differences between 5600 and 3600

[satay16]

5600HS
Guide No. 56 (ISO 100)
Zoom flash coverage (24 - 85 mm)
Multi-Burst function
High-Speed Sync (with Dynax 9, 7, 60, 5, 800si, 505si Super, 505si)
Two-way bounce head
Remote off-camera control and ratio control
ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) metering system* (with Dynax 7, 5, or 3 and D lenses)

3600HS(D)
Guide No. 36 (ISO 100)
Zoom flash coverage (24 - 85 mm)
High-Speed Sync (with Dynax 9, 7, 60, 5, 800si, 505si Super, 505si)
Bounce head
ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) metering system (with Dynax 7, 5, or 3 and D lenses)

somethings i am blur about:
1. what's guide no.? higher the better?
2. what's ratio control?
3. how does the wireless flash detects the camera's shot? bluetooth?:D

thanks!

[capedeci]

5600HS
Guide No. 56 (ISO 100)
Zoom flash coverage (24 - 85 mm)
Multi-Burst function
High-Speed Sync (with Dynax 9, 7, 60, 5, 800si, 505si Super, 505si)
Two-way bounce head
Remote off-camera control and ratio control
ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) metering system* (with Dynax 7, 5, or 3 and D lenses)

3600HS(D)
Guide No. 36 (ISO 100)
Zoom flash coverage (24 - 85 mm)
High-Speed Sync (with Dynax 9, 7, 60, 5, 800si, 505si Super, 505si)
Bounce head
ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) metering system (with Dynax 7, 5, or 3 and D lenses)

somethings i am blur about:
1. what's guide no.? higher the better?
2. what's ratio control?
3. how does the wireless flash detects the camera's shot? bluetooth?:D

thanks!


1. Guide no determines the power of the flash. I don't know exactly how it is measured, but I think its (maybe wrong) the effective range of the flash at ISO 100 at f/1.0. So for GN56, it will reach 56 meters in ISO 100 at f/1.0, but I myself is not sure about the accuracy of this. So never mind

2. Its something used in minolta wireless flash system, e.g. one on the left, one on the right, the 2:1 ratio means the left one fires twice the power of the right one. Again, not sure, and never mind.

3. No, it detects through light pulses emitted, just like preflash.

The swivel head, manual flash, and higher power is the main advs of 5600.

[Robert Besen]

The answer to number two is it's the ratio between the on camera flash and the 5600 when used in wireless mode.

The 3600 doesn't technically support ratio flash, but I discovered with my maxxum 5d that if you shoot at the sync speed or lower the on camera flash contributes somewhat to the exposure. Above the sync speed (high speed sync) the on camera flash does not contribute to the exposure.

[satay16]

The answer to number two is it's the ratio between the on camera flash and the 5600 when used in wireless mode.

The 3600 doesn't technically support ratio flash, but I discovered with my maxxum 5d that if you shoot at the sync speed or lower the on camera flash contributes somewhat to the exposure. Above the sync speed (high speed sync) the on camera flash does not contribute to the exposure.

any particular reasons for needing ratios for wireless flashes?

[Robert Besen]

It just gives you more options. For example, you can use the off camera flash for backlighting and the on camera flash for fill in the same shot. The ratio allows you to change the mix of the two flashes.