Sunpak 611 flash advice

ziggy53

This is a blast from the past question.

The Sunpak 611 used to be a great powerhouse "potato masher" type flash, used by lots of professionals through the years.

I am looking for an economical flash to use for portable light in a slaved remote application.

Does anyone have any experience with these flashes that could lend an experienced opinion on their use?

Specifically:

Recycle time, too long without an external, hi-voltage battery pack?
Consistant output?
General durability?
Quality of light?
Light spread or pattern?
GN160, truth or ...?

Thanks,

ziggy53

ziggy53

If you have any experience with the Sunpak 622, chime in. I gather that the 622 is much more modular in design, but otherwise has similar properties with the standard head.

Thanks,

ziggy53

Art Scott

ziggy53 wrote:

Does anyone have any experience with these flashes that could lend an experienced opinion on their use?

Specifically:

Recycle time, too long without an external, hi-voltage battery pack?
yes the recycle time will be longer using "AA or C" bateries as opposed to a quantum pack (which my Quantum batteries off ebay were around $50 then I had them rebuilt for $20 so I have way less than half invested into my pwer source than a new one.
Consistant output?
I have never had a problem with having consistant out put from my 622's

General durability?
they were built like a rock......ooh don't tell chevy, I might get into trouble for saying that

Quality of light?
I have never had a flash put out light that had to be color corrected, how ever I have only used Sunpak 522, 622 and vivitar 285's....until now and with digital I do not do a custom white balance but when I change the color temp to flash [in ACR] everything seems correct to me.

Light spread or pattern?

Well they are rectangular so the pattern will be rectangular, I have never had a problem covering a large wedding party.



GN160, truth or ...?
buying used? Don't expect them to give the full gn, depending on how old, from the time the flash is activated it starts to diminish the flash tube, so after a few years of service the gn may be slightly below the mfg'ure rating.


Thanks,

ziggy53

hope this helps

ziggy53

Art,

I am very grateful for your detailed reply. I think I'll proceed to purchase one flash and, if that works well, at least one more.

Thanks,

ziggy53

Art Scott

Where might you be purchasing from...I need to see refernce prices as I am thinking of letting go of 1 or 2 of my 622's.

Glad I was able to help.

ziggy53

I got 2 Sunpak 611s yesterday, and tested one of them today. I adapted one to use AA NiMH batteries, just for testing.

GN160 seems pretty close to accurate, these things are punchy.

Light spread is designed for coverage of a 35mm lens on a 35mm full-frame camera. (Moderately wide) Most modern flashes are measured with a coverage more for normal lenses.

Recycle time is not too bad for "auto" use. I get around 2 second recycle times for an average sized room, in my house, and also for 1/16 power manual (GN 40). Full power is around 9 seconds. 1/2 power around 5 sec. (GN116)

I'm going to use these for slaves, so trigger voltage isn't so important.

This is encouraging enough, that I think I'll work on an improved power supply next.