Get a Honeywell Tilt-A-Mite or similar. It can use AG1 and M bulbs and maybe others (not sure, just got mine). Guide numbers in the hundreds, cheap if bought in lots on eBay or found in antique malls and they have nearly unlimited coverage when used w/o a reflector.
North America just north of that sharp right turn North America makes on the Atlantic coast.
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I was going to say check ebay for a Honneywell Tilt-a-mite and some #5 or #25 bulbs to go with it, that combination can turn night into day for about 40 feet. I have shot a #5 in the dark and it looks like high noon on 200 film at f/16 this is from one side of my Kodak Stereo, don't mind the dust from the scanner.
"Would you like it if someone that painted in oils told you that you were not making portraits because you were using a camera?"
"Shouldn't it be more about the joy of producing and viewing the photo than what you paid for the camera?"
Add me in as a vote for flashbulbs. I have a box of M5s in front of me, and they have a GN of 200 at ASA 100 and 1/100 sec shutter speed. Of course, I am assuming that you have an older camera with "M" sync. If not, you will have to use 1/30 sec, but then you will get a GN of 260.
"Panic not my child, the Great Yellow Father has your hand"--Larry Dressler
I'd get a variable-power Sunpak or Metz Potato masher. They are the most versatile, and the most bang for the buck. The Sunpak 622 in particular is extremely versatile. There are six or seven different heads for it, including an IR head, a zoom head, and a bare bulb head. They have a GN of 200 or so, but are more expensive than the 555.
Sunpak 383 or Vivitar 283 or 285 (all speedlights, not potato mashers) are not bad either, though they have less power. The Viv 283 is not adjustable, which I consider to be a deal killer (though I do have one that I got for cheap).
I decided on the Sunpak 555, which is a potato masher that takes filters and plenty of other accessories, like external batteries, A/C adapters, rechargeable battery packs, etc. It has a GN of 160, and cost me about the same number of U.S. dollars. The filter kit added $30. The only time the flash has failed me was when it got dumped on by a water drop helicopter when shooting a fire. It came back 30 minutes later. It is my #1 flash for weddings, was my number one flash when shooting news events, and I would have no reservations about suggesting one, especially for such mild use. They are very capable and very powerful for what they cost.
Last edited by 2F/2F; 11-10-2010 at 05:00 PM. Click to view previous post history.
2F/2F
"Truth and love are my law and worship. Form and conscience are my manifestation and guide. Nature and peace are my shelter and companions. Order is my attitude. Beauty and perfection are my attack."
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Originally Posted by brian d
