Nissin i60A flashgun at a glance:

  • Guide Number 60m @ ISO 100 at 200mm
  • Wireless flash control
  • Available for Sony, Fujifilm and Micro Four Thirds
  • Price: Around £240
  • Website: www.nissindigital.com

Increased power and wireless connectivity are the two hallmarks of Nissin’s new i60A flashgun. This diminutive flash builds on the popularity among compact system camera users of the i40 flash, but adds some great new features.

Top of the specification list, and what gives the flash its name, is a guide number of 60m @ ISO 100 (at 200mm). That’s a good amount of power for such a small flash, and while it won’t allow you
to light up huge venues from great distances, for social and smaller events it’s more than adequate. It also has enough power to use as a fill-in flash on a bright day.

However, the Nissin i60A isn’t all about power – its main selling point is its wireless functionality, thanks to the built-in Air System. This is a 2.4GHz radio frequency that can control up to three other groups of compatible Nissin flashguns. Currently, the i60A and Di700A are compatible, while other Nissin flashguns require the Nissin Air R receiver.

Output of the i60A can be adjusted from 1/1 to 1/256 power, and there’s a high-speed sync mode that permits shutter speeds of up to 1/8000sec. A built-in bounce card and a plastic diffuser are included to help shape the light a little, and there is a built-in LED light to help see at night or to use as a fill-in for shooting video.

Nissin i60A flashgun – key features

Focal-length coverage

The flash covers a focal range of 24-200mm.

Recycling time

Recycling time is quoted as being 0.1-5.5secs. This is reduced to 1.6secs at full power when using the Nissin battery packs, or 3.8secs when using the Sony.

Bounce head

The flash head can tilt through 90° and rotate a full 360° left or right.

External power

The Nissin PSB, PS300 and Sony FA-EB1AM battery packs can provide external power.

Nissin i60A flashgun – our verdict

Powerful for its size and simple to use, the Nissin i60A is a great little flash that will be sure to capture the attention of many compact system camera users. We tested it on a Sony Alpha 7R and found it to be a great combination that produced good exposures. It’s certainly one to add to this year’s Christmas list.

SCORE: 5 out of 5

Slave flash

If you have already invested in Sony’s own flash system, you need not worry. The Nissin i60A can be used as a slave flash in two different modes. The first of these is Slave Digital (SD), which works with Sony’s own pre-flash TTL system. The other mode is Slave Film (SF), which is a simple reactionary slave system with the user setting the power output