Originally posted by Lord Lucan Oddly, there are flash units on the market that have bounce but not swivel. Why ???
Yeah, like the ubiquitous VIvitar 283 and 285. The 285 even has a zoom head -- but no swivel. Never understood why it lacks swivel.
(Quoting my claim about differences between the Pentax AF280T and Sunpak Auto 422D)
Quote: Sure about that? Do you actually own both? I have only the Pentax 280T but understood that it and the Sunpak are basically the same unit - the 280T was actually made by Sunpak and the 422D was their independent version of it. Take a look at their reviews :-
PENTAX AF 280T reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database Sunpak 422D reviews - Pentax Camera Accessory Review Database
....... and they are obviously the same except for back panel layout. Both use 4xAA batteries so that gives the scale.
I did not think that their contract with Pentax allowed Sunpak to sell a Pentax-compatible version directly (which could have undercut the Pentax price). There is really no point in buying a Sunpak 422D for a Pentax camera while there are are plenty of 280T's on ebay for the same price (you say).
When I wrote my above comment, I committed the error of not having both flashes in front of me (yes, I do own both). As it turns out, the Sunpak is taller than the Pentax, but the Pentax's girth is greater -- and it was the girth that stuck in my mind, leading me to think it was larger than the Sunpak. Steve's term for the AF280T as "chunky" is apt.
Your claim in your review of the AF280T is incorrect. The Sunpak 422D and Pentax AF280T are not the same flash. They may be functionally equivalent, but they are quite different in appearance. The features and rear controls are different as well. But mostly they just don't look anything alike. Someone here reported the AF280T's GN as 90. That is slightly incorrect. Using three different comparisons from the scale on the back of the flash, I get 96. The Sunpak's is 100, so I'll call that a tie.
Since I was basing my suggestion for the Sunpak on the false premise that it is smaller than the AF280T, I agree that the two are essentially equivalent -- if you can find a 422D with a Pentax foot, that is. Or just the foot, for that matter. I missed out on an auction for a Contax foot recently. Still kicking myself over that one. But since I have the AF280T, as you correctly state, there's little reason for using the 422D on a camera like my LX. Except perhaps if I wanted to use its fractional manual mode, since it has more settings than the Pentax.
One thing I do like about the Sunpak is that interchangeable foot. Which fits a variety of Sunpak flashes, evidently. Makes Sunpak akin to the Tamron Adaptall-2 of flashes in a way.