Compact Flashgun for Travelling

[Niloticus1]

Hi,

I'm not a heavy user of flash as most of my pictures are taken in daylight in the tropics. I'm also the first to admit that I'm not an expert on using flash.....

The last time I needed a flashgun it had been left at home and I had really poor results.

I have a 580EX II but I'm getting a bag ready for travelling and I'm keen to get a smaller lighter flashgun for emergency use only.

Which would be the better option for the 7D, the 220EX or the 270EX? I'm not sure how desirable the AF Assist of the 220 is?

Any alternative suggestions? I've heard that some of the Sunpak models have compatibility issues.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Andy]

If I was you I would keep the 580ex ii. Yeah it may be big but if I owned one I would make it fit into my bag. Have you ever thought about flash diffusing your on board flash which could save you a few pennys.

 

[Niloticus1]

If I was you I would keep the 580ex ii. Yeah it may be big but if I owned one I would make it fit into my bag. Have you ever thought about flash diffusing your on board flash which could save you a few pennys.

Hi Andy,

Please bear with me as I've never really used flash in anger...... The reason I'm against the on board flash are the horrible results I got last time when using a large lens (24-70 2.8 on an eos5 film body). Some of the shots looked as though the light had been blocked by the lens.

I might take the 580 but I'm really trying to minimalise my kit and I'm not sure I can justify a big beastie that may not be used.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Andy]

On board flash is very harsh light because its small and isn't diffused. When you take a diffuser it makes the light bigger and softer so its not harsh light.

Heres a type of diffuser that FITP sells.

 

[Kanine]

If you want something small and light and aren't intending on bouncing it/off camera flash, then it'd be almost pointless to use anything but the built in (unless u have some massively wide lens, in which case the external flash prob. wouldn't be able to fare much better either!)

 

[desantnik]

If you've never really used or understood your 580EXII then leave it at home. You are more likely to waste your holiday mucking around with it than anything else.

If you haven't got the hang of that, then the other smaller ones aren't going to do you any favours either.

Perhaps stick to daylight/ambient light photography this time and sit down and work out the flash when you get back. Your 7D has enough high ISO punch to do plenty of ambient light stuff. Providing your holiday isn't shooting black bears in a coal mine, you should be ok.