Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II
The Bower SFD35C Digital Auto-Focus Flash is a fully dedicated E-TTL I/II program flash designed to work with the Canon Digital Rebel, Digital Rebel XT, 20D, and other Canon DSLR's for improved flash photography. It will also work with Canon 35mm AF film SLR models.
Designed with professional and amateur photographers in mind, the SFD35C flash is equipped with a guide number of 112' with full E-TTL I/II metering, automatic shutter speed control and aperture control of digital and analog SLR cameras.
- An Infra-Red Auto focus assistant beam ensures proper lighting under low lighting or complete darkness conditions.
- Auto cut-off after 3 minutes.
| Mount | Shoe |
| Guide No. | 112' (34.14 m) at 50 mm position |
| Exposure Control | Manual/TTL |
| Angle of Coverage | 75° - 28° |
| Vari-Power | None |
| TTL Dedication | Yes |
| Bounce Head | Yes |
| Swivel Head | Yes |
| Coverage | 28 mm - 85 mm (Full frame) |
| Zoom Head | Full frame: 28 mm - 85 mm |
| Wireless Communication Channels | None |
| Wireless Groups | None |
| Power Source | 4x AA Alkaline, NiCad, Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 3 x 2.4 x 7.3" / 7.62 x 6.10 x 18.54 cm |
| Weight | 9.9 oz / 281 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 102 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
90%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (61)
- Lightweight (44)
- Consistent output (36)
- Fast recycling (29)
- Durable (28)
Cons
- Heavy / bulky (24)
- Slow recycling (7)
- Heavy (6)
- Not durable (6)
- Weak output (5)
Best Uses
- General purpose (55)
- Portraits (55)
- Everyday (20)
- Fill flash (19)
- Night photography (18)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Enthusiast (32), Semi-professional (19), Photo enthusiast (15), Semi-pro photographer (9), Casual photographer (8)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (31)
Most Liked Positive Review
"Bower Power"
If your a DSL freak like myself, you have scrambled around trying to accessorize your Canon camera. But just to realize that most of the Canon brand flashes are either rent or mortgage value....Read complete review
If your a DSL freak like myself, you have scrambled around trying to accessorize your Canon camera. But just to realize that most of the Canon brand flashes are either rent or mortgage value. Well say hello to the SDF35C Canon flash by Bower. Its affordable and useful controls give the the novice to intermediate photographer the starting point for flash photos.
It not only gets the job done, but the flash has a handy swivel head and adjustable iris, that widens or narrows your flash amount.
This is perfect "gizmo" that works specifically with the Canon 7D & 5D series. Although it might now have all of the features and settings to that of a flash that would cost you a car payment, it still provides usefulness to the novice photographer. As you grow in your work, your flashes should follow.
Yet, I highly recommend this flash to those looking to save a few dollars but still want to achieve that professional look.
But don't take my word for it, go and see for yourself.
This is Lewis Duval..and this has been yet another B&H review!
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Decent flash for the money
This is my first flash; I bought it to compliment the Canon Rebel T1i. So far I have a mixed feeling about this flash. It's a good flash for the money, but I ...Read complete review
This is my first flash; I bought it to compliment the Canon Rebel T1i. So far I have a mixed feeling about this flash. It's a good flash for the money, but I am nevertheless somewhat disappointed. The flash has a minimal feature set, it works just like your pop-up flash in all respects, except that it can swivel and bounce, and is more powerful than the pop-up flash.
Although the manufacturer claims it supports ETTL II, in reality, it supports none of the advance ETTL features. There is no high speed sync, no 2nd curtain sync (you can enable it camera menu, not sure if it works), no modeling light, etc. There is also no optical slave, no PC sync port, and wireless ETTL is obviously not supported. So do not buy this flash if you are looking for any of these features and read on if these are unimportant to you.
The flash's build quality is decent. It falls well short of the sturdiness of Canon flashes and some of the better 3rd party ones. If you are hard on your equipment or a professional who uses flash heavily, I do not think this unit will fare too well under heavy usage. However, for casual users who sometimes need a better flash than the in-camera flash, this unit should do the trick. It's not build to professional standard, but not overly fragile either.
TTL metering seems to work pretty well when you use the flash straight-on, if you bounce it however, you should plan on adding +2 or so exposure compensation or increase your ISO. There is no manual control, so there is no way you can tell the flash to always fire at maximum power. If your camera can do flash exposure lock, then you can trick the camera into firing it at max power. Speaking of power output, this flash's biggest con by far is its weak output. Comparing to the pop-up flash on my T1i, this flash is only about 2 stops brighter. (at the same shutter/aperture, a picture with this flash at ISO 100 will look about as bright as a picture at ISO 800 taken with the onboard flash).
Recharge time is moderate to slow. About 1-2 seconds if fired at half power, but 5-6 seconds if fired at full power. This is not great, but not horrible either. Capacitor makes whizzing noise, can be kind of annoying if you listen closely, but in my environments should be inaudible. Size is bigger than I thought, about as big as the 55-250mm lens. It can make a Rebel body somewhat top heavy.
The real redeeming quality of this flash is its price. It's the cheapest flash you can get that bounce, swivels and supports TTL. It produces 2 stops more light than the pop-up flash. These seem to be all I need for now, so I am happy with my purchase. It's good for people taking casual shots of family or just starting out in photography. You can always buy a 430EX/580EX later and use this one as backup if you feel the need.
