Brightness
The standard brightness of the on-camera light (see "Type"). Usually, most of these models have the ability to adjust the brightness, so the maximum value is given in the specifications.
When shooting at a short distance, devices that are too bright can “overexpose” the scene, degrading the quality of the shooting (and it can be much more difficult to compensate for excessive brightness in post-processing than the lack of light). So when choosing for this indicator, it is worth proceeding from the specific conditions of use.
Number of diodes
The number of light-emitting diodes (LED) provided in the on-camera light system (see "Type").
The abundance of LEDs allows you to achieve good brightness at a relatively low cost of the entire device — there are many light sources themselves, but they are relatively cheap. However, these models can be inconvenient to carry on camera and work in tight spaces. In turn, compact lamps with a small number of LEDs are more convenient, portable and "manoeuvrable", however, they are either inferior to more "multiply charged" models in terms of brightness, or are noticeably more expensive.
Illumination angle
The angle of illumination provided by the on-camera light source (see "Type").
A large illumination angle, on the one hand, allows you to simultaneously cover a larger area, which is especially important when shooting long shots (at short focal lengths). On the other hand, to achieve sufficient brightness, this requires a large power of light sources, which accordingly affects the price and power consumption of the device. A small coverage angle, in turn, gives a small spot size of the light, but it allows you to achieve good brightness at a relatively low power.
Diffuser color
The color of the diffuser included with the on-camera light source. The color can be:
orange,
white,
pink or
yellow.
A diffuser is a special filter designed to scatter light from individual LEDs, and in some cases, to give it a certain color and change the color temperature.
Mains power
The ability to power the device from a 230 V network, in other words, a regular household outlet.
This option is used solely as an addition to an autonomous power source — batteries or an accumulator; purely "network" devices are not available today. It expands the connectivity options and can significantly increase the battery life of the flash: if there is an outlet nearby, the device can be powered from it, thus saving battery power. In addition, this connection can also be used to charge the built-in battery, including right at work.
Note that the described advantages are relevant mainly for powerful light sources with high power consumption. At the same time, flashes with a traditional flash format consume relatively little energy, and it is quite possible to get by with replaceable batteries. Therefore, the vast majority of
mains powered models are on-camera light sources (see "Type"). In this regard, it is also worth noting that many of these lamps, especially large and powerful ones, can also be used on a tripod as stationary sources of illumination; in such cases, plug-in power is often the perfect option.
Screen
The flash has its own built-in
display. This feature greatly simplifies management and even provides a number of additional features. Various service information can be displayed on the display — from a simple display of various parameters (pulse duration, scattering angles, etc.) and ending with data from special calculators that provide the calculation of optimal shooting parameters.
Screen backlight
The flash display (see above) has its own
backlight. Thanks to this function, information on the display will be visible even in complete darkness. Note that the backlight consumes battery power, which accordingly affects battery life.
