My little review on the Shanny SN600FGZ

rawr · 01-21-2017, 04:38 PM

Originally posted by cocco91

It work verywell, exept the automatic zoom.

Does the Shanny have a setting to adjust the zoom head for crop vs FF usage?

With flashes like the Metz 52-AF1, for instance, the flash zoom head will take the wider field of view of FF into account when you use it on a K-1 (if you set the flash to tell it you are using it on FF). Maybe the default setting on the Shanny is for FF.

stub · 01-21-2017, 05:59 PM

Originally posted by rawr

Does the Shanny have a setting to adjust the zoom head for crop vs FF usage?

With flashes like the Metz 52-AF1, for instance, the flash zoom head will take the wider field of view of FF into account when you use it on a K-1 (if you set the flash to tell it you are using it on FF). Maybe the default setting on the Shanny is for FF.

Not to my knowledge.

cocco91 · 01-23-2017, 08:18 AM

Mmm so its not only the mine one that have this problems...
Can you tell me please wich camera do you use?
Because the seller answered me that the problem is the k7 which is not compatible....

stub · 01-23-2017, 05:51 PM

I dont own the full frame as yet ..... Ony K5ii or K-7.... So I will need someone else to check that fact.

rawr · 01-23-2017, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by stub

So I will need someone else to check that fact.

Re flash zoom, according to the Shanny one-page instruction sheet for the SN 600 N (Nikon version), there is a FX/DX frame switch option in the flash custom functions that controls the zoom head behaviour.

By default, the flash zoom is set to FX (full-frame) mode. The Pentax version probably works the same.

stub · 01-24-2017, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Re flash zoom, according to the Shanny one-page instruction sheet for the SN 600 N (Nikon version), there is a FX/DX frame switch option in the flash custom functions that controls the zoom head behaviour.

By default, the flash zoom is set to FX (full-frame) mode. The Pentax version probably works the same.

Not on the Pentax version im afraid....

cocco91 · 01-25-2017, 01:45 AM

could it be a software problem?
I wrote to shanny to have an answer, but I have to wait the ending of the holiday for the chinese new year...

rawr · 01-25-2017, 03:51 AM

Originally posted by cocco91

could it be a software problem?...

Since there is no downloadable info sheet or manual for the Shanny Pentax flash

... what is the full list of flash settings/options in the Shanny SN600 FGZ menu?

cocco91 · 01-25-2017, 04:17 AM - **1 Like**

-standby
-slave standby
-light
-sound
-diffuser vato
-clear function set
-system restore

rawr · 01-25-2017, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by cocco91

-standby
-slave standby
-light
-sound
-diffuser vato
-clear function set
-system restore

Thank you.

It looks like they need to do some firmware upgrades to bring it into line with (for example) the Nikon version of the same flash. Not all Pentaxes are APS-C nowadays.

mcgregni · 01-25-2017, 10:42 AM

Automatic zoom and format detection/indication (like we have with the latest Pentax flash units) is a 'nice to have' and a convenience for a camera system that offers different sensor sizes and for when we might use the flash on more than one camera format type. .... But for practical flash photography its not essential.

What is more important is manual zoom control so we can assert user control over the full range of the flash head coverage as needed for each individual format and focal length.

paulster · 01-25-2017, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by mcgregni

What is more important is manual zoom control so we can assert user control over the full range of the flash head coverage as needed for each individual format and focal length.

The Shanny has both options. You can set it to auto zoom or control it manually, so that's a good thing.

mcgregni · 01-25-2017, 12:27 PM

The only issue could be though, if the format cannot be detected or manually set. .....(this was the problem I understood was identified here) and whether that prevents the zoom from moving though it's full range. But I'd assume that the manual option would provide this and overide anything else.

Say for example that on an aps-c camera you had an 85 mm lens .... It the zoom coverage was set to that, or limited to that based on a FF field of view we would have wasted light unless it could be overridden and zoomed in to the next position (eg 105mm). If it can't do that automatically then the photographer has another task.

stub · 01-25-2017, 02:59 PM

No No ..... Manually the zoom can be set to any length from 20mm to 200mm... The problem was in auto mode it didnt automatically read the correct lens length... I dont really see it as a problem....

jjbacoomba · 01-31-2017, 07:44 PM

Newbie here to using flash, both on and off. Would like to know what FF means. Thanks.

