Shanny SN600N flash overview

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rocketman122

Senior Member
got my shanny sn600n flash yesterday. $90 didnt shoot with it yet. performance wise it has the goods. ergonomics and thought put into the flash- not good.

it didnt come with a pouch and the ebay seller noted it. it didnt come with an lcd protective film. came with a stand/base and quick guide/manual

this is their list of flashes they have in the market currently.

SHANNY – Flash & Trigger Models | FLASH HAVOC

shot 3-4 images and ttl seems accurate. thats my biggest gripe with 3rd party flashes. they are never accurate (compared to nikons). ttl exposure is shut off by the camera but oem are more accurate (from the various flashes ive used and ive used quite a few) and my theory is there is some proprietary software/hardware in nikon/canon flashes/bodies that make them more accurate than 3rd party. like sigma reverse engineering their AF to work with new nikon bodies. I have to try the shanny to see if this will continue the disappointment of 3rd party flashes or will it shine.

video. I dont round of corners and im not a politically correct guy. I say it as it is. a bit of azz/crap words in there.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO8eBCcjplI&feature=youtu.be

sorry for the purple tint of the video. just crappy htc one camera.
 
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W

WayneF

Senior Member
rocketman122 said:
shot 3-4 images and ttl seems accurate. thats my biggest gripe with 3rd party flashes. they are never accurate (compared to nikons). ttl exposure is shut off by the camera but oem are more accurate (from the various flashes ive used and ive used quite a few) and my theory is there is some proprietary software/hardware in nikon/canon flashes/bodies that make them more accurate than 3rd party. like sigma reverse engineering their AF to work with new nikon bodies.
Click to expand...

FWIW, old "FILM" TTL was quenched off by the camera when it was seen metered (in real time) as sufficient. Individual metering of multiple flash was impossible then, as was a wireless concept like the Commander.

But digital iTTL is instead preprogrammed for the power level (which is a duration) by the camera after metering the preflash (individually). This involves CLS communication (hot shoe pins or Commander).

I'm making this next part up myself, but obviously the camera does not know the power capability of the various flash units (no concept what 1/4 power might be on that flash.) So the camera can only program TTL as relative power, like "Now do 5.3 stops more level than that TTL preflash I just saw from you".

The camera system does the TTL metering, and a flash is just a flash (it just flashes), but it does have to understand the instructions in a consistent way.

Making this part up too, just a hunch, but there does seem to be a difference in the way the 3rd party flashes and cameras report and treat the default TTL BL power reduction too.
 
R

rocketman122

Senior Member
WayneF said:
FWIW, old "FILM" TTL was quenched off by the camera when it was seen metered (in real time) as sufficient. Individual metering of multiple flash was impossible then, as was a wireless concept like the Commander.

But digital iTTL is instead preprogrammed for the power level (which is a duration) by the camera after metering the preflash (individually). This involves CLS communication (hot shoe pins or Commander).

I'm making this next part up myself, but obviously the camera does not know the power capability of the various flash units (no concept what 1/4 power might be on that flash.) So the camera can only program TTL as relative power, like "Now do 5.3 stops more level than that TTL preflash I just saw from you".

The camera system does the TTL metering, and a flash is just a flash (it just flashes), but it does have to understand the instructions in a consistent way.

Making this part up too, just a hunch, but there does seem to be a difference in the way the 3rd party flashes and cameras report and treat the default TTL BL power reduction too.
Click to expand...

yea, as much as id like to believe that a flash is a flash, it has shown me over and over that 3rd party flashes (metz 58 AF2, 565, 568) are not as accurate as the nikon flashes and its known by veteran pros that on camera its nikon, and off camera, whatever youd like. I hope this shanny does better.

theres something else happening between the nikon (body/flash) thats causing them to be more accurate. just like nikon caused some 3rd party batteries not to work with their body in a firmware update. I think there some hardware/software that lets them communicate better.

this pixel flash shows the same. the difference are small but not the same as the canon. phottix had the issue as well. overexposing by a stop and it was patched in a firmware update.
PIXEL – X800C Speedlite Review – UPDATED | FLASH HAVOC

btw, whats your take on the pc port on the side? maybe for a radio slave connection? weird though. no contacts on it. nice they added 2.5mm pc sync as well.
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
rocketman122 said:
yea, as much as id like to believe that a flash is a flash, it has shown me over and over that 3rd party flashes (metz 58 AF2, 565, 568) are not as accurate as the nikon flashes and its known by veteran pros that on camera its nikon, and off camera, whatever youd like. I hope this shanny does better.

theres something else happening between the nikon (body/flash) thats causing them to be more accurate. just like nikon caused some 3rd party batteries not to work with their body in a firmware update. I think there some hardware/software that lets them communicate better.
Click to expand...

People do have their notions, but I would not word it quite that way. :) I put some metering comparisons in reviews of three third party speedlights in most modes (direct, bounce, TTL, TTL BL, and manual GN), as compared to the Nikon SB-800 results - seen at Flash Photography Basics

There is possibly quite a bit more to it. I'm thinking TTL BL mode might show some other differences (which is only default mode that most flashes have today).

But of course, at least three standard facts always apply:

1. Reflective metering will always show variations, due to the subject in front of the camera. I think it is obvious that few of us give that proper consideration, if any at all. See How Camera Light Meters Work for the obvious way reflective metering works. This is about the first thing we all need to know about metering.

