Which Minolta HSS flash, 3600HS (D) or 5400HS?

I am buying a HSS flash for my Maxxum 70. Currently the 3600HS (D)
and the 5400HS are about the same in price. Since I don't own many D
series lenses (one to be exact), I am wondering if the 5400HS is
actually a better buy. What do you think? Does anyone actually find
the new D functions on the flash very useful?

Thanks,
James

 

No question - 5400HS. More power, more flexibility, bounce and swivel.

I have a 7, and use the 5400HS flashes. I've never missed D.

Mike

 

Since I don't have a (D) compatible body, not too sure. (I have
both the 5400HS and the 5600HS (D)). Which D lens do you have
and what do you use it for?

Since your Maxxum 70 is "D" compatible, then with those lenses
and a D flash, you will get the benefit of integrated focus
distance and appropriate flash for that distance. Having said
that, I don't think not having this has hurt any images.

The swivel (5400HS) is very useful for ceiling bounce in portrait
orientation as well as bouncing light off of a wall for side
illumination.

The 5400HS is more powerful. (GN of 54 metres v. GN of 36
meters). This alone, for the same price, says: get the 5400HS.


Drifting a bit...
Compared to the updated 5600HS (D), I prefer the 5400HS (I use
both regularly and the 5400HS is just less hassle).

The 5400HS is even, in many respects, better than the _56_00HS (D).

5400HS
--zooms to 105mm (v. 85 for the 5600HS)
--does not have an irritating swivel lock (PITA).
--has sensible, logical menus (the 5600HS is misleading)
--has as much power (at same zoom setting) as the 5600HS

The 5600HS does have a few nice to haves such as a flip down
difuser to go as wide as 17mm flash coverage, and a battery
compartment door that remains captive when open.

Cheers,
Alan

 

(James Cloud) wrote in

The 5400HS is the better flash, but the 3600HS is pretty much guaranteed to
work with the upcoming Minolta DSLRs. That is the choice I would call the
toughest, D or non D is of no interest to me as I don't own D lenses.

 

Hi Magnus,

Have you seen any indication that non-D flashes may be
problematic witht he DSLR?

Cheers,
Alan

 

As they don't work with the other Minolta digicams (except RD-175 and RD-
3000), why should it work with the DSLR?

 

Why shouldn't it?

The DSLR is based on the Maxxum/Dynax 7. 5400HS works fine there
(with the exception of the D integration).

The 5400HS can pre-flash (essential to DSLR flash operation as
OTF (or OTS (off the sensor)) does not work on CMOS CCD sensors).

So, no integration reason that I can see, although I'm not sure
why, for instance, the 5400HS does not work with the 7Hi/A1/A2.

Cheers,
Alan

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. Very helpful!
James

 

Because every DSLR made needs a new flash system due to the different
reflectance from the sensor.

You don't think that Minolta dropping compatibility from the Dimage 7 and
forward on prosumer models is a pretty telling signal?

It probably pre-flashes in the wrong way or something. Can't set a
custom delay between pre-flash and full flash? Who knows.

I don't know if there are technical reasons /only/ or rather a case of
"let's drop compatibility at this convenient time where we can blame
digital" but the fact is that the combination you mention does not work,
and that every manufacturer have had problems with flash on their digicams.

 

-trap.com (Magnus W) wrote in

I think, they still should work. Why? Because, most of the lenses don't
have the Distance "Chip". Or we're ending up only flash photography
with D-Lenses.

-Leonhard

 

Reflective OTF cannot be done with digital cameras. Preflash and
metering by the exposure meter system or by the CCD/CMOS itself
is required.

Yes it is a signal. But it doesn't mean that this will follow on
a Maxxum 7 derived body.

I unhappily agree with you there, I'm just hoping my 5400HS
caries through on the digital body when the time comes. I have
the 5600HS as well so not totally up the creek ... hopefully it
will still work wireless with the DSLR.

Cheers,
Alan.

 

Good point. As is Magnus' point about the current digitcams
(A1/A2, etc.).

 

Not necessarily. It would be possible to have accessory flash
do a preflash to measure lighting, rather than do TTL-OTF, or
actually OTCCD (off the CCD) you might say. Then without D lens
the camera would use 14-segment metering, right?

Back to the OP (original poster). The only case where D flash
seems to be useful is where objects of "wrong" reflectance, such as
mirrors, are in the picture, allowing the 4-segment flash meter to
choose the proper segment based on focus distance.

D flash has many disadvantages: can't use bounce flash, can't
rotate or swivel the flash head, can't use softbox flash diffusers.
These are huge drawbacks if you ask me.

For a wedding last month I used a Sigma EF-500 Super with The Shell
bounce reflector, and every picture came out perfectly exposed
(judging by negative density, not prints). Admittedly there were
no mirrors in the background, but it says D is seldom required.
Couldn't use D with The Shell anyway. (I like this bounce reflector
because it's low-cost and works well in vertical mode.)

 

As I've mentioned from time to time, doing OTF (OTCCD/OTCMOS) is
not a viable method. The flash light does not reflect off of the
sensor in a way that OTF sensors can pick up (Or so I've read
here and there). Pre-flash is the way to go. The 5400HS does do
prefash and the camera meters this with the honeycomb (Minolta).
So _should_ be integrateable with the DSLR.


Cheers,
Alan