Flashing

[megg]

I'm thinking of getting an FZ5 and a slave flash to go with it for the times I'm in real low light situations. Could someone please explain what "zoom" is on a flash? How can you tell by the flash's specifications how far the light will go? How do I know if it will work when totally zoomed in? :confused: I was looking at a Phoenix D91-BZS 4-Stop Digital Slave. The specs I'm questioning read as follows:
zoom range (5 positions) 25, 35, 50, 85, & 105 mm

[genece]

The guide # on that camera is 91 which means 91 ft but it will be a little less than that but that is not bad.

Here is a better price.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=311151&is=REG

and this is a less expensive version.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=311150&is=REG

Oh and zoom on a flash is it narrows the beam of the flash so it goes farther.

[megg]

Do you know anything about that one?

How can I find out the guide number of flashes?

This is all still so new to me, however I am learing a lot, rather quickly.

Thanks! :D

[genece]

The link you posted had the guide # but if you use B&H to check prices they have 4 tabs for most items
accessories
features specs
included
And almost everything you need to know is included in one of the tabs , this is the spec tab



This unit is compatible with all digital cameras with built-in flash capability. It is fully synchronized with fill-in flash and red-eye reduction flash and can be used with virtually all of the digital cameras on the market. It works as a slave flash with 4 automatic f-stops.

The flash can be set for a single flash camera, a pre-flash camera, or, the Detect mode can be used to detect which setting is best.

Compact and lightweight at less than 9 oz (without batteries), but still provides some extra features like bounce & swivel, and a manual zoom head.

Note: Only features a "cold shoe" (no contacts).



Key Features

• Bounce & Swivel Head

Flash has vertical bounce of 90° and horizontal swivel of 330°

• Standby Mode

Shuts off power after 3 minutes of inactivity








Type Shoe Mount

Guide No. 91' (27.75 m) at 50mm

Angle of Coverage 75° to 23° (28-105mm lens in 35mm format)

Auto f/Stops Four output settings

Variable Power No

TTL Dedication No

Bounce Head Yes

Swivel Head Yes

Zoom Head 28-105mm (manual zoom)

Off Camera Terminal No

Recycle Time 7 seconds (based on fresh alkaline batteries & full power)

Power Source Four 1.5-Volt "AA" batteries (alkaline, lithium, NiCad & NiMH)

Dimensions 2.75 x 4.9 x 1.8" (70 x 125 x 46mm) WxHxD

Weight 8.7 oz (247 g)

[dev]

Note: Only features a "cold shoe" (no contacts).



Excuse my ignorance, but does this mean the flash has to be activated by the camera's flash, so it can't be mounted on or fired by the hot shoe?

[genece]

Excuse my ignorance, but does this mean the flash has to be activated by the camera's flash, so it can't be mounted on or fired by the hot shoe?


That is correct the FZ5 has no hotshoe and while it can be mounted on ( but not fired by) a hot shoe the FZ5 has none.
It is fired by the built in flash.

[dev]

Hmm. I've got an fz20, and if I want to use that one on the hotshoe it looks like a no go, since it appears the on-camera flash won't open with an external flash attached. I liked the looks of that flash since I have the silver fz.

[genece]

But why would you want a slave flash on the fz20? there could be an advantage if you want to set a slave up across the room.

[dev]

I don't really want a slave flash per se, just looking for an alternative to the monstosities that are the sunpak 383 and the vivitar 285hv, and maybe a matching color. Aren't some flashes both slaves AND hot shoe capable? Again, forgive my ignorance and thanks for answering.

[dev]

By the way, I looooove my fz20.