First on (and off) camera flash

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irelanst

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Steve
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I’m putting together a shopping list for a first flash and accessories so would appreciate some input. Budget is around the €300 mark.

It will mainly be used for candid shots so I have thought that TTL metering would be useful, so for the ‘on camera’ flash I have penciled in the Nissin Di622 Mk2 which can be had locally for €130

I would also like to get the flash off the camera where possible so have budgeted for a cheap stand / umbrella swivel and a 32” Wescott (black and white removable cover version) which comes to €70

That leaves me with €100 to play with and a few options;

I would only be able to fire the Di622 remotely using the pop-up (I don’t want to have wires all over). I don’t really have a feel for how the pop-up would affect the image, even when compensation is set to the minimum. I guess the advantage of using the pop-up is it may provide some fill? Any advice here would be most welcome.

Or I could get radio triggers (e.g. Cactus V4 - €40)

I like the idea and flexibility of another flash so have been thinking about a YN460Mk2 which can be bought locally for €50, If I don’t get the triggers then I could maybe get the YN560 which is €30 more. To be honest I would probably get the 560 anyway if the reasons to ‘upgrade’ are compelling enough.

Any advice is gratefully received.

Cheers - Steve
 
None of those guns does high speed sync. Not that matters for studio work, but if you want to use it for fill-flash outdoors you will find it extremely useful. Canon 430EX and Metz 50-AF-1 are the cheapest I think with that feature.

You will probably have sync problems with that set up. You can't disable the pre-flash from the 550D's pop-up (used for exposure metering) and that triggers optical slaves too early. One of the Yongnuo guns has an S2 slave mode which ignores the pre-flash, but I don't know how successful it is.

Most reliable way is to use radio triggers - Yongnuo RF-602 is good. Cactus V5 is also getting good rep.
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply Hoppy. High Speed Sync is something which I hadn't really considered, but looking at some pictures I took on Saturday when it was bright and clear, some fill would have been very beneficial and all had faster shutter speeds than the sync speed of my cam.

I think it makes sense to look at the Metz or 430EX. I don't want to buy something now and regret it in a few weeks. I can probably get a stand, brolly and radio triggers to do some off camera stuff without going too far over budget.

Cheers again - Steve
 
irelanst said:
Thanks for taking the time to reply Hoppy. High Speed Sync is something which I hadn't really considered, but looking at some pictures I took on Saturday when it was bright and clear, some fill would have been very beneficial and all had faster shutter speeds than the sync speed of my cam.

I think it makes sense to look at the Metz or 430EX. I don't want to buy something now and regret it in a few weeks. I can probably get a stand, brolly and radio triggers to do some off camera stuff without going too far over budget.

Cheers again - Steve
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You're welcome bud :)

I think that's the best way - get one really good gun, that does high speed sync. Also consider the top end models which in addition do remote mastering in E-TTL, perhaps with the future in mind, but that will push your budget. You will find the extra power and features very useful for all sorts of things.

Then add cheap manual Yongnuo guns for studio work to make up the numbers you need. Hook them up with radio triggers and they'll all play together happily.
 
I agree with Richard, i faced this a couple of years ago, but i listened to advice and bought the canon 430 flashgun, it is dedicated to the camera, so it is efficent. You can then build up as you can afford it. There is nothing worse than going the other route and regretting it in a couple of weeks. I would go for a Canon gun and RF 602 triggers, they are well worth the money. I have the umbrella you are speaking about, one little niggle is when you want to shoot through and remove the outer black cover its fidly at the top to remove, other than that its fine. If i was buying again i think i would just get a white shoot through.
 
Just a quick update, I did too and fro a lot and very nearly bought the Metz 50AF-1 or a Nissin Di866 but I eventually bought a 430EXII and am very pleased with it. ETTL is amazing - dial in pretty much any shutter speed and apperture and it gives you a half decent exposure! that's not to say everything is always perfect though obviously and I've made a few mistakes especially when the camera and flash are in manual.

I got some Cactus triggers so have been playing around with off camera as well especially for macro type shots which seems to be the way forward.

The next purchase will be a cheap manual flash (probably a YN560) to give more lighting options. A 580EX would be nice, but I'd be sleeping on the couch for the next year If I bought anything major soon.

Thanks for all the advise gents - Cheers, Steve
 
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