Non-OEM External Flash Unit?

[Krioni]

I would like to get an external flash unit for my Nikon D50. I know everyone raves about the SB-600 and SB-800, but those are both out of my price range.

I am curious if anyone out here has any experiense using some of the cheaper, 3rd party flashes. If so, are they worth getting? Or should I just deal without one until I can scrape together the coin to buy the 600 or 800?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[soydios]

I don't have much experience or knowledge about third-party speedlights, but I will tell you this: the SB-400 isn't worth buying, and the SB-800 has lots of features that you and I don't need. The SB-600 is the ideal buy in terms of price versus performance in the Nikon lineup.

 

[randomlinh]

or you could always take a dive into the strobist world and get an old manual flash

 

[angry hampster]

I have a Sigma Ef 500 Super on my 5D. It works great and has as much power as canon's $400 580.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I have the Sigma EF-500 Super for my Canon. Compared to my Canon 580EX, it lacks in a variety of places:

1. Build quality: The Canon build is very robust. The Sigma just feels a lot cheaper compared to the Canon. Cheaper plastic, thinner plastic, parts don't fit together as flush as the Canon, some creaking, the rotation of the head isn't as convenient.
2. Refresh rate: The Canon recharges its capacitors for another flash quicker than the Sigma. I've lost a lot of shots due to the fact that my Sigma was still recharging when something was happening.
3. This is probably not something that happens to all Sigmas, but mine actually burns itself. A flash is powerful and quite hot. Every time the Sigma flashes it actually burns a little bit of the clear plastic lens that the flash fires through. There's a dark circle of burnt plastic on the lens. Sometimes after a flash you can actually see a thin column of smoke coming from the plastic lens...

Would I recommend the Sigma? Sure, if you can get it for cheap.

 

[Krioni]

Originally posted by: soydios
I don't have much experience or knowledge about third-party speedlights, but I will tell you this: the SB-400 isn't worth buying, and the SB-800 has lots of features that you and I don't need. The SB-600 is the ideal buy in terms of price versus performance in the Nikon lineup.

Yeah, I kind of thought that the SB-400 was probably not worth getting.

The SB-600 is certainly what I'd be getting if I could afford it. I just currently can't afford to get it yet.