01-25-2017, 10:42 AM	#26
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	Automatic zoom and format detection/indication (like we have with the latest Pentax flash units) is a 'nice to have' and a convenience for a camera system that offers different sensor sizes and for when we might use the flash on more than one camera format type. .... But for practical flash photography its not essential. What is more important is manual zoom control so we can assert user control over the full range of the flash head coverage as needed for each individual format and focal length. Last edited by mcgregni; 01-25-2017 at 10:47 AM.

01-31-2017, 07:44 PM	#30
jjbacoomba Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Antonio,Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 279	Shanny Newbie here to using flash, both on and off. Would like to know what FF means. Thanks.

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01-21-2017, 04:38 PM	#16
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by cocco91 It work verywell, exept the automatic zoom. Does the Shanny have a setting to adjust the zoom head for crop vs FF usage? With flashes like the Metz 52-AF1, for instance, the flash zoom head will take the wider field of view of FF into account when you use it on a K-1 (if you set the flash to tell it you are using it on FF). Maybe the default setting on the Shanny is for FF.

01-21-2017, 05:59 PM	#17
stub Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Manchester Photos: Gallery Posts: 227 Original Poster	Originally posted by rawr Does the Shanny have a setting to adjust the zoom head for crop vs FF usage? With flashes like the Metz 52-AF1, for instance, the flash zoom head will take the wider field of view of FF into account when you use it on a K-1 (if you set the flash to tell it you are using it on FF). Maybe the default setting on the Shanny is for FF. Not to my knowledge.

01-23-2017, 08:18 AM	#18
cocco91 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Umbria Posts: 30	Mmm so its not only the mine one that have this problems... Can you tell me please wich camera do you use? Because the seller answered me that the problem is the k7 which is not compatible....

01-23-2017, 05:51 PM	#19
stub Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Manchester Photos: Gallery Posts: 227 Original Poster	I dont own the full frame as yet ..... Ony K5ii or K-7.... So I will need someone else to check that fact.

01-23-2017, 07:57 PM	#20
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by stub So I will need someone else to check that fact. Re flash zoom, according to the Shanny one-page instruction sheet for the SN 600 N (Nikon version), there is a FX/DX frame switch option in the flash custom functions that controls the zoom head behaviour. By default, the flash zoom is set to FX (full-frame) mode. The Pentax version probably works the same.

01-24-2017, 10:31 AM	#21
stub Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Manchester Photos: Gallery Posts: 227 Original Poster	Originally posted by rawr Re flash zoom, according to the Shanny one-page instruction sheet for the SN 600 N (Nikon version), there is a FX/DX frame switch option in the flash custom functions that controls the zoom head behaviour. By default, the flash zoom is set to FX (full-frame) mode. The Pentax version probably works the same. Not on the Pentax version im afraid....

01-25-2017, 01:45 AM	#22
cocco91 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Umbria Posts: 30	could it be a software problem? I wrote to shanny to have an answer, but I have to wait the ending of the holiday for the chinese new year...

01-25-2017, 03:51 AM	#23
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by cocco91 could it be a software problem?... Since there is no downloadable info sheet or manual for the Shanny Pentax flash ... what is the full list of flash settings/options in the Shanny SN600 FGZ menu?

01-25-2017, 04:17 AM - 1 Like	#24
cocco91 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Umbria Posts: 30	-standby -slave standby -light -sound -diffuser vato -clear function set -system restore

01-25-2017, 05:53 AM	#25
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by cocco91 -standby -slave standby -light -sound -diffuser vato -clear function set -system restore Thank you. It looks like they need to do some firmware upgrades to bring it into line with (for example) the Nikon version of the same flash. Not all Pentaxes are APS-C nowadays.

01-25-2017, 11:18 AM	#27
paulster Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 159	Originally posted by mcgregni What is more important is manual zoom control so we can assert user control over the full range of the flash head coverage as needed for each individual format and focal length. The Shanny has both options. You can set it to auto zoom or control it manually, so that's a good thing.

01-25-2017, 12:27 PM	#28
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	The only issue could be though, if the format cannot be detected or manually set. .....(this was the problem I understood was identified here) and whether that prevents the zoom from moving though it's full range. But I'd assume that the manual option would provide this and overide anything else. Say for example that on an aps-c camera you had an 85 mm lens .... It the zoom coverage was set to that, or limited to that based on a FF field of view we would have wasted light unless it could be overridden and zoomed in to the next position (eg 105mm). If it can't do that automatically then the photographer has another task.

01-25-2017, 02:59 PM	#29
stub Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Manchester Photos: Gallery Posts: 227 Original Poster	No No ..... Manually the zoom can be set to any length from 20mm to 200mm... The problem was in auto mode it didnt automatically read the correct lens length... I dont really see it as a problem....