2. It is the camera that meters TTL or TTL Bl preflash, and then tells the flash what power level to use. The flash could not care less if TTL or TTL BL, white background or black, direct or bounce, etc... And it meters nothing. The flash just complies, sets the power level difference requested, and it flashes. Probably possible that some particular flash might not get that instruction right, but for those flashes that just do what they are told, we do really have to look for other reasons (about why?). There can be several better common reasons. Brand incompatibility should not just be the first automatic assumption (for something that is done by the camera anyway).

3. Specific to direct flash in default TTL BL mode (commonly used by event photogs), D-lens distance can override and limit metered flash if it thinks the metered value is too strong for the distance that it imagines applies. The reason for this is that direct flash falls off with inverse square law, so the background is typically dark, which is seen when metering preflash, which typically causes direct flash to commonly overexpose the subject (i.e., #1 above).
But... most of our zoom lenses very often in fact report seriously incorrect D-lens distance (they report total random nonsense, making up numbers), which causes TTL BL (the only default mode on most flashes) to be seriously wrong, very often, frequently causing serious underexposure. More of this obvious detail at Nikon TTL BL flash - D-lens distance data accuracy

It is of course true that 3rd party and Nikon flashes should perform alike in cases 1 and 3, since it is the camera doing it. I'm just not too sure how carefully we enforce the exact same subject condition to our hasty conclusions though. Notions should take efforts to rule out the obvious. We need more evidence than just some guy talking.

My own complaint is that the stupid camera ought to offer two new menus seriously needed for flash today:

1. a camera menu to disable using D-lens distance, to prevent it from screwing up the direct flash metering. Zoom lenses are totally ignorant about distance. They report phony distance numbers that are very different at every zoom setting. Not sure even any one zoom setting is ever right. :)

2. a camera menu to directly select TTL or TTL BL mode (since is was removed from most flashes today), instead of the very awkward Spot metering. The flash system never spot meters, but it is only way to select TTL (on most flashes today) as a way to prevent D-lens distance from screwing things up. But few understand what Spot metering is. It can often help default TTL BL flash units indoors (for reasons other than Spot) but without knowing a few things, it is a probable disaster in bright ambient.

It would be so much easier to use and explain with such menus.

btw, whats your take on the pc port on the side? maybe for a radio slave connection? weird though. no contacts on it. nice they added 2.5mm pc sync as well.
Click to expand...

I didn't spend much time there, but I don't think I understand the question? That page shows these ports:

External Battery Port
USB Port for Firmware Updates
PC Sync Port

I think you just mean the PC port, which has been a standard feature since the 1950s, for any use of a PC sync cord. Radio trigger or slave trigger are common possibilities, but speedlight triggers typically mount on the foot today (was not always true). Studio flashes have no speedlight foot.
 
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PhoenixGB

PhoenixGB

New member
rocketman122 said:
got my shanny sn600n flash yesterday. $90 didnt shoot with it yet. performance wise it has the goods. ergonomics and thought put into the flash- not good.

it didnt come with a pouch and the ebay seller noted it. it didnt come with an lcd protective film. came with a stand/base and quick guide/manual

this is their list of flashes they have in the market currently.

SHANNY – Flash & Trigger Models | FLASH HAVOC

shot 3-4 images and ttl seems accurate. thats my biggest gripe with 3rd party flashes. they are never accurate (compared to nikons). ttl exposure is shut off by the camera but oem are more accurate (from the various flashes ive used and ive used quite a few) and my theory is there is some proprietary software/hardware in nikon/canon flashes/bodies that make them more accurate than 3rd party. like sigma reverse engineering their AF to work with new nikon bodies. I have to try the shanny to see if this will continue the disappointment of 3rd party flashes or will it shine.

video. I dont round of corners and im not a politically correct guy. I say it as it is. a bit of azz/crap words in there.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO8eBCcjplI&feature=youtu.be

sorry for the purple tint of the video. just crappy htc one camera.
Click to expand...


Video is set as private :(
 
R

rocketman122

Senior Member
haha. saw the video again now and yes Im not a person whos PR or rounds off corners. Im a no bs guy and will say it as it is. I wont downplay something if its crap. those who review gear downplay flaws because if they say it sucks then its a potential loss of sale from using their sponsored links. look at ken rockwell. years ago he said certain is not recommended. today everything is recommended! people want to cater to others and they want to be friendly and likeable. I dont care to be liked at all. I prefer people hate me and I do a kick azz job at that! haha

the flash is good. Ive used it for many weddings already. the flaws I spoke about are every bit a nuisance today as when I bought it. the crap lcd readout, the unnecessary head lock button, the mushy buttons, the horrible dial which is the worst problem of them all and is one youll use the most. if they fixed these issues id buy 2 more without an issue. but as of now, 1 flash that annoys me is more than enough for me. I even prefer using it over my goto flash the sb900. the nikon has flaws as well. the biggest is it overheating and shutting you from using it. ive replaced the bulb twice in the sb900 already.

ttl is very nice and accurate. recycling is not 2.2, its more like 1.8 with panasonic eneloop blacks 2450mah
 
PhoenixGB

PhoenixGB

New member
Lol, I am from a little county in the UK called Yorkshire, we have a reputation as being a bit blunt, but hey, u gotta say it how u see it. :encouragement:
 
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