Nissin i40

Fed up with the feeble power of built-in flash? Check out this compact but powerful alternative

The i40 is Nissin’s latest hotshoe flash, but don’t let its small size deceive you. With a large guide number (GN40 – 105mm – at ISO100) ensuring plenty of power, this hotshoe flash is going to have wide appeal among photographers wanting a lightweight and compact flash for everyday use.

The main body of the unit is only just larger than the four AA batteries it is built to contain, with notable features such as a video lamp gracing the front and two dials positioned on the back. Unlike most flash units currently on the market, the Nissin i40 has no LCD screen (which is no bad thing), so mode and flash compensation adjustments are made directly through these dials.

The head is equally compact; rotating through a full 0 to 180 degrees in both directions, which is unusual; when it comes to tilt it can be angled upwards at 90 degrees, giving plenty of flexibility when directing the light. There’s a built-in bounce card and diffuser that slot into the head, and a clip-on softbox and stand are included in the supplied soft case.

In use the i40 performs well, with the direct access to flash compensation making power adjustment quick and intuitive, especially when using the flash on a Nikon D600 in TTL mode. Switching the flash to wireless and setting the camera to Commander mode gives you direct control over the its power – this gives you the same control over the i40 as you’d expect to get with one of Nikon’s own flash units.

The i40’s small size, direct access controls and complete compatibility with the Nikon’s native flash system make it an excellent hotshoe flash option. The price is a little steep, but really for features, quality and size there is little not to like.