How good is a $40 flash? We kick the tires on the Powerextra DF-400, a price range hot-shoe flash supposed for DSLR and mirrorless shooters who need extra energy and adaptability than a built-in flash with out breaking the financial institution. It affords solely handbook management plus a few easy wi-fi set off modes.
The Thought Behind Reviewing One thing Absurdly Cheap
If I evaluation very cheap photographic gear, I generally discover myself serious about how it’s to jot down a Yelp evaluation for a ramen restaurant positioned in a distant rural place. Most of us wouldn’t count on ramen there to be as scrumptious as ramen in Tokyo. And so it’s with a $40 flash. It will be unreasonable to suppose it might be as sturdy or constant as a flash costing lots of of {dollars}.
Subsequently, I would write a evaluation that appears crucial initially, solely to conclude that for the cash, the flash is de facto fairly helpful.
As an analogy, I really feel pleased if I discover mediocre ramen in a distant, rural, faraway place. In the identical approach, I really feel fortunate that I can get a flash that works fairly effectively for the worth of three drinks in a pleasant restaurant.
Let’s begin straight away with the specs, after which we’ll speak about my impressions utilizing the Powerextra DF-400.
Specs
The next specs and basic info for the Powerextra DF-400 flash are from the producer field:
Information Quantity (GN): 33 (ISO 100/1 m)
Energy Modes/Management: Handbook (M), S1, S2 wi-fi set off modes
Brightness/Energy Adjustment: 8 ranges (1/128 to 1/1 full energy)
Recycle Time: As quick as 0.125 seconds on the lowest energy, and ~3 seconds at full energy
Flash Period: Between 1/200 s and 1/20,000 s (lowest energy)
Colour Temperature: 5800 Okay (daylight balanced)
Energy Supply: 4 × AA batteries
Battery Life (variety of flashes): Claimed 110–1,500 flashes relying on energy stage, utilizing AA alkaline batteries
Bodily Dimension & Weight: approx. 190 × 75 × 55 mm, 315 g
Head Rotation/Tilt: Vertical tilt: 0°–90°; Horizontal rotation: as much as 270°
Different Options: PC port for syncing; saves the mode mechanically; power-off to save lots of battery; mini stand; protecting bag included
What’s Good
The controls are easy, straightforward to see, and straightforward to make use of.
The flash has a built-in bounce (reflector) card.
The facility is enough. GN 33 isn’t a big quantity, but it surely’s sufficient for a lot of indoor conditions or fill flash, particularly when subtle or bounced. For a $40 flash, having this output is strong.
Eight energy ranges present enough management. You possibly can dial it approach down for delicate fill or a small topic, or go close to full for bigger setups or to bounce off ceilings.
At low energy, the flash recharges at 0.125 s. I used to be capable of hearth off ten pictures, one proper after one other, at an influence stage of two with out situation.
A heat mild of 5800 Okay helps in daylight or blended lighting with out wildly shifting colours.
The flexibility to tilt/bounce the top (0–90° tilt, 270° swivel) provides versatility.
What’s Meh
Recycling at full energy is ~3 seconds. That’s sluggish. You’ll be ready between pictures, which is limiting in fast-paced taking pictures. As with most price range flashes, for those who push many flashes in a row, chances are you’ll start overheating or draining the battery.
The DF-400 in S1 and S2 modes fired inconsistently when somebody was holding the flash, even when in very shut proximity to the digicam. This occurred whether or not the entrance of the flash was blocked or not.
The flash doesn’t appear very sturdy, significantly the battery door. Then once more, it’s a $40 flash.
The dimensions is a bit giant. At 315 g, it’s not too heavy for a flash and is noticeably lighter than, for instance, a Nikon Speedlight. Nonetheless, it’s noticeably bigger than one.
Construct
After putting 4 AA batteries inside, I closed the battery door. This set off the proverbial crimson lights, because the door appeared to require a little bit of strain to shut. It looks as if one of the simplest ways to shut the battery door is to tug it out somewhat, shut it, after which slide it again, fairly than merely making an attempt to push it down and slide it again instantly.
All 4 buttons, together with the on/off change, don’t really feel wiggly or free, and so they really feel fairly sturdy.
