Flash minimum usefull Guide number.

[akcron]

Hello all.

I was thinking is there a minimum guide number you should look for when buying a flashgun?

What power of flash would you say is the min for using on camera or off camera with a reflector or through a soft box etc?

This may be a stupid question but i don't know a lot about flash but reading reviews you see numbers as low as 20 and some double or more.

Thank you for any help.

 

[specialman]

I'd go with the biggest GN you can buy but personally, I went with flashes that provided me with what i wanted first and foremost (good build quality, easy controls).

I have two SB800s (that need repairing) but also have an SB700 and two SB28s and all work fine through softboxes outdoors, although you do hit a point where overpowering the sun isn't possible unless you team flashes up to increase overall power.

I take it that yu're on Nikon going by your avatar. The SB800 is a very good flash, but you can only really get them used these days. Expect to pay about £190 used for a good one. It's a brilliant flash for off-camera use because the controls are so easy to use.

The SB600 is a goo alternative - you'll pick one up for under £150 on TP classifieds.

The SB700 is a nice flash but I'm not sold on the control system that uses a control wheel to adjust power settings.

I don't know the guide number on any of my flashes - all I know is they do the job

If I ere to guess at a goo minimum guide number then I'd say GN30 minimum, although it all depends on what you want to light; the type of modifier you use will matter more, as diffusion eats up flash power

 

[Garry Edwards]

As above. Also, it's worth mentioning that guide numbers on hot shoe flashguns can be misleading. Basically, the manufacturers tell you what the guide number is under ideal conditions and at maximum zoom setting. Now, as an example of this, the SB-800 produces more power than the SB-900 but the guide numbers indicate the opposite, simply because the SB-900 has a longer zoom setting

If you have a high end camera then it will work pretty well in terms of IQ at higher ISO settings, so the native (100 ISO) guide number may not be that important, and especially if you don't need to make large prints

 

[akcron]

Firstly thanks for the reply.
My problem at the is that i have no work at the moment and want something better than pop up flash.

I have as you would expect with no work lots more spare time at the moment so would like to try to get better at flash Photography, but no work also means not much spare money but i would still like a TTl flash to use off and on camera.

My budget due to a new oil cooler for the car is only about £50.00, that is why i am looking at 360afd from Jessops but can't find any really good reviews, and the YN-567 but the real GN after it was tested was 20 ( hence the question ).

Both are TTl and both have slave modes so at my budget i thought they would be the most likely choice, it was just the low Gn that was bothering me and not knowing if the 360afd was any good.

Thanks again.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Given the choice between a Jessops or YongNuo flashgun (new) I'd buy the Jessops one. Why? Simply because neither is the best in terms of build quality, but Jessops have shops in most towns that you can return a dud one to, with the YongNuo you need to hope that your Ebay seller will take it back/repair it....

Sometimes the lowest price isn't the cheapest.....

 

[akcron]

That makes sense Flash cheers.

I may go to Jesops tomorrow to look at one then tell them i will go home to order one as cheaper online.

You never know they may let me have one in store for the online price.