probably look at the Signma that Spaz recommended. It seems to be pretty close to the SB800, but cheaper.
 06/27/2005 08:51:46 PM · #11
I used the sb600 today at Ritz camera and it seemed really good. I cannot attest for real-world results first-hand, but I read a lot of reviews and they were all positive. The sb800 is obviously a better choice, but had some features I don't necessarily need at this point.

For a wedding, you might want the sb800, but I believe if you did acquire the sb600 first, the sb800 can be camera-mounted and fire the sb600 as a slave...which is what I plan to do.
 06/27/2005 08:53:32 PM · #12
I looked at the sb600 too and it seemed to be pretty well built however I havn't used it and would love to hear opinions from those who have

Message edited by author 2005-06-27 20:55:56.
 06/29/2005 07:09:42 PM · #13
Originally posted by gusto:
I looked at the sb600 too and it seemed to be pretty well built however I havn't used it and would love to hear opinions from those who have


It does everything I need. I also have a promaster unit from my film slr which fires off the flash of the primary, via a light sensor. Again I do not shoot weddings, and if I did, I would require alot more gear than a SB-800 speedlight. For my needs, the SB-600 suits me just fine. It is i-TTL compatible and works seemlessly with my Nikkor 24-85 and D70. The battery life is sufficient and it can function as a slave.

For general purpose indoor and fill flash shooting, the SB-600 is very good at its intended use.
06/29/2005 07:19:17 PM · #14
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
I don't know about Nikon flashes, but this thread on SportsShooter some people recommend the Vivitar 283 above Canon's top-end flashes.


Yea, i just shot a wedding for a buddy of mine, and used a vivitar 285. The vivitar's aren't dedicated so you need to know your exposures and guidenumbers, IE you'll be changing flash powers manually fairly often, but for their price (about 85$ each) they are more powerful than the sb600 and a little more powerful than the sb800 even. I got pretty good results you just need to be aware of subject distances and how it will affect your exposure, everything in full manual mode pretty much.

I have 2 285's and will probably be getting a 544 next, I think you should get the 544 if you did well with it before, if not I would say the 285 if you don't mind doing a little work, you get a lot more power for a lot less $. That flash has been like a professional industry standard for years.
 06/29/2005 07:32:24 PM · #15
Why do all the mental gymnastics required of a manual only flash? There is enough to think about, and at a wedding where there are no do-overs why take the chance of not getting a shot right?

i used a manual flash before I got my Metz. I love ettl. I never want to go back! For weddings the flash' auto mode works better, but that makes me work harder too (manual mode on the camera is the only feasible option)
 06/29/2005 07:38:46 PM · #16
its not that much mental gymnastics with a digital, it takes 2 sec to check a histo and switch your f stop accordingly. Im just sayin as a cheaper, more powerful option it worked well for me and I didn't mind turning a knob every once in awhile. Also ttl results, at least to me are boring. You can never get results of dramatic lighting like you can when you control the flash.
 06/29/2005 09:12:05 PM · #17
Originally posted by petrakka:
its not that much mental gymnastics with a digital, it takes 2 sec to check a histo and switch your f stop accordingly. Im just sayin as a cheaper, more powerful option it worked well for me and I didn't mind turning a knob every once in awhile. Also ttl results, at least to me are boring. You can never get results of dramatic lighting like you can when you control the flash.


Surely with an 'automatic' flash such as a 285 (I used to use a 283 on my Fuji 602), you set the flash according to your chosen aperture and ISO and can alter the balance between available light and flash by adjusting your shutter speed.
 06/29/2005 09:39:34 PM · #18
yea i meant flash power. I dunno why i call flash power settings f stops sometimes. Ie half power at x distance gives u f/8, id say my flash is at f8. but yeah its not bad to use.
 06/29/2005 09:52:41 PM · #19
I own a SB600 and love it. Shot a few events with it and loved it. Mostly conserts and show pics.
06/29/2005 09:55:50 PM · #20
The Vivitar's hold up good too. My 285 is 20 years old or more. It still works fine. With a good set of nmhi batteries it cycles fast and lasts long. If you do go this way get a couple of extra battery holders. Makes a battery change a snap if you have too. It has its own meter and does a lot of the work for you.
 06/29/2005 09:56:17 PM · #21
I use the SB-600 for all my weddings. I have 2. One went down 3 weeks after I bought it & Nikon had it back to me in 6 days. It is made for D-70, I use it with my D-70 & D-100 and have had excellent results.
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