Buying my first flashgun.

CaveDweller

CaveDweller

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,946
Name
Paul
Edit My Images
Yes
Any advice on what to look out for with buying my first flashgun would be much appreciated:thumbs: I'm not looking to spend a fortune, just something to start me off that will do the job with some adjustability for practicing with. It's for a Canon 550d, it's my first DSLR and only had it about a week. To be honest I will mostly be using it off the camera with an adapter I was told to get off Ebay. It's mainly for creative photography I want it for, really want to get into it more now that I am getting better equipment :)

Cheers.
 
Last edited:
Yongnuo 560 III, and a set of yongnuo rf603 wireless triggers is a nice cheap setup
 
Cheers. I came across those Yonguo ones when I first searched for one but wasn't sure about it since having no knowledge about flashguns or speedlights, whatever they are called lol

The 560 III you mention, on the adverts it says "The major upgraded for YN-560 III is that it comes with RF-602 and RF-603 2.4G compatible radio receivers built-in to the unit, which means you can use YN-560 III as a receiver off camera"...Does this mean I won't have to buy a separate transmitter and receiver to use it off the camera? A stupid question since it does say in the ad but just want to make sure before I commit:thumbs:

Cheers.
 
It means you would need a RF-602/3 to fire the flash. go for the 603 as it can be either. you would get just 1 to fire it.
 
I'm waiting for delivery of just this set up, Yongnuo 560 III and set of RF 603 triggers. I'll let you know what I think of them when they arrive.
 
Well my flash and triggers arrived yesterday. Not got round to using the to take any pictures yet but everything works out of the box, the instructions are just about comprehensible, and I've got it all to sync, so looking good so far. Ukcyberboy is right, just need the one 603 if you are buying the yongnuo III as it has a built in receiver (I didn't trust this so ordered two anyway, still at least I'm set up for my next speedlite!)
 
Well, at least with 2 triggers you should now have a wireless shutter release as well.
 
Ivan S said:
Well, at least with 2 triggers you should now have a wireless shutter release as well.
Click to expand...

How do you do that? I saw a thread somewhere that talked about this but couldn't figure out how it was done. I was going to go for an RC-6 copy off Amazon for a couple of quid....
 
Well my Yongnuo III arrived this week and I did my first test home studio shoot yesterday (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=489616).

It has loads and loads of buttons and features I do not understand but was easy to put in Manual, change power and sync with my camera. If you are going the Yongnuo route I would recommend the III over the II purely on the built in receiver, saves having to buy and mount a separate receiver.

It is quite big, I haven't tried it on camera yet but I imagine it will make the package pretty bulky/heavy, might invest in a smaller one for when I am out and about.

Recycle time is a little slow for taking lots of baby shots in quick succession, I had to delete a lot of black shots where I took another photo too soon. I don't think this is a Yongnuo issue, rather a Speedlite issue and one of th disadvantages of using Speedlites over Studio lights, but weighing up price and portability I am very happy with my choice.

Best thing of course if the price, I paid around £55 for this flash, the equivalent Canon (580) is over £300. Wow!
 
I love the first one in the set very nice, move a way from background.
If you were on full or half power try using a wider aperture or up the iso slightly, that would enable you to use a lower power setting and faster recycle times.
If you got the correct cable for your camera, don't know the model well, you should be able to change change channel under the batteries. Set a pair on a different channel plug in and that should fire the shutter. which would then fire the one on top which will fire the flash.
good luck

Simon
 
Thanks Simon, did not think about a wider aperture to reduce power usage on the flash, I did not realise that would improve recycle times so thanks for the tip.

Will definitely take the next set a bit further away from the background to avoid visible creases etc.

I have a cable, whether it is the right one only testing will tell! I'll give it a go and see what happens.
 
A wider aperture would allow less light so as they are manual start at 1/4 on f5.6 then work from there. Just remember the depth of field will be shallower the closer you are etc.
Check here to see what I mean, http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html.

Simon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top