Sunpak PF30x
Review Date : Mon, 6 Aug 2007
Author : WDC Team
Sunpak has long been a professional favourite and this fairly small model has a decent GN of 30m@ISO100, with a 90° tilting head...
| Pros: | Features, ease of use, build |
|---|---|
| Cons: | Some fall-off at wideangle, exposure issues |
Like third-party flash developer Metz, Sunpak has long been a professional favourite and this fairly small model has a decent GN of 30m@ISO100, with a 90° tilting head.
This model also has full TTL-auto functions (for Canon and Nikon TTL systems only), and features flash exposure compensation. This allows the user to adjust the output independently of the camera’s TTL metering over ±1.5 EV in 1/2-stop increments to fine-tune the exposure. This is also a useful feature when bouncing the flash to compensate for the increased flash-to-subject distance when using this technique.
The PF30x, in combination with Nikon I-TTL system, can prove erratic on exposure, especially on dark and light backgrounds. The exposure compensation, however, does provide a quick fix. Colour is good, with warmth in skin tones and neutral backgrounds. Background fall-off is noticeable against a white wall at wide angles, so keep to 24mm upwards for best results.
Verdict
Overall a solid performer with nice features and at a reasonable price.
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Latest comments
January 14 11:54
ronny
"that the flash requires a firmware upgrade to make it compatible with my camera". isn`t the camera who recuires a update? how do you update the firmware in a flash?
January 15 15:14
Ross
January 2010 - Checked with Sunpak Japan before buying, to make sure its ok with a Canon SX10is. They said yes, I bought one, it didnt work! Now they say - oooo you need to upgrade it to version 6. Thats 27 quid, plus 15 quid postage, plus up to three weeks waiting for it - IF it even works when it gets back here! Don't bother, get the proper canon one!
April 15 19:11
SD
I picked one up last year from Curry's for £30 new, having heard about the firmware issues but having also heard that they would honour a free upgrade if it was an issue. It did, and they have - works fine now on my 450d and I reckon is an absolute steal (just a shame head doesn't rotate around both axes but you can't have everything at that price).
May 13 17:57
David Smith
I bought this model for my 450d after looking on the sunpak website which says it is compatible, however when it arrived it didn't workm so sunpak told me to send it to intron 2020, which i did and they confirmed it needed a firmware upgrade, so i got in touch with sunpak again and asked them if they would stand the cost of the upgrade, as it did say on their website it was compatible, and they agreed to do the upgrade for free. Just got the flashback today, and it works fine now, but beware, it cost me £2.98p to send it first class recorded (signed for) delivery, and intron 2020 charged me £8.81 to send it back...