New to the whole flash thing...

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drb5

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I've never bought a flashgun before and with the arrival of a new nephew, i can see the need for one now i'll be doing some simple portrait stuff.

I've searched the forums for quite a long time on the subject and browsed whats available, but i'm still struggling to decide what to go for.

At the end of the day, i'd like to have 2 flashes with wireless capability, but right now i can't afford much at all.

I know everyone is going to say get a 580ex and be done with it, but that amount of money isn't an option atm.

I've looked into Sigma Supers too, but i'm a bit concerned buying secondhand and losing all my money.....though we do buy secondhand cameras without too much concern i suppose. :) I'm not completely put off secondhand, but the way i've read it is flashes can give up no matter hold old or well used they are?

I had also considered continuous lighting as i think i'd prefer to see the light before i take the picture and buying a light meter won't happen, as i won't be "that into it".

If i were to buy say a 430exii, i would then need another item for wired or wireless flashing then? If that's the case then the price bumps up straight away and i'm already struggling to get the money together for the 430exii on it's own. And i see the 530 Super is better specced than that too.

Sorry for rabbiting on, but i just can't make my mind up at all, so any opinions would be gratefully received.
 
What do you want to do with them?
If it's studio environment, then there's no need for TTL, but being able to adjust power output is pretty much a must have. A few people use Nikon SB-28's for that sort of thing, there's usually s couple in ebay, or Vivitar 285's but there's a couple of versions of that I think so you have to be picky about which you get.

I know you say wireless, but sync cables can cut down your costs. TTL cables can still be quite pricey though.

If you haven't already, then google "strobist" you'll find all this explained very well and in much more depth than I can.
 
Sorry, just read "simple portrait stuff" but still depends on if it's studio or other.
 
Thanks for the reply.

Won't be a studio as such, but a room in my house i can shift things about to give me enough room for some shots. It's a room that gets the sunshine in the morning only, but is still fairly bright with light coloured walls.

I can't comment much on what i want to do with the setup, as i've never used flash before. Even on my previous camera's, i tended to use higher ISO, as i hated the whiteness vs shadows they gave.
 
As Cyclone says, a couple of secondhand Nikon SB-24/25/26/28 and a set of wireless triggers, all for less than the cost of one new 430EXII....
 
I didn't know you could make a Nikon with a Canon?

Hows that?

Do they have IR to help the focus of the 5DII? That was one another thing helping me decide to buy a flash.
 
No, for that you will need a flash designed to work with your camera's autofocus system.
The reason you can use different brands is that all it takes to fire a flash is a low voltage blip. It just so happens that these middle age Nikon flashes fit the bill pretty well.
Mounting one on your Canon hot shoe would not be a good idea (I think).
 
Ah right...i'd definately need to be able to fit it to the hotshoe....or at least one flash anyway.

I've just read there the Sigma 500 Super may have issues with the 5dII, so it looks like i need to spend a lot for a master flash just now?
 
drb5 said:
I didn't know you could make a Nikon with a Canon?

Hows that?

Do they have IR to help the focus of the 5DII? That was one another thing helping me decide to buy a flash.
Click to expand...

You can only really use the Nikon flashes with one of the aftermarket wireless trigger set ups, they won't work with your Canon ttl. For that you'll need either a Canon flash or one of the Sigma/Nissin or Jessops Canon-campatible ones.
 
Thanks.

I take it a number of cheaper non-Canon flashes will work as slaves then? Would i need to have a flash cord for them to work?
 
drb5 said:
Thanks.

I take it a number of cheaper non-Canon flashes will work as slaves then? Would i need to have a flash cord for them to work?
Click to expand...


Yes, you can use them as slaves, but you'd need optical sensors (about a fiver each), rather than cords, for them.
 
you could get a 430exII and some of FITP's triggers then later when funding became available pick up a 580 at a later date to give you the remote TTL functionality
 
Sorry, a bit lost there.

Whats FITP triggers and what exactly is the remote TTL? The 430EXII doesn't have that?
 
Flash In The Pan - he's the poster helping you and he sells triggers - see the link for strobist stuff in his signature :)

By remote TTL you team up the Canon Flashes and they can communicate wirelessly providing TTL flash exposure. I don't know the specifics of how Canon's system works but if it's like Nikon CLS then it'll be good
 
Lol, oops sorry. :D

Thanks for that. I'll send a PM to FITP and take it from there. :)
 
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