RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: Why Should a Pro SLR Not Have a Built-in Flash??

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Why Should a Pro SLR Not Have a Built-in Flash??

(Image Source Page: http://product.pchome.net/dc_nikon_d800/picmore-265747-3956555.html)

via the latest Nikon D800 Rumour and Specs at the Chinese PCHome:-

http://product.pchome.net/dc_nikon_d800/param_265747.html
(Google English Translation Here)

If the rumour is really true, I just wish to ask: Why NOT?? >:-(

(Source Article: The World First / Pentax First: My (Obsolete) Pentax Collection)

At least the excellent and well-built Pentax MZ-S had one. But then one may say that the MZ-S is not a true pro cam anyway! :-o :-(

(Source Article: "Film is Dead"! ;-))

Comments (14)

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illdefined · 732 weeks ago

to make the camera smaller and less top-heavy. the Canon 1D and 5D series have no built-in flashes and they are arguably the most popular high-end cameras in the world.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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illdefined · 732 weeks ago

also, most pros would prefer a bigger viewfinder prism than a weak, poorly placed flash. take a look a through a Sony A900 to see what i mean.

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Tomasz Worek · 732 weeks ago

Using built in flash is the worst thing one can do. Does anybody know any pro who uses built-in flash?!

3 replies · active 732 weeks ago

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brendanfong 29p · 732 weeks ago

Dave Hobby, aka the strobist, has used the pop-up flash as a fill light to off camera strobes with very good effect.

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Tomasz Worek · 732 weeks ago

That's quite interesting... I didn't know about it. Can you post a link to his page where he mentions about it? As far as I remember, in Lightning 101 he recommends Nikon Speedlights or similar external flashes...

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brendanfong 29p · 732 weeks ago

My bad, he didn't actually post a photo of him using it, but he mentions that it would suffice as a hard on-axis fill light.
Here: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/11/on-axis-fill...

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Zebooka · 732 weeks ago

May be because they can sacrifice it.

It can be used, but professional can afford more expensive solution:

- For remote triggering he/she can use radio triggers with full ETTL/iTTL support

- For fill light he/she can use external more powerfull and rotating/bouncing flash

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 732 weeks ago

The built-in flash comes in handy when the user needs it. It consumes nearly no space at all for a SLR. It is one of the greatest invention of Pentax indeed.

Moreover, one can still use external flash and external trigger with a DSLR with built-in flash. So, it is just an additional option, and it is a very handy one.

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Simon · 732 weeks ago

I would like a built-in flash in my 5D too! I don't like these bulky add on flashes. This new D800 looks very promising, I would prefer a FF Nikon over a FF Canon, because the Nikon lenses are superior to Canon. Now I have a 5D, because it was cheap, bought second hand.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 732 weeks ago

One of the biggest advantage of the D700 over the 5D/5D2 is that it has a built-in flash! So, if the D800 just doesn't have it, it will be a huge disappointment.

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Fortytwo · 732 weeks ago

I thought I was about the only one who wonders why. It's pure snobism by primarily Canon and Nikon. Basically they think a "pro" doesn't need a pop-up flash. Beats me why adding something extra can ever be a bad thing. It's not that a flash unit is very expensive. Most $5 single use camera's have one.
And yes, it's just Canon and Nikon. A $40,000 Hasselblad does have one: http://thephoblographer.files.wordpress.com/2010/...
Who's the pro now?

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jaegermeister · 732 weeks ago

the minolta dynax 9 is a true pro cam with flash

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Someone · 720 weeks ago

One thing to be considered is that the Nikon flash system needs to be seen to be believed. It's that good. So, to be fair, if you can afford to drop seven thousand dollars on a professional camera rig, a few bucks more for some strobes is hardly an issue. Besides. in PJ situations or set-ups, the pop-up flash really isn't much use next to some SB-900s.

A pop-up flash will be used on a D7000 ever week. A pop-up flash will be used on a D3X...when? In a showroom maybe, but that's pretty much it.It would add cost and no value.

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standor · 706 weeks ago

flash on such camera is surely an advantage. Useful in many situations where light bag is prefered or at unexpected situations. The built in flash cost argument is funy, if cheap dslr users could afford it, why not FF camera users ?

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Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Why Should a Pro SLR Not Have a Built-in Flash??

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