Generic flash units
“Generic” flash units are simply battery-powered flashes that are not dedicated to one specific manufacturer's digital TTL flash system. Generic units cost far less than dedicated units with the same power, but require you to work in manual or non-TTL auto mode. Generic flash units are the type favoured by photographers using the so-called “strobist”-style flash.
“Strobist”-style flash has become synonymous with using multiple small battery powered manual flashes that are wirelessly triggered (by radio or light). The name is derived from the popular blog Strobist.com, where Baltimore based photographer David Hobby champions this type of flash use (as opposed to using automatic, dedicated TTL flash units, mono-lights or studio lights).
To appear on the DPanswers' list of recommended generic flash units the flash must have at least six varipower steps, an external sync. socket, be registered in our database with a trigger voltage of 12 volts or less, use standard AA-batteries, and have no known issues with off-camera use.
Generic flash units suitable for “strobist”-style work:
| Model | Coverage | GN | WL | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LumoPro LP160 | 24-105mm | 30 | sf,sd | USD 160 |
| Nikon SB-25 | 20, 24-85mm | 36 | [-] | |
| Nikon SB-26 | 18, 24-85mm | 36 | sf | [-] |
| Nikon SB-28 | 18, 24-85mm | 36 | [-] | |
| Nikon SB-28DX | 18, 24-85mm | 36 | [-] | |
| Nikon SB-80DX | 14, 24-105mm | 38 | sf | [-] |
| Sunpak Auto 544 | 35mm | 42 | [-] | |
| Sunpak Auto 555 | 35mm | 45 | [-] | |
| Sunpak Auto 622 Super Pro | 35mm | 60 | USD 200 | |
| YongNuo YN-560 | 18, 24-105mm | 39 | sf,sd | USD 81 |
10 flash inits found.
To search for a flash using different criteria, use the full flash search instead.
Note that if you are use guide numbers (GNs) for doing comparisons, the guide number you'll find in most manufacturer's literature is for the zoom head at its maximum setting (e.g. f=85mm or f=105mm). This makes it difficult to make direct power comparisons with flash units from other manufacturers, as the maximum zoom setting vary from flash to flash. For zoom head flashes, the list above all show the GN with the zoom head set to 35 mm coverage (FX).
For units still in production, the price columns indicates what you may expect to pay when you buy a new unit from a retailer. Prices are collected from the web pages of leading retailers at irregular intervals. Prices goes up and down all the time, so only treat this column as a rough guideline. To see current price and availability, visit the website of a merchant selling the particular flash. For discontinued units (indicated by square brackets around the price, the price listed is what the item used to sell for. Most used items sell for less than this, but certain hard to find second-hand items may sell for more. DPanswers do not track prices on used equipment. To find the going price for used items, search “completed auctions” on eBay.
