www.scantips.

com Basics of Flash

Photography
When Shopping, Comparing Speedlight Flash
Power Rating using Guide Numbers
There is another section about using Guide Number, but for here,
Guide Number is the specification of the flashes power capability for
a given situation, like for each speedlight zoom setting. The purpose
and advantage of Guide Number is to make the inverse square law
be trivial to compute exposure for unmodified direct flash. Guide
Number simply is the multiplied product of (flash distance x f/stop)
for a proper exposure situation (normally specified for ISO 100). For
example, if a certain Guide Number were equal to 100 (feet), then it
says a correct direct flash exposure is f/20 at 5 feet, or f/5 at 20 feet,
or f/10 at 10 feet, etc. Any such combinations are a correct exposure,
which takes into account the Inverse Square Law. Guide Number is
also how power rating for a speedlight is specified, however, we have
to pay attention to the zoom situation too, to know what it means.

The Guide Number may be in feet or meters - we can use either so

long as we are consistent. There are 3.28 feet in one meter, so GN
(feet) is always 3.28x GN (meters). Note that flashes for European or
Asian markets probably routinely specify GN in meters, so if they say
a low number like 30, it probably means 30 x 3.28 = 98 (feet) for
American markets. Units should be specified, but not always are.

Equivalence of actual flash power and Guide Number cannot be

computed - there is no equivalence of watt seconds of energy and
Guide Number. There is an efficiency factor in converting electrical

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 1 of 10
 power to lumens of light (flash is higher efficiency, comparable to
fluorescent, significantly higher than incandescent). Guide Number
is about the meterable light, which largely depends on the modifier
distribution angle anyway (zoom, or reflector, etc, depends on how
much area the light must fill?) But Guide Number is representative of
relative flash power, and in some cases, we can "compare" flash
power by using Guide Number.

If you are going to compare power of flashes by their Guide Number,

then you have to know this tricky part (many terrible errors are made
by not understanding this part). We cannot just compare any two
Guide Numbers. This comparison is only valid for the same flash
situation, specifically, for the same reflector and same angle of
coverage (same zoom for speedlights). If a wider reflector or wider
zoom distributes the same "power" over larger area, then the
metered "intensity" goes down at any point inside that large area. Or
concentrate the same power into a more narrow beam, and the
metered intensity goes up, inside that narrow beam. That increase is
not more power, it is the same flash and the same power, but just not
doing the same job. The "power per unit area" times the coverage
"area" is the same flash power level. Speedlights have many Guide
Numbers, one for each zoom angle. We should know which one are
we comparing. We can only compare like things, but not apples and
oranges.

The Guide Number (GN) is as much or more about the reflector

coverage angle as about the power level.

If the GN of one flash is specified as GN 180, but its narrow zoom

coverage angle is concentrating all the power to only illuminate a
small spot on the wall, and another flash specifies GN 90, but its
wide reflector is illuminating the entire wall, then we don't know

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 2 of 10
 much. We do know the first may meter brighter in its small area, but
this second unit may have the highest power level, and may be
brighter if its power were similarly concentrated into the small spot
too. Wide angular coverage requires a lot of power (illumination per
unit of area). GN is the illumination at one point, inside whatever
area, but we can only compare "power" when the flashes are doing
similar work, with similar coverages (using same zoom angle). Then
compare the guide numbers.

Speedlights that zoom have a GN chart in their user manual, of

many different Guide Numbers, a different GN for each zoom
setting (angle of coverage), and for each power level. A larger GN if
the flash head is zoomed in tight, or a smaller GN if zoomed out
wide. This published GN is always speaking of unmodified direct
flash, and usually for ISO 100 by convention. Any different ISO, or
different power level setting, or zoom angle, or bounce or umbrella
or any other modifier will change it to be a new situation, when any
old guide number is no longer applicable. Any such speedlight that
only advertises a Guide Number for maximum zoom probably does
not have much to brag about at lesser zooms. We need to see that
chart to know much.

Compare Flash Powers by Computing Difference in

Guide Numbers

Here is a calculator to compare two flash Guide Numbers (at same

zoom coverage), to show the relative number of stops power
difference these Guide Numbers represent.

To have any meaning, any two Guide Number ratings to be

compared must be:

If the flash zooms, these GN must be specified for the same

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 3 of 10
 zoom or same reflector angle of coverage. Guide Number
increases as the flash is zoomed to concentrate the power into
a smaller brighter area (but the flash power remains the same).
GN for the same ISO value (typically specified at ISO 100 for
ratings, but it should say).
GN for the same power level value (full power is typically
assumed for ratings).
If a flash does not have zoom capability, then it has only one
guide number (and can do only one thing), which then can of
course be compared to other flashes.

It used to be that flashes that zoom agreed to advertise guide

numbers for a standard 35 mm zoom, which was considered to be a
typical useful working value, certainly conceivable. The power was
comparable that way. It was about full frame views, but most
Japanese flashes still do this.

