Old nikon speed lights - any good?

[JustJazzie]

I've got a massive budget to the tune of $50 whole USD to blow on a nice new (to me) gadget. I was leaning towards a steamer for my backdrops, but higher on my wish list is a small ttl flash. Just something small and light I can pop in the hotshoe and bounce for snapshots. KEH has several units in my price range, but I'm left wondering if they will be worth it, or if I should just wait until I can get a newer unit.
Where would I find out if they are even compatible with my body?
Options include:
SB-24
SB 25
Sb16b

 

[Braineack]

look into the Neewer VK750 II i-TTL. Apparently for ~$50 it's a capable TTL Speedlight.

 

[JustJazzie]

look into the Neewer VK750 II i-TTL. Apparently for ~$50 it's a capable TTL Speedlight.

Ohh! I will! Thanks.

 

[pixmedic]

does it have to be TTL?

 

[JustJazzie]

does it have to be TTL?

This one does! It's more for snap shots when I don't want to think about or plan lighting.

 

[pixmedic]

does it have to be TTL?

This one does! It's more for snap shots when I don't want to think about or plan lighting.

ah...gotcha.
i only asked because i have a Yongnuo 560 speedlight i would have given you.
its a great flash, but manual only.
if you need TTL though, it isnt an option.
no biggie.

 

[JustJazzie]

does it have to be TTL?

This one does! It's more for snap shots when I don't want to think about or plan lighting.

ah...gotcha.
i only asked because i have a Yongnuo 560 speedlight i would have given you.
its a great flash, but manual only.
if you need TTL though, it isnt an option.
no biggie.

Thanks PixMedic!! That's terribly generous. I've already got a full manual speedlight so I am all set in the department!!

 

[medic2230]

Be careful using the older speedlights that were made for film camera's with the digitals. Some of the older flashes used really high trigger voltages and can damage digital cameras.

I got the run around a while back between Nikon and Sunpak about my old 622 handle mount flash. Both kept telling me to ask the other about it. Really??? Nikon wouldn't tell me how high a voltage I could go up to with my camera or if I could use the flash on mine and Sunpak just said I needed to ask Nikon and wouldn't answer anything else.

 

[snowbear118 49]

Be careful using the older speedlights that were made for film camera's with the digitals. Some of the older flashes used really high trigger voltages and can damage digital cameras.

I got the run around a while back between Nikon and Sunpak about my old 622 handle mount flash. Both kept telling me to ask the other about it. Really??? Nikon wouldn't tell me how high a voltage I could go up to with my camera or if I could use the flash on mine and Sunpak just said I needed to ask Nikon and wouldn't answer anything else.

Strober trigger voltages: Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages. Most of the Nikons seem to be OK.

 

[KmH]

Small inexpensive flash units tend to not have a lot of power.

Bouncing the light from a flash lengthens the path the light has to take and the surface the light is reflected off of 'eats' some of the light.

The longer the light path is the less light power actually reaches what you are trying to light.
The longer light path deal is a physical law of nature known as the Inverse Square Law.
If you double the length of the light path, the light power that reaches your subject is cut to 1/4 (a square function). Double the length of the light path again and only 1/16 of the light power emitted reaches your subject.

Nikon DSLR cameras can handle flash unit trigger voltages of up to +250 volts, but cannot handle a flash unit that uses a negative (-) voltage of any amount to trigger the flash unit.

 

[JustJazzie]

Thanks for all the information guys! Looks like I'll either go for the NEEWER or pick something else and wait on the flash!