Automatic exposure strobe recommendations

[bluechromis]

I have been frustrated trying to use a Canon 380 EX TTL strobe on a stand with a flash trigger because it shuts itself down after ninety seconds. I have to constantly go over to it to wake it up. So I'm looking for a replacement. It doesn't have to be TLL, automatic exposure is fine. It would be used on a stand for portraits and also handheld for events. It has to have a movable head. I have heard good things about the last non-TTL automatic flash Nikon made, but I can't remember what model it is. I have also heard good things about Metz strobes.

 

[xkaes]

There are a ton of great flashes out there, but a lot depends on what camera(s) you are using. I use Vivitar & Minolta flashes on different cameras for different reasons -- some TTL & some not, some with cables & some as off-camera slaves.

 

[wiltw]

Look at the used market for flash units made in prior decades...all too many flash units made today are designed without a built-in photosensor for flash automation not dependent upon camera nTTL!
I can heartily recommend Metz flash units (Metz now no longer makes flash units, due to the modern consumer driven by low cost appeal of flash units made in China). The Metz flash units, designed to be SCA-300 and SCA-3000 compatible, can be paired with appropriate modules to make them compatible with many different camera manufacturers' flash automatioon. For example, I can use my Metz 45 flash units to be compatible with my Olympus film camera TTL, with Bronica ETRSi TTL, and with Canon dSLR, simply by using the appropriate SCA module; and I used it decades ago mounted on lightstand for off-camera flash automation when covering events/weddings paired with another Metz on camera controlled by Bronica TTL exposure automation.
My Metz 58MZ (which has timer-controlled auto shutdown) allows me to turn off the auto powerdown. A higher-end Canon flash likely has that capability, while your 380EX does not.