The DF-400 doesn’t really feel like it will survive a fall onto a tough ground. Evidently, I didn’t take a look at it for this. I’ve, nevertheless, “examined” my Nikon SB-600 a number of occasions, though not deliberately, and it feels significantly extra rugged than the DF-400. To be honest, the SB-600 is a significantly costlier flash.
I examined the flash on a Nikon D750 DSLR and a Panasonic Lumix LX100 point-and-shoot digicam. In each instances, it labored instantly when mounted within the sizzling shoe. It flashed very constantly, besides when recycling.
Utilizing the Panasonic Lumix LX100 with out, then with the Powerextra DF-400 flash.
After I fired the flash whereas utilizing the digicam wirelessly on a desk or a stand with the Nikon D750, the flash fired very constantly from so far as 25 ft away.
Nonetheless, once I held the flash, or had an assistant maintain it, there have been a number of occasions when, regardless of utilizing the flash inside a number of ft of the digicam, it fired inconsistently, generally solely firing 60% of the time in 30 trials. This was even supposing we weren’t blocking the entrance of the flash with our hand.
A fairly delicate however nonetheless noticeable distinction right here utilizing bounced flash, with the primary having no flash, and the second bouncing the flash from the ceiling.
High quality of Gentle
Comparability of pictures utilizing flash (aside from the primary picture, which has no flash). All pictures have been taken at 1/100 s f/2.2 ISO 800 utilizing a Nikon D750 DSLR with the Powerextra DF-400 flash on-camera. Every particular person picture has a caption of how the flash was used.
I photographed a number of gadgets round my home for testing. The sunshine appeared constant in brightness and colour. The controls have been extraordinarily straightforward to make use of.
Utilizing the Powerextra DF-400 flash off-camera through S1 (wi-fi) mode. When utilizing the flash handheld, firing was significantly extra inconsistent than my Nikon SB-600 utilized in the identical method. Nonetheless, when utilizing the flash on a stand or tabletop, it was extraordinarily constant. Holding the flash by hand appears to generally interrupt the optical communication greater than my different flash.
I like utilizing a handheld, off-camera flash to mild folks for night time pictures. This flash can be glorious for this function, because the controls are very straightforward to see and use, even in the dead of night. I may use this in handbook mode, popping the flash by urgent the take a look at button from wherever I needed. And due to how cheap it’s, I wouldn’t have to fret about bringing a costlier flash and exposing it to mud or having it banged up in the dead of night. I’m already enthusiastic about retaining this in my automobile or digicam bag.
Who May Use This Flash
This flash is effectively suited to:
Hobbyists or freshmen who need extra mild than a built-in flash, for portraits, occasions, indoors, fill flash
Off-camera use with easy optical triggering (S1 or S2) the place you don’t want super-fast sync or lengthy wi-fi vary
A secondary or backup flash for artistic lighting, bounce, or accent lighting, or eventualities the place you want many flashes however are on a price range
These on a decent price range preferring low cost consumables (AA batteries) and are okay with handbook management
Possibly not so nice for:
Quick motion/quick pictures the place you want very fast recycle, or excessive body fee. Three seconds will not be very quick.
Skilled/superior work requiring TTL, HSS, or constant conduct throughout pictures
Conditions demanding rugged construct
Total Impressions
For $40, the DF-400 delivers primary performance and works effectively inside its restricted parameters, besides when popping the flash whereas holding it. It doesn’t fake to be a high-end flash.
Nonetheless, many customers may benefit from having one as an additional flash (or three), utilizing it for indoor work, portraits, bounce flash, or as a part of a small off-camera lighting setup. It doesn’t have sufficient energy for much distances or absurdly vibrant eventualities the place it has to “overpower the solar” (not actually, you perceive).
Additionally, as a result of it’s really easy to make use of, this could be a wonderful flash for freshmen.
It’s a little bigger than my Nikon SB-600 or different flashes I’ve used. And at GN 33, it’s not a really vibrant, highly effective mild.
My one concern can be the battery door. As beforehand talked about, it doesn’t really feel sturdy. Nonetheless, for those who pull the door out barely earlier than squeezing it shut, it ought to final.
The Powerextra DF-400 flash is out there right here.
