On Sun, 19 Jan 2003 22:18:09 +0000 (UTC), "Martin Francis" <Mcsalty@btinternet.com> wrote:

>I am hoping to buy a shoe-mount flash for an FE2 (that I recently replaced

>my F3T with). I will have about £200 to spend, so used is the obvious

>answer.

>The criteria are:

> TTL

Easy...

> manual power control down to (at least) 1/16th and steps in between

Easy, with any of the Nikon larger flashes, starting

with the SB-24...

> under/overexposure controls (assuming their necessary; if not, it's

>possible the flash will oulast the camera if I ever find a bargain F4, so

>i'll have it anyway)

Not functional on the FE-2 in TTL, but you can "cheat"

the system by over-rating (for under-exposure in TTL flash)

the ASA (to the 400 limit), then reading the ambient camera

meter "wrong" by the same amount; easier in "auto" mode...

> rear sync (again, hoping the flash outlasts the camera)

Almost all Nikon flashes from the SB24 forward will do this

on compatible bodies (not the FE-2...).

>The models i've looked at so far are the SB28, SB80, Sigma 500 super and

>Metz 54.

>The SB80 is the obvious solution as it's quite common used at the moment,

>what with the DX and SB80 replacing it. The SB80 itself pops up occasionally

>used, but I HATE the interface. The Sigma model worries me, as the cheaper

>4?0 unit is a bit flimsy-feeling, and Sigma have never appealed to me much

>(reiterate- I hope the flash outlives the FE2! I replace cameras like mad!).

>The Metz unit is VERY impressive- 1/3rd stop increments, power down to

>1/256th, TTL with suitable unit... but its about £80 outside my budget and a

>rarity used.

>Any other suggestions?

I like the SB-24 for its interface, power, fast-recycle,

and ability to "shade-off" illumination softly with

tilt/turn/adjustment of flash light angle of coverage

(and it covers about as wide an angle at "24mm" as the

newer ones do at "18mm", often with more even illumination).

Its nearly-rectangular flash end also accepts all sorts

of attachments easily (commercial and home-made). It is

also fairly cheap...