rockymtncichlid
01-21-2005, 12:57 PM
Thought this might interest someone with a nikon
found it on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30086&item=3867531824&rd=1
benny
01-21-2005, 10:41 PM
That's a good link.
A quick summary for those interested.
The street price for the Nikon SU-4 Wireless Slave Flash Controller is US$75 a pop.
http://www.photoweb.ru/sd/image/jpg_small/nikonsu4kit.jpg http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/jpn/whatsnew/1998/image/su4-2_i.jpg
Seems like the diffusor fits over the on camera hot shoe to negate the flash intensity if you are using on camera flash to trigger it. Works on Nikon speedlights that does not have the slave function, meaning SB-28, SB-25, SB-27, SB-26, SB-25, SB-24, SB-23, SB-22s, SB-22, SB-21B, SB-20, SB-16B and SB-15 speedlights.
For aquatic photography, avoid using the 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill Flash mode. The pre flashes of the main flash will trigger the SU-4 with secondary flash before it should. Sensitive fishes may be frightened by the initial flash and go into hiding.
The unit is powered by the flash battery, which means it drains your flash battery. Here's a good review by Guy Parsons (http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/Guy/niksu4.html). Apparently it works with other cameras too.
In my opinion, for folks using compact digital cameras, this will be a good and relatively cheaper option to take the flash off the camera will retaining TTL metering. However, for multiple flash setups, seems like you might have dificulty using more than 3 units at a time.
In summary, seems like a great piece of equipment to use, but the learning curve is steep for muti-flash setup. Financially, it does not make much sense if you are looking at multiple units.
Obviously for Nikon D70 users with SB-600 or SB-800. You'll pass on this. For Canon users, there is still very limited options for triggering the 220EX and the now defunct 380EX remotely. The Canon ST-E2 wireless speedlite transmitter works with the Canon speedlite 580EX, 550EX and 420EX in mutiple flash arrangements and also offer you flash compensation control as well as ratio via grouping. Both the 580EX and the 550EX can also double up as a master flash/transmitter as well.
Cheers,