Gone and done it.. But need Flash now!

[simonm8]

So after much searching, reading, and getting very helpful replies from your guys...

I have now got a camera to start learning with along side the books recommended from you guys/girls.

I decided to go for the
Canon 550d with 18-55 is kit lens..
Lowepro 220 bag
sandisk 8gb card
Jesosps uv filter!

Hopefully be picking up within next week or so a 55-250 is and the 50mm 1.8.

so hopefully i can load up some images soon for some feedback.... once i have learned to get of basic modes of course..

Bit more advice needed, i read a lot about the on camera flash being harsh, and not to great as it only really lights directly in front.. and cant bounce it etc or diffuse?

So can anyone recommend a good cheap Flash unit, to start off with.. i know the saying of get what you pay for, but after shelling out on above kit, plus a few other bits funds are now tight... so looking around the £100-£150 mark at max at the moment...

Also i got a UV filter with lens, is it worth putting this on?... any one recommend a polarizing filter?.. quite a few of my pics will be by fishing lakes, so thinking will need this to sort out the sky, and water etc to get the best image possible of the carp assuming i catch some of course

Again thanks to everyone that as helped over past few weeks..

 

[PatrickO]

What are you thinking of using the flash for?

Do you want TTL metering or is manual ok?

It's sometimes better to work with the equipment you've got for a bit. That then guides you to what you need/want to buy next...

Enjoy you rnew camera and look forward to seeing the results.

Patrick

 

[iriches]

I'm very happy with the second-hand 420EX that I use. They're currently going for around £70-£80 on E-bay.

The 430EX will stretch your budget, but you might get lucky. The 430EX apparently recycles more quickly, has a better control panel (you have to set pretty much all the 420 functions via the camera), has manual controls, the zoom head is linked to crop factor, so it "wastes" less light, and it has a wide angle diffuser panel built into head.

The differences weren't worth the cost to me - but I'm not as heavy flash user.

 

[simonm8]

What are you thinking of using the flash for?

Do you want TTL metering or is manual ok?

It's sometimes better to work with the equipment you've got for a bit. That then guides you to what you need/want to buy next...

Enjoy you rnew camera and look forward to seeing the results.

Patrick

Yeah i did debate if i was going in to strong and buying loads of kit straight off, rather than playing around with the camera settings.

Main reasons for getting a flash unit was..

1) when fishing pics during the night of caught fish, the onboard flash is just to harsh and to forward, lighting just the face and not the fish and shadows are really bad ( all though all pics so far have been taken on a compact so may explain some of that)

2) portrait photography of nephew and family members. and got a massive family party at end of month, mum wanted some nice pics taken, posed and candid, of people there.. we dont seem some of family for 3-4 years at a time.
and i know the lighting aint going to be great, but the ceilings are quite low, and all the walls are white, so was thinking of bouncing flash

 

[simonm8]

I'm very happy with the second-hand 420EX that I use. They're currently going for around £70-£80 on E-bay.

The 430EX will stretch your budget, but you might get lucky. The 430EX apparently recycles more quickly, has a better control panel (you have to set pretty much all the 420 functions via the camera), has manual controls, the zoom head is linked to crop factor, so it "wastes" less light, and it has a wide angle diffuser panel built into head.

The differences weren't worth the cost to me - but I'm not as heavy flash user.

Thanks for the response, will have a look at them now, there so many Other brand flashes about on ebay as well, so was unsure what other makes to avoid or look at other than canon..