But today, some marketing (especially Chinese flashes) advertise

their maximum 105 mm zoom guide number, simply because that is
a larger number that looks better than others, regardless that we
rarely use flash at 105 mm zoom. I have seen one Chinese manual
that simply advantageously had the wrong chart in it.

Today, to know very much about ratings, we need to look at the

guide number chart in the user manual (sometimes online). The
calculator to compare power can be useful when shopping for a
flash.

If one GN is rated for ISO 200, then dividing the number by 1.414 will
give the ISO 100 equivalent.

Guide Numbers can only be compared if both are at the same flash
zoom settings (unless it cannot zoom).

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 4 of 10
 The 39 / 98 default GN values below represent the Nikon DSLR
internal flash and a typical full size hot shoe flash, both at 24 mm full
frame coverage.

Enter two Guide Number values to compare. Use either Feet or

Meters, but be consistent.

The simple rule is this: Guide Number = distance x fstop Number.

Therefore, double GN is double distance or double fstop Number

(which is 2 stops of exposure).

So comparing as f/stops works too. If we assume these default

values of GN 39 and GN 98 are both at ten feet (and at same zoom
and same ISO), then these exposures are f/3.9 and f/9.8, which
compare at the same 2.66 EV. Or in this case, the nearest thirds of
f/4 and f/10 is also 2.67 EV.

The GN of multiple equal flashes ganged in combination acting as

one (see that calculator), is (GN of one) times the square root of
(number of flashes).

Did I mention that GN comparisons are only meaningful at the same

zoom, the same angle of light coverage?

Comparing Speedlight Power using the "Same Zoom at

Ten Feet" method

You can compare different brands/models of flashes with the

calculator, or with the "Same Zoom at Ten Feet" method.

If the Guide Numbers are for the SAME ISO and the SAME flash
zoom, we can easily compare speedlight maximum power levels by
assuming the same arbitrary flash distance to get an aperture from

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 5 of 10
 GN. Any distance, but dividing by ten feet is easy (or 3 meters is
easy). If GN is 95, then at 10 feet, f/stop would be f/f9.5. The purpose
is to get an aperture number to be able to understand the power
difference in stops, of the different flash models (at the same ISO
and same Zoom coverage). Then comparing apertures, if the f/stop
is one stop higher number, that is double power. Or, if the f/stop
NUMBER itself is double, that is two stops, and 4x more power. The
meaning of two stops more power is that you can use f/8 instead of
f/4, or can use ISO 200 instead of ISO 800, or can have twice the
distance range. One stop = 2x, two stops = 4x, three stops = 8x, four
stops = 16x more power.

So maybe consider two flashes, with guide numbers of 50 and 80

(feet). Assuming ten feet, and both at the same zoom value, they
compare as f/5 and f/8, which is 1.356 EV, or about 1 1/3 stops
exposure difference. Or if GN is meters, you could use 3 or 10
meters. Equivalents at 10 meters are same f/5 and f/8, still the same
1 1/3 stops.

Compare Flash Power of Nikon CLS iTTL Flash Models

The Nikon guide number charts in the user manuals show these
specifications. Guide Numbers allow these simplifications to
compare exposures (here, for GN / 10 feet, and GN / f8), at full power
level, same zoom and same ISO. These are two arbitrary situations,
which could be real, and then we better know how to compare power
of two flashes as aperture or feet. These GN numbers are for feet
(simply divide GN and distance values by 3.28 for meters. 10 feet is
3.05 meters.)

More words, but to spell it out specifically, the first chart shows at
ISO 100 and 24 mm zoom, the DSLR internal flash at maximum

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 6 of 10
 power has to use f/4.2 to expose a subject at 10 feet fully and
properly (direct flash). Whereas if with a SB-700, DX would stop
down to f/9.2 to do the same exposure at 10 feet. This is the
definition and usage of the published Guide Number. So f/9.2 is a bit
more than double the f/4.2 number, so this is more than two stops,
and more than 4x more power. Or, the chart also shows the internal
flash distance for exposure at f/8 is 5.2 feet, but the distance is 11.5
feet for a SB-700 DX (both at maximum power, maximum range at
f/8 for full exposure). This is a little more than twice as far, again
meaning more than 2 stops and more than 4x power.

The Difference column compares flash models all relative to the

camera internal flash. For example, the first 24 mm chart shows
SB-700 DX GN is mathematically 2.26 stops more power, which is
4.8x more power and light, than the camera internal flash. The
calculator above can compute these things. Typically, most external
speedlights at 1/4 power easily match the internal flash, plus they
can zoom to do much more, and tilt for bounce too, and can be used
off camera, etc, etc.

