Has anybody tried using handle mount flashes for off-camera use? There's stuff like Sunpak 455 and 544 and 511 and 611 and 622... And it's pretty cheap on Ebay.
The lack of PC jack doesn't scare me, nor does the fact that most of these don't use AA batteries. I plan to use an external 6V SLA to power them and hardwire an ebay remote wireless trigger.
Also, they are pretty powerful, so hopefully they'll be OK to fire very often at 1/4 power or so.
Anyway, has anyone tried any of those? Do you feel they're better for off-camera applications than Vivitar 285HV, or 283 for that matter?
Do you feel they're better for off-camera applications than Vivitar 285HV, or 283 for that matter?
In many ways, yes. For reasons you mentioned and then some.
An extra stop power over a speed light can cover a lot of "sins", including greater coverage, distance, DOF and/or shot capacity. It also decreases recycle time and maximizes modifier efficiency by allowing you headroom to work on the wide side of the fresnel zoom. The handle mounts higher capacity batteries and fan are also a big plus for event photography. Manual controls are generally easier to access and use.
I find this to be good compromise between a speed light and a monolight when I want the pluses of both. I don't use it in the place of either though. It does have a definite place however. Event, wedding, location portraiture and outdoor fill are a few situations I'll use this set up.
I'm looking at Sunpak 611 at the moment. It seems to be the cheapest, but its head is fixed and there's no fresnel. Still, I think I'll be able to attach it to an umbrella somehow.
