The cost of digital flash units!

The Olympus flash for the E1 is around
$700 Can. What ever happened to the days
when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
283/285 that cost about $100/ea??
-Rich

In article ,
says...
'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
cost only about $70 USD.


I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had the
oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.

Guide number of 100 and it really means it!

I think I paid $89 (US) for it, and Im going to buy a second one.

I find it to be a terrific bargain and I use it regularly.


--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Ct.

"Dirk Gently" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:28:25 -0500, Larry
wrote:
In article ,

says...
'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
cost only about $70 USD.


I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had the
oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.

Is Sunpak and Quantaray the same company?

Quantaray is the house brand of Ritz Photo. Sunpak is a manufacturer of
flashes, and pretty well respected.

In article 3bZFd.555$ru.15@fed1read07, says...
"Dirk Gently" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:28:25 -0500, Larry
wrote:
In article ,

says...
'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
cost only about $70 USD.


I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had the
oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.

Is Sunpak and Quantaray the same company?

Quantaray is the house brand of Ritz Photo. Sunpak is a manufacturer of
flashes, and pretty well respected.




At the time I bought the one I have it was listed as:

Quantaray/Sunpak Q838.

It does NOT, however, have the word "Sunpak" anywhere on it.

Thats really all I know about it other than the fact that it seems to do the
job.

For what I paid for it ($89 US), if it quit working tomorrow it owes me
nothing (over 2000 shots with it), and I would buy another in a NY minute.

I already plan on picking up a second unit on Monday.


--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Ct.

In article 3bZFd.555$ru.15@fed1read07, says...
"Dirk Gently" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:28:25 -0500, Larry
wrote:
In article ,

says...
'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
cost only about $70 USD.


I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had the
oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.

Is Sunpak and Quantaray the same company?

Quantaray is the house brand of Ritz Photo. Sunpak is a manufacturer of
flashes, and pretty well respected.




I just had a look at the "SUNPAK" 383, and it seems identical to the unit I
have except for the name on the case.

Internals look the same, switches, settings, adjustments are the same.. I'de
guess The Quantaray Q838 is made in the same factory, though I cant prove it.

As I said, I always thought Quantaray was JUNK 'till I used (then bought) the
Q383.


--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Ct.

"Larry" wrote in message
ews.com...
In article 3bZFd.555$ru.15@fed1read07, says...
"Dirk Gently" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:28:25 -0500, Larry

wrote:
In article ,

says...
'm using a SunPak 383 with great sucess on my FZ20, it
cost only about $70 USD.


I always held the opinion that Quantaray units were junk until I had
the
oportunity to use the Sunpak Q383.

Is Sunpak and Quantaray the same company?

Quantaray is the house brand of Ritz Photo. Sunpak is a manufacturer of
flashes, and pretty well respected.




I just had a look at the "SUNPAK" 383, and it seems identical to the unit
I
have except for the name on the case.

Internals look the same, switches, settings, adjustments are the same..
I'de
guess The Quantaray Q838 is made in the same factory, though I cant prove
it.

As I said, I always thought Quantaray was JUNK 'till I used (then bought)
the
Q383.


--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Ct.

Well, since all Quantaray/Ritz does is market what they get from others, I
guess they have to hit on a good one every once in a while...

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com

In article mEZFd.556$ru.166@fed1read07, says...
Well, since all Quantaray/Ritz does is market what they get from others, I
guess they have to hit on a good one every once in a while...

--
Skip Middleton
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com


Kinda' what I figured... Like I said, I USED one BEFORE I bought one. I
couldn't believe how well it worked, and I bought one. (I have thown away
several Quantaray flashes that were given to me, so I dont have any love for
that brand).

Now I'll buy another so I dont have to mount/re-mount when I change cameras
in the middle of something.

I cant speak for how its "auto" modes work(it has 3 auto modes), as Ive never
used them, only the fully manual mode, but since I always use the camera in
Manual when using flash, it hasnt been an issue.


--
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Ct.

RichA writes:

The Olympus flash for the E1 is around
$700 Can. What ever happened to the days
when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
283/285 that cost about $100/ea??

Well you can still use the Vivitars. They work the same way they did in the
film world (ie, somewhat limited, but generally usuable). Also, the FL-36
should be shipping now, and is somewhat cheaper than the FL-50. Promaster
might be an alternative, though they only sell in the states.

--
Michael Meissner
email:
http://www.the-meissners.org

"RichA" wrote in message
...
The Olympus flash for the E1 is around
$700 Can. What ever happened to the days
when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
283/285 that cost about $100/ea??
-Rich

They went the same way as the day of the $200 SLR.

On 14 Jan 2005 in rec.photo.digital.slr-systems, RichA wrote:

What ever happened to the days
when the average SLR user used a Vivitar
283/285 that cost about $100/ea??

Well, figuring that was 1975, and using a 3% rate of general inflation
over that period, your 1975 $100 is roughly $240 in 2005 dollars...

--
Joe Makowiec
http://makowiec.org/
Email: http://makowiec.org/contact/?Joe