Reviewed by 102 customers
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Pros
- Easy To Use
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- General Use
- Photojournalism
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Does it's job, is a bit inconsistent in ETTL-II.
When it works right really good, when not, just so so. I use this for event photography and a supplimental on outdoor photography.
Flash recycles slower than one of my smaller canon flashes does. Battery door and latch are weak. It is very easy to accidentally bump the on-off switch betwen positions.
I use this with a Canon XS.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Just got this as a gift and it's very good flash for the price. Quick cycle, the head is very flexible on different angle, great coverage and easy to use settings. I would recomend this for newbie and amature. It's just little heavy. Just like a typical flash.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I like it. Good and Cheap
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
This is a great product for someone like me who is a total photography beginner. I was looking for a more natural look to low-light photos, and was able to achieve this with this flash. Feels a bit flimsy, but who could ask for more for the price.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Cheap construction
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Not rock solid, but it's [$]. No manual settings or adjustments but works just fine.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good price value
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Cheap plastic
- Coverage is not wide
- Inconsistent Output
- No diffuser lens
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
It is a replacement for my other flash (different brand) which died as soon as the warranty expired.
Battery compartment door need a big improvement, seems it is going to break when being closed.
Shoe mount is so flimsy.
The E-TTL is not compatible with Canon XSi.
Inconsistent output even the E-TTL light on when fired. Has not used many times yet, still have long to go to proof its durability.
It has good power but unfortunately it does not cover 18 mm wide angle lens even I had a diffuser lens installed (from my other flash)
I would give 4 stars if the E-TTL works every shot and 5 stars for better quality.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Bought this flash to use with my new Canon XS Rebel. They work great together. This flash has plenty of power, but not too much to cause the burn-out look. Whether I point this flash directly at my subject or bounce this flash (off ceiling/wall) all my photographs look good. If you can't bounce your flash and want to aim your flash directly at your subject, you can dial down flash exposure compensation in camera to control the amount of light from this flash in your exposure. I get great results from this flash!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Easy to use, light weight and fast recycling.Just what I needed.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
My camera is a Canon T2i. It is a great on camera flash. Even the TTL works great. Can't access all the camera menus for external flash. Can't imagine the expensive Canon Flashes providing any more than this flash. Kind of slow recycling. All things considered, I love this flash.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Works great for one person or two kids. For the money it is good.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Lack of instructions
Best Uses
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I bought this flash in order to have an easy and reliable external flash. So far it has not disappointed, although i found a lot of frustration in trying to figure out how to put the batteries in, since it is not clear by any diagrams or direction of the springs. Beyond that issue, the flash seems to work well, and works with some other flash accessories that I bought it for. I especially like being able to flash light off the ceiling and get more natural looking light.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Plastic plate makes it feel a bit flimsy but it does the job. The connection seems to be erratic occasionally. Still trying to figure out if it's a user problem or a flash problem. Otherwise, it's a good auto flash to be used with any SLR and much better than the inbuit flash. On fully charged batteries, it recycles within a second but progressively slows down as the battery drains (as expected).
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Great product for the price. It is a little top heavy and became confusing how to place the batteries in the correct way but other than that, it is very handy to have.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Lowcost
Cons
- Not versatile
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
For the money, an effective flash for someone like myself that is mostly an outdoor daylight photographer. does a an adequate job of filling in, but the room, lens and camera carry the burden of creating a good photo.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Night Photography
- Portraits
- Sweet 16's
- Weddings
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I have two of these. I use them off camera for portraits and for event photography such as weddings, sweet 16's, etc. I definitely recommend if you're on a budget and can't afford the higher end canon flashes. The only problem I have is it's slow recycle time. Sometimes it takes 10 or more seconds to get it back to full power. But hey, you can't beat the price and the quality for the money you get Compare...[$]...4-500 bucks. Definitely save up for the better flash, but if you need something now, affordable, definitely get this flash.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Definitely feels cheap and I wouldn't care if it took a good picture, barely takes an equal to on-board flash picture unless of course, I just don't get it.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Cheap
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Flimsy
Best Uses
- Bounce flash
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Use it for indoor low light bounce with a lightsphere. Does a MUCH MUCH better job than the built in flash. Quality is not as nice as the upper end flashes. Does not have a sold feel and some parts are wobbly. If you're not a heavy user and is careful with your equipment then it should be fine. Like the fact that it is compatible with my Canon T2i
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Price
Cons
- Bulky
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Got the flash for a new Cannon T2i. Working very well, ability to angle and swivel 270° is what I was looking for. Recharge rate is fine for normal shooting. Very professional looking and feeling flash unit without paying the Pro price. Flash is a little large, and a bit basic, but all in all a great value.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
A product that definitely worth the money for the amateur photograph. It is just a little bit too big, but not heavy at all. I played a little bit with it and you can clearly see the difference when compared to the camera flash.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Not Interchangeable
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
Comments about Bower SFD35C Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 112'/34 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I use this flash as a back up to another flash. I didn't want to spend a lot of money a flash I would only use occasionally.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Batteries & Power
Required item:
- Price: $1.23
-
- Original: $13.99
- Save: $1.40
- Price: $12.59
Flash Diffusers
-
- Original: $9.95
- Save: $2.30
- Price: $7.65
Reflectors
- Price: $29.95
Sync Cords & Flash Remotes
- Price: $14.99
What's in the Box
- 1-Year Warranty
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