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From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (GREEN)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: Dedicated Flash
Message-ID: <1172@mhuxi.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 3-Feb-84 09:21:47 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxi.1172
Posted: Fri Feb  3 09:21:47 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Feb-84 03:32:21 EST
References: <932@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 32

Path: ..floyd!mhuxi!dsg (David S. Green AT&T Bell Laboratories)
a
Before joining Bell Labs, I was the Manager of Planning at Berkey
Marketing Companies ( distributers of Konica, Sigma, Rollei, Nimslo
and other brands).  I acquired an in-depth knowledge of the marketing
practices of the photographic wholesale and retail distributors.  To 
say that they are unethical is an understatement.  In answer to your
questions :

1.  Dedicated means whatever the manufacturer wants it to mean for their
ad campaign.  Do not trust any definitions given by fan magazines;  their
main source of revenue is advertising, they will not bite the hand that 
feeds them.  Usually, dedicated is defined as a flash that fits the camera's
shoe and will automatically deliver somewhere near the right amount of light
in a "normal" environment.  In practice, it does not matter much where the
sensor is, either in the camera body or on the flash or an attachment.

2.  You can get a dedicated flash from either the camera's manufacturer,
in your case Canon, or from Sigma or Vivitar.  If you follow the 
instructions you will get acceptable results.  Unless you really know
what you are doing a tilt head can produce undesireable results, such as
color tint from non- 18 percent grey ceilings.

If I were you I would visit my local camera store and get either the
Canon flash for the AE-1 or a SIGMA/VIVITAR, whichever is cheaper.
I dont' think that you should spend any more than 75 to get what you
need.

David S. Green
AT&T Bell Laboratories
Short Hills, NJ
mhuxi!dsg