Used flash maintain power/color temp?

gongman5000 · Feb 18, 2011

Thinking about buying a used flash (speedlite variety not studio flash) and was wondering if flashbulbs retain their power and color temperature over their lifetime or if this is something i need to consider.

John Koehrer · Feb 19, 2011

I doubt you need to worry about it. Amateur units haven't seen enough use over their lifetime to shift color. I doubt if most pro units have either.
Re: color, the plastic lens might shift color.
Power wise, more likely to have some power loss from the characteristics of the Main capacitor to age/degrade. Most likely from lack of use.

gongman5000 · Feb 19, 2011

good to know. sounds like used might be the way to go for me.

polyglot · Feb 19, 2011

Some cheaper older flashes (where they're using voltage control for power control instead of having a thyristor to cut off the exposure - we're talking several decades old here) have colour temp variations with power, but it's not something that gets worse with age.

Used flash maintain power/color temp?

gongman5000

John Koehrer

gongman5000

polyglot

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