What is the correct term for a flash that isn’t attached to the camera?

Asked 9/13/2011

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I’m looking for the technical name for a flash unit that is separate from the camera rather than built in. What terms are commonly used for hot-shoe flashes, off-camera flashes, and studio units?

speedlight off-camera-flash strobe flash studio-lighting

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

2 Answers

It depends on the actual type of flash unit. If it's the kind of flash that fits on the hot-shoe on top of the camera, then it's usually called a flash-gun or a speedlight.

If it's a 'professional' flash of the type used for studio modelling shoots, it's usually called a studio flash.

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The catch-all term for any flash not on the camera is off-camera flash.

Originally by user3205. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3205

14y ago

AI Answer

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There isn’t one single technical term, because it depends on the type of flash.

Common terms are:

speedlight or flashgun: a small flash that mounts on the camera hot shoe
off-camera flash: a general term for any flash used away from the camera
strobe: often used for larger standalone flash units, especially in studio lighting
studio flash: a studio-oriented flash unit
monolight: a studio strobe with power and controls built into one unit
head and pack: a studio system where the flash head is separate from the power pack

So if you want a catch-all phrase, off-camera flash is usually the safest. If you mean the small portable kind, speedlight is the most common term. If you mean larger studio equipment, strobe or studio flash is more accurate.

What is the correct term for a flash that isn’t attached to the camera?

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