the Nissin i40 is listed as ready to ship in 7-14 days at BHphoto… too optimistic?
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The Nissin i40 flash for Fuji-X was rumored to come in September. But now Nissin released an official note, where they say that the Fuji-X version of the flash, originally planed to be launched in September, is now delayed to undetermined release date (from the google translated dc-watch article) .” Read Nissin’s official note here (translation) or also at dc.watch here (translation).
So the rumor, shared back on July 4th, was correct at the time of sharing, but there was a last minute delay.
The Nissin i40 is a new great super compact powerful and flexible flash with ergonomics of the Fujifilm EF-X20. It recently won the TIPA Award 2014 for the“Best Portable Lighting System”.
“The small (3.35 x 2.4 x 3.35 inches) and lightweight (203g, without battery and soft box) Nissin i40 is available in models dedicated (TTL) to Canon, Nikon, Sony, Four thirds and Fujifilm models, and can cover a lens angle of view from 24-105mm, with additional coverage to 16mm with the supplied diffuser. The Guide Number is 40 at the 105mm setting (meters/ISO 100) and 27 at 35mm. An innovative LED illuminator sits where smaller fill flash modules were in the past, and the light can be used for both still and video recording with 9 steps of output. The i40 offers rear, front curtain and high-speed sync, wireless slave and can be swivelled up to 180 degrees right and left and 90 degrees vertical.”
15 Responses
godverdoemme
“The Nissin i40 is a new great super compact powerful and flexible flash”… uh, not so much. I made the mistake of buying one for my Micro Four Thirds camera. The body isn’t really any smaller than that of the Olympus FL36R, other than the mounting foot being shorter; the markings on the dials are hard to read in dim light (where you’d be likely to need a flash, duh) and it’s easy to move the exposure compensation dial by accident. Fuji fans don’t need to feel deprived…
Well, the i40 might not be perfect, but it might be a good alternative to what we currently have in the Fuji camp. Thanks for pointing out the issue with the markings. That is certainly a point against it from my point of view.
Have we any serious fuji flash or even a flash system like canons speedlite or nikons cls???
ONE BIG empty slot within the FUJI system…..
It seems to me that what is needed is a reasonably compact flash with high speed sync. Even a clip-on model would be fine, just something for a bit of fill that doesn’t require you to drop the shutter speed.
Sync speed depends on the camera, not the flash. You can always use a video light.
I think John is referring to the “high speed sync” mode as separate from just a higher sync speed. A higher sync speed would indeed be determined by the camera (currently, cameras with focal plane shutters sync up to 1/300th at the most I believe, with most cameras in the 1/200th -1/250th range, and the X-Series with focal plane shutters sync up to 1/180th). However, some flashes have an HSS, or “high speed sync” mode that involves using very quick multiple flashes of light to circumvent the camera’s sync speed limitation. This can take effective sync speeds all the way up to 1/4000th in some instances.
However, I believe the camera still needs to support this functionality, and there also needs to be much greater communication with the flash in order for this to work (i.e. not just triggering). At the moment, the Fuji cameras neither support the HSS mode, nor do they have an effective mechanism for more elaborate communication with third party flashes.
I know how HSS works but I think the benefit of it is quite limited. Doesn’t hold a candle to a leaf shutter. Interesting analogy… 😉
Ah. Apologies. I was a bit confused when you replied to John’s comment about a flash with HSS by saying that the sync speed is dependent on the camera alone. Hopefully my comment was helpful to someone else…
Agree completely about the leaf shutter!
I use Olympus FL36R with my X100s since I bought this Fuji. I would greatly appreciate to have something, like this little i40 – well, at least what is in the promisses:
– As far as I know, 7th row in the screenshot, wireless TTL for a Fuji unit is not much yet possible, since I haven’t heard of any similar Fuji communication standard. Dumb-slave mode is another thing, triggered on first or second flash.
– Also, the 9th row is telling about some HSS/FP-mode, that we already enjoy on X100s but it is a technically totally different story.
Summed up: if this i40 was released today, it would be just a half-product, just as dumb as an EF-42, we are waiting for the first wireless TTL and high-speed-sync capable Fuji camera to appear.
Exactly. I have no idea why this flash is as talked about as much as it is. 2x the cost of the EF42 without adding any realistically useful functions.
You know the state of a manufacturers flash accessories system is rough shape when people are on waiting lists for a Nissin.
It would be great if fuji made a larger/pro oriented EF-X20 that accepted an external battery pack and also added high speed sync to the bodies.
And also have the camera work better with flashes by not disabling the flash in various modes.
IMHO EF42 has terrible ergonomics and is too large for fuji system. EF-20 lacks side turn and EFX-20 lacks any rotation. To me i40 would be great all to do flash. Third party makers can do nothing to bring professional quality fuji flash. It’s fuji who needs to introduce wireless TTL and HSS. So i40 is best anyone can get until fuji upgrade flash system.
As you said: current Fuji flashes are already 3rd party flashes from Sunpak.
My main system for work is Nikon, and I have four Nikon speedlights. I use my Fuji X system too and wanted speedlight support with it. I bought a set of four Cactus V6 triggers which fit my Fuji’s perfect and allow me to control my Nikon flashes from the camera with full manual power from 1/128 stop to full. The V6 is a transceiver. You can use the V6’s as a transmitter from any camera with a V6 as a receiver on any TTL supported flash supported by the V6 from Canon, Nikon, or Pentax. Seriously good stuff and I can get multiple use out of my already invested flash.
+1. I’ve done the same. Cactuses v6 are great. It’s about perfect solution (for now) for home studio.