flashguns

[realspeed]

I have not seen recently mention about flashguns recently so anyone thinking about getting one this is what I use . The Godox V860iii (o)for panasonic/oly cameras

unedited
7.15pm 23/1/2026




Camera Panasonic G9ii lens 9mm flashgun Godox V860iii (o) camera flash setting @+3ev. Thought it might be useful to post to give an idea of what is can do.
picture not about anything but how much gets lite up

 

[CharleyL]

Speedlite is the more common term used for flashgun today. Speedlites typically have about 72 watt/second power. Higher ISO settings will get you more use of your speedlite in dark areas where it's the only light, but the maximum ISO settings can introduce noise (colored confetti) into the black areas of the shot. Learn what the inverse square law of light is (not the math). Just learn how rapidly light level diminishes with every foot of distance. At 1 foot the level is half of the light output. At 2 foot, the light level is half again, so 1/4 of the light output. Some times this is good, when you want a black background, but otherwise, learning how much light will be needed will help you improve your photography. You should also experiment by pointing your camera at a blank white or gray wall and take some test shots to see the shape of the flash at different distances, and power settings. A good feel for this will help you when planning the lighting for a shot. Moving your flash off of the top of the camera when shooting people will get rid of the "Deer in the Headlights" look in their eyes. Hot shoe extension cables, sync cables, or wireless flash triggers will help do this. Even holding the speedlite at arms length away from the camera will correct this look in their eyes.

If outdoors in the Sun, or in bright interior lighting, you can still use your speedlite for some shots to light shadowed faces. If the subjects have the Sun or bright light behind them, adding flash can light their faces/ facing sides. I usually try to place my subjects in shaded areas and use reflectors held high and aimed back by willing assistants, usually bystanders, to direct the Sunlight back toward the subject instead of using flash, but either way works. Putting them in the shade instead of in the direct hot Sunlight will be appreciated by them too. Lightly overcast days make perfect photography days. You have the brightest softest and biggest light possible from the Sunlight with no shadow problems.

Charley

 

[realspeed]

Speedlight = American
Flashguns = English

 

[DemiLion]

Speedlight = American
Flashguns = English

No.

Speedlight = Nikon's registered trademark for their flashguns.

Speedlite = The same for Canon.

 

[realspeed]

I stand corrected. Thank you Mark

 

[LongLensPhotography]

No.

Speedlight = Nikon's registered trademark for their flashguns.

Speedlite = The same for Canon.

So that makes flashgun the right word in generic context, same as run a web search vs google it (i dont even use googlag)

 

[swanseamale47]

It goes on the camera and flashes, mine doesn't speed anywhere...... I know speedlight seems be have become the term, but it's rubbish as a description.

 

[Phil V]

It goes on the camera and flashes, mine doesn't speed anywhere...... I know speedlight seems be have become the term, but it's rubbish as a description.

I’m a fan of the term hotshoe flash.

I think an AD200 or similar could also be described as a ‘flashgun’, and an AD200 up as a ‘portable flash, as opposed to a mains powered flash.

But I’m not a fan of the term ‘strobe’ which covers everything that’s not a ‘speed lite’.

 

[Ian Grant]

Speedlight = American
Flashguns = English

Strobe = Flash, in America,

Strobe = short for Stroboscope which emits pulse cycles of flashes, typically used in clubs etc. I have one but rarely use it and then only for photographic use.

Ian

 

[Phil V]

Strobe = Flash, in America,

Strobe = short for Stroboscope which emits pulse cycles of flashes, typically used in clubs etc. I have one but rarely use it and then only for photographic use.

Ian

Which is absolutely why it’s an incorrect name for a flash.

A stroboscopic light repeatedly pulses.

A ‘flash’ fires a single burst of light.

Therefore calling a ‘flash’ a strobe isn’t just odd, it’s technically wrong.

 

[Dryce]

It goes on the camera and flashes, mine doesn't speed anywhere...... I know speedlight seems be have become the term, but it's rubbish as a description.

Bit like 'hoover' becoming a noun - and a verb.

I don't like the term 'speedlite' being used this way because I think of it as being tied to Canon and Nikon.

But I hear the term being used by other photographers - the brand association and any trademarks seem to have been forgotten about and it is now just a noun.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Strobe = Flash, in America,

Strobe = short for Stroboscope which emits pulse cycles of flashes, typically used in clubs etc. I have one but rarely use it and then only for photographic use.

Ian

Correct, the name comes from the manufacturer of the first American flash

 

[Dryce]

A ‘flash’ fires a single burst of light.

Therefore calling a ‘flash’ a strobe isn’t just odd, it’s technically wrong.

I'm feeling pedantic and troublesome ... or maybe I am just troubled .....

So if I have a 'flash' or a 'speedlite' or a 'hotshoe flash' or whatever and use it in HSS mode.

Is it then a strobe ....... ?

 

[Phil V]

I'm feeling pedantic and troublesome ... or maybe I am just troubled .....

So if I have a 'flash' or a 'speedlite' or a 'hotshoe flash' or whatever and use it in HSS mode.

