Originally posted by stormtech These 422D and 433D flashes look like just the thing for me. I am looking for a couple flashes to use off camera only with radio triggers (Cactus v5).
For practical purposes, these models are the same: 422D, 433D, 444D, 30DX, 36DX, Super 383. IMHO, they are the most underrated flash units.
Originally posted by stormtech While looking at some of the listings on ebay, I see an adapter mentioned a couple times - one says it is missing the adapter. I did some searching on Google about this adapter and didn't find anything that helped me.
I think by "adapter," they mean "module." That's the official term from Sunpak.
Except for the Super 383, which has non-removable foot, other flash models listed above have replaceable foot, or "module." Each module is "dedicated" to certain camera models. For example, PT-1D and PT-2D are for Pentax; NE-1D, NE-2D, NE-3D for Nikon, YC-1D for Contax and Yashica,..., STD-1D is "standard" (not dedicated to any camera model, or any camera can use it).
Depending on camera and module, some modules can set shutter speed on the camera when the flash is ready, some can also set the aperture.
For example, if you set your Pentax DSLR to Av mode, when the flash is ready to fire, module PT-1D or PT-2D sets the shutter speed between 1/30 and 1/180, depending on the focal length of the lens. When the flash is not ready (is charging), the shutter speed is set by the camera based on ambient light.
You don't have to use Pentax modules, any (except NE-3D because of a different foot) will work. You just set the camera to M mode and set the shutter speed yourself (or set the camera to X mode). I buy modules just based on price and am currently using modules for Minolta, Olympus, Canon, and "standard" for my K10D and K7 (I shoot in M any way, don't need/want the module to set the shutter speed for me). Ironically, the only Pentax module I have, PT-2D, just went dead before Christmas.
The same modules are used for Sunpak ringlights DX-8R and DX-12R, 120J TTL and hammer head 555.
KEH has Sunpak modules at good prices ->
link.
Here's my 36DX (same as 444D) with a "remote cord." The module can be attached directly to the flash unit, or attached via the remote cord:
Here's Sunpak 555 using same kind of module:
And here's DX-8R: