Cameta Digital Slave Flash + Sunpak Grip + Case + Accessory Kit for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS85, FX-150, LX3, FZ28, FX37, TZ50, FS7, FS15, FS25, FX48, FX580, TS1, ZS1, ZS3 Camera
From Cameta
The Cameta 2800 Flash has two automatic power settings, a correct exposure verification indicator, a bounce head adjustable up to 90-degrees for soft lighting effects, and energy-saving thyristor circuitry for faster recycling and longer battery life. While most camera's built-in flash units are only effective from a distance of 8 to 12 feet, the Cameta 2800 Flash gives you the freedom to be more than four times farther away. With this much additional flash power, it's almost like having a bolt of lightning at your command. >>> The Sunpak Digital Slave Grip has a comfortable contoured hand-grip with quick-release camera platform and enables the use of the Cameta 2800 Flash as a wireless remote "slave" to complement your camera's built-in flash. The Digital Slave Grip can even be used off-camera with the 2800 Flash as a remote slave for more professional and creative lighting effects. >>> The built-in flashes of most digital cameras emit a "pre-flash" and/or a "red-eye" pulse that fires before the shutter opens, followed by an additional flash pulse which actually lights your picture. This "pre-flash" or "red-eye" pulse confuses other non-digital flash and slave units, causing them to go off at the wrong time, rendering them useless for your digital camera. But the advanced pulse-counting digital circuitry of the Sunpak Digital Slave Grip is not fooled by the "pre-flash." Five LED-indicated pulse-counting and delay-variations are incorporated into the Digital Slave Grip allowing it to ignore "pre-flashes" and fire the powerful 2800 Flash at the precise moment your camera requires. Set it up with your camera's built-in flash just once -- using our included easy-to-follow step-by-step directions -- and you are all set for noticeably better flash pictures from that moment on. The Cameta 2800 Flash and Digital Slave Grip require a total of 8 - AA batteries -- which are included in this kit, along with a padded case, NiMH Charger, and Cleaning Kit.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #85454 in Camera & Photo
- Brand: Cameta
Inadequate sensor and cannot be used off-camera
As an inexpensive slave flash attached to my FZ18 this product minimally worked.
Note that the documentation states that in some cases the flash does not fire when attached to a camera (due to the sensor position). They state that you need to affix a white address label to the right side of your pop-up flash to reflect sufficient light to reach the slave's sensor and fire its flash. They even provide the product number of the Avery address label!
The grip support bracket is made of flexible plastic and tends to oscillate after you touch it---affecting camera stability.
The critical problem for me was that as an off-camera slave flash this product does not work. The sensor on the Sunpak grip is on the front of the grip. This means that the slave flash will only fire if the grip is facing you (ambient reflected light does not cause it to fire---even in a small room). Since the slave flash point of attachment to the grip does not allow rotation, off-camera use requires that the slave flash must be facing your camera in order to fire! In other words, the slave flash will usually not fire when the flash is facing your subject.
The product does not provide for connection to a tripod. However, if you find a bolt and washer, you can jerry-rig a stable attachment. Once you get the slave flash mounted on a tripod, you are again constrained to have the slave flash facing you (not your subject). And, even when the slave flash and sensor *are* facing your on-board trigger flash, the sensor only responds at a distance of about 20 feet (indoors with low natural light).
I have discovered that other slave flashes allow rotation so that the sensor can face the trigger flash but the slave flash can face your subject. I have also discovered that other slave flash sensors can be triggered at a much greater range.
I returned this product.
