Is it really worth buying a flash?

rookies

rookies

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Andrew
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I am trying to think whether to spend my birthday money on a Flash which would be the Canon 430 EXII

Is it really worth buying one... What can it be use for apart from in the dark and portraits?

What advantage will i get over it from the onboard flash on my Canon 40D?

Cheers
 
you can use flash in any lighting conditions.

The on board flash isn't very powerful and has a limited range. Putting the flash higher reduces likelihood of red-eye and can then be used off camera for more creative use, either with an L bracket and cord, or wirelessly.
 
short answer = yes

1/its further away from the lens for a start - someans you can use hoods without the shadows
2/ better for fill flash as power settings to me are better.
3/can bounce flash in a room (cant really do this with the pop up)
4/the AF assist is alot better than the blinding strobes of the pop up
5/can use it off camera with a trigger or hots hoe cord.
6/doesnt drain you camera batteries
7/its more powerful
8/can be manually controoled for different flash options as apposed to on or off!


thats just 8 reasons i am sure they are more!
 
Can my 40D set the Canon 430 EXII off wireless without having to spend on a cord or on the 580?? As I dont want the 580 as it too big and wont really need it all
 
cheap ebay trigger can!
 
How much one of these which should i be looking at getting? As this is new to me
 
search for cactus trigger and should bring up loads of results. i paid £20 roughly for my trigger and 2 receivers.
 
They all in Hong Kong hmmmm
 
From your original post and the fact you asked the question, I'd say you probably don't need one. Electronic flashguns are a modern miracle - sunshine in your pocket, and pretty well indispensable for working photographers such as wedding togs who use them both indoors and outside.

If you're not seeing a need at the moment, spend the dough on something else and work with beautiful available light. ;)
 
CT said:
From your original post and the fact you asked the question, I'd say you probably don't need one. Electronic flashguns are a modern miracle - sunshine in your pocket, and pretty well indispensable for working photographers such as wedding togs who use them both indoors and outside.

If you're not seeing a need at the moment, spend the dough on something else and work with beautiful available light. ;)
Click to expand...

Agreed, if you have to ask the question then I would spend the money on maybe another lens or something you know you need. :D
 
I wondered the same thing.

Should I save up for a flash gun or something else........

I've borrowed someones 550EX and I can now answer my question.

I will be saving for a new flash gun, maybe not the 550, but something very similar.

There are of course other things I would like, but a flash is now on my list...
 
I initially invested in fast primes first now that i have a few i am investing in a flash at somepoint next year as been asked to do a couple of weddings.
 
Got my flash now need some chargable battery and charger what should I get
 
Also I decided to buy it as I used the onboard flash quite alot and was not too pls with it and alot of people keep telling me to get a Flash Gun and I would use it alot and can use it for my macro work if I strap it to my lens...

So I got one now just need to get a good chargeable batter kit for it...
 
Get some Sanyo Eneloop's - you can get 4xAA's and a charger for about 20 quid. These things rock for flashes!
 
rookies said:
Can my 40D set the Canon 430 EXII off wireless without having to spend on a cord or on the 580?? As I dont want the 580 as it too big and wont really need it all
Click to expand...

Don't forget you can also use Canon's ST-E2 to remotely fire a 430/580. It costs about £120 but maintains full dedicated functionality of the flash. Personally I am going for a skyport wireless, more expensive than the ebay trigger and supposedly more reliable, but cheaper than the Pocket Wizard.
 
rookies said:
Also I decided to buy it as I used the onboard flash quite alot and was not too pls with it and alot of people keep telling me to get a Flash Gun and I would use it alot and can use it for my macro work if I strap it to my lens...

So I got one now just need to get a good chargeable batter kit for it...
Click to expand...
I've got a Uniross charger for 4 AAs that came with 4x Hybrio batteries (same sort of thing as Eneloops) however for speedlights I prefer to use "normal" NimH batteries, but the more powerfull ones and make sure I charge them before a shoot. The Hybrios are great in that they last ages, but are less powerful.
 
If you want easy to charge and approx. 2000 shots per charge then you could try the following.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=525726

I have modded 3 flashes now to use an external lead acid battery. The pictures on the link are from the original test set up. The finished article uses a black cable and terminates to phono plugs. Only do this if you are competent with a soldering iron and really need the faster recycling times and far longer battery life. If you don't have/need these then get yourself a very good AA cycler/charger. i use the technoline IC8800 which has proven to be excellent.

John
 
jpwone said:
If you want easy to charge and approx. 2000 shots per charge then you could try the following.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=525726

I have modded 3 flashes now to use an external lead acid battery. The pictures on the link are from the original test set up. The finished article uses a black cable and terminates to phono plugs. Only do this if you are competent with a soldering iron and really need the faster recycling times and far longer battery life. If you don't have/need these then get yourself a very good AA cycler/charger. i use the technoline IC8800 which has proven to be excellent.

John
Click to expand...

Reminds me of the early concept before the days of walkmans (showing my age here) for a portable cassette player, complete and ready to go, just add a lead acid battery to power it up.....
 
LOL :)

I do a fair bit of work were I stick small flashes on stands and not having to worry about batteries is a big time saver. The lead acid battery itself is 6v 4.5Ah and is quite compact so fits nicely in a small lens case which straps to the stand. Looks quite professional. The other thing about lead acid is that it holds it charge very well. A major problem for myself was having to charge 10 to 15 sets of 4 AA batteries before an event. I always seemed to have a set in the charger.

John
 
I have a Nikon SB600 for my D40 and it's a life saver when shooting indoors. I'm looking into buying an SB800 to use as a commander to get the SB600 of camera.
 
Yes buy a flash, I use mine more outside in gright daylight than inside.
 
jpwone said:
The lead acid battery itself is 6v 4.5Ah and is quite compact so fits nicely in a small lens case which straps to the stand. Looks quite professional. The other thing about lead acid is that it holds it charge very well. A major problem for myself was having to charge 10 to 15 sets of 4 AA batteries before an event. I always seemed to have a set in the charger.
John
Click to expand...

Maybe someone could convert a dewalt torch base into a flash shoe
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DEWALT-12-vol...14&_trkparms=72:1298|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

the 12v 2A batteries would have the same oomph as your lead acid's and charge in 30 minutes :)
 
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