Originally posted by newarts So far as I've been able to tell based on physical configuration and specs, the Rokinon D980AF- P is not the same as the other flashes that have been relabeled. In any event I've yet to see any data that it is a poor flash or is prone to failure.
Where is mattdm's site?
It's at
The Definitive Guide - Pentax P-TTL Flash Comparison
He's always interested in new information, too. (Well, at least when he's not on vacation,
) If there's something particularly good out there, especially amid all the off-brands, that's probably welcome news.
As far as I'm concerned, flash prices are pretty out of hand. These fancy features aren't cheap to develop, I know, but if something costs like a camera body, it ought to last rather more like one.
I'm a big advocate of not spending more for a flash than you have to, really: even the best are pretty crunchy in gravity's eyes, not to mention electricity's, after all. So, it's certainly good if there's a 'sleeper' model or two out there. Name brands being able to cut corners from the top down isn't so good, either.
Anyway, I'm actually kind of rooting for some of these off-brands to get their games together, hopefully end up with names worth protecting, but it's a mixed bag so far.
I think if China wants to start getting any reputations for quality, they're going to need some sophisticated equivalent of those little gold oval stickers (Which themselves ended up just being copied once the pressure was off) so you know a particular unit's up to standard or comes from where it says it does. There's enough just-plain-counterfeiting out there that it'll have to happen in general. But I ramble. Bottom line is, a lot of off-brands are kind of a maze regarding where they come from, who actuallymade them, what the real specs may be, and other complications.
Things change. 'Made in Korea' used to mean 'Utter Crap,' (So did 'Made in Japan,' actually, that's why the little gold stickers) now I'm proudly sporting a Samsung sensor and stuff, and most of the rest of my trusty K20d comes from somewhere I'm pretty sure hadn't made so much as a Holga not too long ago. I'm sure the transition was pretty spotty, and all, and it looks like a lot of these off-brand flashes have been in the spotty phase. The name changes themselves aren't particularly reassuring, but hopefully they'll be learning fast.