At 24 mm zoom and ISO 100

Difference from 24
Guide Number Internal flash mm
Nikon Aperture Distance
(Feet) zoom
Flash Model at 10 ft at f/8
ISO 100 Stops Intensity
Notes
SB-800 (FX) GN 98 f/9.8 12.2 feet 2.44 5.4x
SB-910 DX GN 111.5 f/11.1 13.9 feet 2.82 7.0x
SB-910 FX GN 88.6 f/8.9 11.0 feet 2.15 4.5x
SB-900 DX GN 111 f/11.1 13.9 feet 2.80 7.0x
SB-900 FX GN 88.6 f/8.9 11.0 feet 2.15 4.5x
SB-5000 DX GN 111.5 f/11.1 13.9 feet 2.82 7.0x

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 7 of 10
 SB-5000 FX GN 88.6 f/8.9 11.0 feet 2.15 4.5x
SB-600 (FX) GN 85.3 f/8.5 10.7 feet 2.04 4.1x
SB-700 DX GN 91.9 f/9.2 11.5 feet 2.26 4.8x
SB-700 FX GN 75.5 f/7.5 9.4 feet 1.69 3.2x
no
SB-500 GN 78.7 f/7.9 9.8 feet 1.81 3.5x
zoom
no
SB-400 GN 69 f/6.9 8.6 feet 1.43 2.7x
zoom
no
SB-300 GN 59 f/5.9 7.4 feet 0.98 2.0x
zoom
no
DSLR internal GN 42 f/4.2 5.2 feet 0 -
zoom
no
SB-R200 GN 33 f/3.3 4.1 feet -0.7 0.6x
zoom
At 50 mm zoom and ISO 100
(same flash power concentrated into a smaller area, brighter intensity)

Guide Number Difference from 50 mm

Nikon Aperture Distance Internal flash zoom
(Feet)
Flash Model at 10 ft at f/8
ISO 100 Stops Intensity Notes
SB-800 (FX) GN 144 f/14.4 18 feet 3.56 11.8x
SB-910 DX GN 147.6 f/14.8 18.4 feet 3.63 12.4
SB-910 FX GN 131.2 f/13.1 16.4 feet 3.29 9.8x
SB-900 DX GN 150.9 f/15.1 18.9 feet 3.69 12.9x
SB-900 FX GN 131.2 f/13.1 16.4 feet 3.29 9.8x
SB-5000 DX GN 148 f/14.8 18.5 feet 3.63 12.4x
SB-5000 FX GN 131 f/13.1 16.4 feet 3.28 9.7x
SB-600 (FX) GN 118 f/11.8 14.7 feet 2.98 7.9x
SB-700 DX GN 113 f/11.3 14.1 feet 2.86 7.2x
SB-700 FX GN 102 f/10.2 12.7 feet 2.56 5.9x
SB-500 GN 78.7 f/7.9 9.8 feet 1.81 3.5x no zoom

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 8 of 10
 SB-400 GN 69 f/6.9 8.6 feet 1.43 2.7x no zoom
SB-300 GN 59 f/5.9 7.4 feet 0.98 2.0x no zoom
DSLR internal GN 42 f/4.2 5.2 feet 0 - no zoom
SB-R200 GN 33 f/3.3 4.1 feet -0.7 0.6x no zoom
At 105 mm zoom and ISO 100
(GN is definitely also about the reflector and zoom)

Guide Number Difference from 105 mm z

Nikon Aperture Distance Internal flash
(Feet)
Flash Model at 10 ft at f/8 Notes
ISO 100 Stops Intensity
SB-800 (FX) GN 184 f/18.4 23 feet 4.26 19.2x 105mm m
SB-910 DX GN 169 f/16.9 21.1 feet 4.02 16.2x GN 177.2 a
GN 173.9 a
SB-910 FX GN 160.8 f/16.1 20.1 feet 3.87 14.7x
200mm
SB-900 DX GN 172 f/17.2 21.5 feet 4.07 16.8x GN 187 at
20.2 GN 183.7
SB-900 FX GN 162 f/16.2 3.90 14.9x
feet 200mm
SB-5000 DX GN 169 f/16.9 21.1 feet 4.02 16.2x GN 177 at
SB-5000 FX GN 161 f/16.1 20.1 feet 3.83 14.7x GN 174 at
SB-600 (FX) GN 131 f/13.1 16.4 feet 3.28 9.7x 85mm ma
SB-700 DX GN 124.7 f/12.5 15.6 feet 3.15 8.8x 85mm ma
SB-700 FX GN 121 f/12.1 15.1 feet 3.05 8.3x GN 124.7
SB-500 GN 78.7 f/7.9 9.8 feet 1.81 3.5x no zoom
SB-400 GN 69 f/6.9 8.6 feet 1.43 2.7x no zoom
SB-300 GN 59 f/5.9 7.4 feet 0.98 2.0x no zoom
DSLR internal GN 42 f/4.2 5.2 feet 0 - no zoom
SB-R200 GN 33 f/3.3 4.1 feet -0.7 0.6x no zoom

The Glory of Zoom! :) This seems a lot to know from simple division.
This is the meaning of Guide Number. GN applies to direct flash, and

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 9 of 10
 it is as much about the reflector coverage angle as the power, but
the published ratings are also representative of the flash power
capability (if compared correctly, at the same zoom level).

Menu of the other Photo and Flash pages here

Copyright © 2012-2017 by Wayne Fulton - All rights are reserved.

http://www.scantips.com/lights/flashpower.html 2017/08/30, 16=20

Page 10 of 10