Is it then a strobe ....... ?

Technically it never extinguishes completely, I believe.

 

[Ian Grant]

Correct, the name comes from the manufacturer of the first American flash

I've never seen ant references to Strobe being a US manufacturer, however US made or imported flash guns being sold using the term Strobe.

There was a high end/bespoke UK studio flash manufacturer in the UK, they traded as "Strobe" their showroom was adjacent to Farringdon Station, in Cowcross Street, in London, until closing in the late 1980s. Strobe closed around 2004.

Ian

 

[Garry Edwards]

I've never seen ant references to Strobe being a US manufacturer, however US made or imported flash guns being sold using the term Strobe.

There was a high end/bespoke UK studio flash manufacturer in the UK, they traded as "Strobe" their showroom was adjacent to Farringdon Station, in Cowcross Street, in London, until closing in the late 1980s. Strobe closed around 2004.

Ian

Nitpicking, but their products were marketed under a different but similar name, which has escaped me for now. I know because I had 2 of their very expensive creations, one of 5000j and the other was 2400j
When the 5000j one was fired at full power the very heavy cable that ran from the generator pack to the flash head literally jumped in the air, never felt very safe . . .

Edit: memory has returned, they were called Strobex. See here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/strobe-studio-lighting-with-5000j-pack.167164/

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

It seems that Strobe Corporation is a software company now...

Strobe Corp - Company Profile and News

Company profile page for Strobe Corp including stock price, company news, executives, board members, and contact information

www.bloomberg.com

It may or may not be related to Strobe Incorporated...

Strobe, Inc full company profile on Creditsafe

Find up to date company insights for Strobe, Inc. Get Contact details, financial insights, industry benchmarks, competitors from creditsafe.com

www.creditsafe.com

There's also Strobe , which makes clothing for skiers...

Strobe is rated "Excellent" with 4.9 / 5 on Trustpilot

Do you agree with Strobe's TrustScore? Voice your opinion today and hear what 192 customers have already said.

www.trustpilot.com

However, I can't find a company called Strobe making or selling flashguns. Anyone else have better luck?

 

[CharleyL]

Wow, did I ever stir up the dust that time. Sorry.

Charley

 

[nog]

Which is absolutely why it’s an incorrect name for a flash.

A stroboscopic light repeatedly pulses.

A ‘flash’ fires a single burst of light.

Therefore calling a ‘flash’ a strobe isn’t just odd, it’s technically wrong.

When the flash is in TTL mode there is a pre flash and a main flash, does it become a strobe then

 

[Ian Grant]

Wow, did I ever stir up the dust that time. Sorry.

Charley

No big deal, all part of a learning curve.

Nitpicking, but their products were marketed under a different but similar name, which has escaped me for now. I know because I had 2 of their very expensive creations, one of 5000j and the other was 2400j
When the 5000j one was fired at full power the very heavy cable that ran from the generator pack to the flash head literally jumped in the air, never felt very safe . . .

Strangely, Strobe studio flash equipment said "Made in England By Strobe Equipment Ltd". I met someone in Stourbridge in the late 1980s who was looking at taking over, or at least offering servicing & repairs.

They had UK competitors, Langham Photographic Instruments Ltd, and then Courtney. A friend had Courtney flash packs in his commercial/advertising studio, I'd guess he'd bought them secondhand, Like the Strobes you had to be very careful using them, watch the switching, cabling, etc. He didn't like them, capacitors sometimes needed changing, he felt they were unsafe. He switched to far more reliable Bowens packs and heads.

By the time Strobe went to smaller portable flash packs, the market had been lost to Bowens and then an even more dominant Elinchrom.

But back to the OP's flashguns, there are so many variations, When I started all were manual, then the Auto, my best was a Braun, I could set its Auto power output, amazingly good for fill in flash. On a model shoot, the model knocked my new DSLR with it attached off a table with the flash in the Hot-she. The camera was unscathed, the flash destroyed

I still use a Metz hammer head flash, with its separate battery pack, although I quickly replaced the lead-acid battery in the 70s, and have a few more modern Metz hammer head flash guns.

Modern flash guns are overly complex, and there are no idiots guides . . . . . . . .

But hey who cares, for £20 I bought a mint Canon Speedlite 550EX, go to Camera Fairs

Ian

 

[Donnie]

I have not seen recently mention about flashguns recently so anyone thinking about getting one this is what I use . The Godox V860iii (o)for panasonic/oly cameras

Loads of threads here relating to flash / strobe / lite etc

Mine using one light only ie Godox 480o off camera

BFCoffee by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

tea2 by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

Challenge3b by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

Challenge3d by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

DFHarrisPP by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

Shortlighting-B&W by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

_1254547 by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

 

[Nikon_Nick]

...and here I am wondering why im the only person referring to them as mobile artificial illumination devices

 

[CharleyL]

I like that, but will probably never use it. I'm in the USA, and this site has politely allowed me to join here. We speak the same language, mostly, but do have our differences for naming some things. Garry has been translating for me when I fail to use the right term for this site. I'll catch on to the right terms to use here, eventually.

Charley