Flash for a beginner

Lornamower

Lornamower

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Lorna
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Hey, well I've been considering getting a flash for quite a while now, I've never really played with one before, so just to see if its the kinda thing I want to use really. Therefore my budget is about £50-£75.

As I'm not 100% sure its the kinda thing I want ive been looking at some flashes, and this is the one i always come back to (but hey what do I know), http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330692417401?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619#ht_3615wt_1397

Would this be a good flash for me to start out with? or are the any others in this kind of price range that would be better for me? And are there any other features which are really good to have that this one doesn't :)

Ideally id like to start shooting some portraits, and also macro, so maybe the use of an o-ring?

Sorry there are so many questions, but id be really gratefull of any advice :)

Thanks Lorna
 
Hi Lorna, these are great flashes to start you off!
My advice is to buy the yongnuo remote triggers so you can get the flask off camera on a stand with an umbrella.
Check out my pinterest board for my 'flash on a budget' board. Www.pinterest.com/stevenuth

I have one of these and a Nikon sb800 an I mostly end up using the yongnuo for its simplicity
 
I'll second that too, I started out with a Jessops flash & a reflective/shoot through umbrella with a set of Yongnuo triggers.
 
Don't forget that the flash you've linked to is fully manual - it looks like there is no TTL mode.

However, i've got the 565 (ttl version) of that flash and think it's great - some people have had negative stories but I think it's pot luck.
 
Lorna I just ordered 2 of those flash guns last night :)

Should have a good fool around with the lighting when they come, and see how I get on
 
Lornamower said:
How would having TTL benefit me?

Becuase ive looked at the 565EX and on ebay some of them say it doesnt have the ttl function and some on amazon say it does :bang:

Thanks :) Lorna
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TTL flashes calculate the flash exposure automaticly non TTL you have to set the flash yourself.
 
Lornamower said:
How would having TTL benefit me?

Becuase ive looked at the 565EX and on ebay some of them say it doesnt have the ttl function and some on amazon say it does :bang:

Thanks :) Lorna
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You definitely want E-TTL. Flash is very sensitive to distance, and also to the surroundings. Without E-TTL you will be very slow calculating exposures, and will inevitably get it wrong quite often.

Manual guns are really for multi-flash strobist set-ups, with guns mostly static on stands.
 
No bother!

They haven't come yet, if Royal Fail have anything to do with it I should have them by Christmas :thumbs:
 
Lorna have you looked at the Nissin flash ?
 
Scout n' About said:
No bother!

They haven't come yet, if Royal Fail have anything to do with it I should have them by Christmas :thumbs:
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They do seem to have been really slow recently :( not good. But as its taken me so long to reply...have they arrived yet?

Hi John, yeah I did look at the nissin, but I quite like the strobe feature on the 565ex. Im just SOO confused, there doesn't seem to be a site that sets it all out to tell me what each bit does on a flash (or there is but i cant find it :cuckoo:). Have you any experience of the nissin flashes, are they something that you would recommend? I really want something that is simple to use, but I can also do a bit more advanced stuff with it if I wanted to in the future.

Thanks Lorna
 
Well I bought a nissin di622 ages ago and I love it, use it all the time for my weddings. It works great with my camera (Nikon D90) and it will use the TTL function to talk with the camera.

I also recently got a Yongnu flash, think its a 560. Not used it much yet but it seems to be well built and good spec but its manual. Got it to use as off camera flash
 
Lornamower said:
They do seem to have been really slow recently :( not good. But as its taken me so long to reply...have they arrived yet?

Hi John, yeah I did look at the nissin, but I quite like the strobe feature on the 565ex. Im just SOO confused, there doesn't seem to be a site that sets it all out to tell me what each bit does on a flash (or there is but i cant find it :cuckoo:). Have you any experience of the nissin flashes, are they something that you would recommend? I really want something that is simple to use, but I can also do a bit more advanced stuff with it if I wanted to in the future.

Thanks Lorna
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Nope not yet - they are on route from Hong Kong too so I'll try and be patient :)

Although I can't wait to get them, have a day off and play around with them and "teach myself" how to use them!
Then grab a few friends of mine who are asking me about "creative portraits" and see how I get on from there :thumbs:
 
Lornamower said:
They do seem to have been really slow recently :( not good. But as its taken me so long to reply...have they arrived yet?

Hi John, yeah I did look at the nissin, but I quite like the strobe feature on the 565ex. Im just SOO confused, there doesn't seem to be a site that sets it all out to tell me what each bit does on a flash (or there is but i cant find it :cuckoo:). Have you any experience of the nissin flashes, are they something that you would recommend? I really want something that is simple to use, but I can also do a bit more advanced stuff with it if I wanted to in the future.

Thanks Lorna
Click to expand...

www.speedlights.net ?
 
Excellent choice. I'm sorry I didn't get the 565 instead of the 560 now...
 
Hey there, sorry for slightly hi jacking your thread. I hope you're getting along well with the flash.

I'm slightly confused here, I've been looking at the Nikon SB600 which can be had for around £135-£150 used. Then I stumble across this thread regarded the Youngnou flashes?

Can anyone advise me on the advantages of one or the other? Am I wasting my money with the Nikon? I'd like to cover events such as parties and clubbing.
 
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