Newbie looking for a speed light

Yongnuo all the way. Cheap as chips and loads robust enough for the non Pro
 
I have a couple of the 560 Mk III and they are great . Worth getting the YN560-TX trigger too if you budget will stretch . I thought they were unnecessary until I got one ....now its indispensable :)
 
Dr Wu said:
I have a couple of the 560 Mk III and they are great . Worth getting the YN560-TX trigger too if you budget will stretch . I thought they were unnecessary until I got one ....now its indispensable :)
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I'm not so much on a budget but again I'm no pro but I want gear that will do the job if I end up getting to that point. I'll have a look at above. Cheers :)
 
Working on 2 assumptions:
1. You want a simple ETTL solution to put on your camera now.
2. You want a simple upgrade path for when you want to take the flash off camera.

Yongnuo YN685

YN600ex RT

Then when you want a trigger you'll have a receiver built in already.

You can start cheaper, but the upgrade path will be more expensive and trickier.
 
Why not get yourself a used Canon 430EX, have a look at the classifieds as they seem to pop up now and again.

I nearly bought one of those mentioned but after reading the reviews and some owners comments I decided to stick with the OEM flash, might be a bit more than the Chinese models but the build quality, reliability and dedicated functions will be better.
 
OP will not be able to see the classifieds yet as only 11 posts, Yongnuo seem pretty good - will always hear more from the people who have problems than those who don`t
 
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Phil V said:
Working on 2 assumptions:
1. You want a simple ETTL solution to put on your camera now.
2. You want a simple upgrade path for when you want to take the flash off camera.

Yongnuo YN685

YN600ex RT

Then when you want a trigger you'll have a receiver built in already.

You can start cheaper, but the upgrade path will be more expensive and trickier.
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This ^^.

Or yn565, yn568. I
Limitless said:
I'm not so much on a budget but again I'm no pro but I want gear that will do the job if I end up getting to that point. I'll have a look at above. Cheers :)
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Scotty Pro said:
Why not get yourself a used Canon 430EX, have a look at the classifieds as they seem to pop up now and again.

I nearly bought one of those mentioned but after reading the reviews and some owners comments I decided to stick with the OEM flash, might be a bit more than the Chinese models but the build quality, reliability and dedicated functions will be better.
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Canon 430EX won't fire remotely from the OP's camera either - he needs a master unit of some sort. And radio control is much more reliable than the old light-code control system.

YN685 or YN600EX-RT would be my choice, as Phil suggests. I have four of the latter, plus Tx unit. They're basically the same gun, though the 600 is a 100% clone of the Canon flash system, including radio operating frequencies, so can work alongside Canon flashes etc. Probably a minor advantage, but the reason I got them is the 600 guns can also act as master units (whereas the 685 is a slave/receiver only) which in turn means that you can have a master flash on-camera that is both contributing light and controlling all the remotes. It suits the way I sometimes like to work.
 
Cheers guys, I'll have a look and if I have any questions I'll repost.
 
Phil V said:
Working on 2 assumptions:
1. You want a simple ETTL solution to put on your camera now.
2. You want a simple upgrade path for when you want to take the flash off camera.

Yongnuo YN685

YN600ex RT

Then when you want a trigger you'll have a receiver built in already.

You can start cheaper, but the upgrade path will be more expensive and trickier.
Click to expand...

@Phil V would you suggest buying both now?or one of them and a slave at a later date?
 
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HoppyUK said:
Canon 430EX won't fire remotely from the OP's camera either - he needs a master unit of some sort. .
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Pretty sure that the 700D can fire the 430EX flash off camera but I'll be the first to admit my mistake if I'm wrong ;)
 
Limitless said:
@Phil V would you suggest buying both now?or one of them and a slave at a later date?
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Either one now as a starter. If it was me, I'd be tempted by the 685, but both are great systems (the 685 integrates with the YN622c TX and will play nice with loads of systems)

But the 600 integrates with the Canon radio systems seamlessly.

You don't need anything else yet, there's no rush.
 
Scotty Pro said:
Pretty sure that the 700D can fire the 430EX flash off camera but I'll be the first to admit my mistake if I'm wrong ;)
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It will, but it's a crap system compared to radio.

It's so bad I ignore that it exists. Once you've gone radio, you never go back.
 
Phil V said:
Either one now as a starter. If it was me, I'd be tempted by the 685, but both are great systems (the 685 integrates with the YN622c TX and will play nice with loads of systems)

But the 600 integrates with the Canon radio systems seamlessly.

You don't need anything else yet, there's no rush.
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Phil V said:
Either one now as a starter. If it was me, I'd be tempted by the 685, but both are great systems (the 685 integrates with the YN622c TX and will play nice with loads of systems)

But the 600 integrates with the Canon radio systems seamlessly.

You don't need anything else yet, there's no rush.
Click to expand...

Ok so I'll go for the 685 for now and when I'm ready buy the YN622c TX to control it off camera?
 
Scotty Pro said:
Pretty sure that the 700D can fire the 430EX flash off camera but I'll be the first to admit my mistake if I'm wrong ;)
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Apologies Paul, you're quite right - the 700D has a master pop-up flash. I was confusing this with another thread and a different camera, sorry. So the 430EX would work off-camera, or a number of other guns. I still think that radio is the way to go though, for reliable working in all situations, and at YN prices it's a bit of a no-brainer.

Limitless said:
Ok so I'll go for the 685 for now and when I'm ready buy the YN622c TX to control it off camera?
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Yes. Just to add, what off-camera flash really means is off-camera light. So if you're bouncing off the ceiling/walls, then it usually doesn't matter where the actual gun is positioned.
 
Phil V said:
Either one now as a starter. If it was me, I'd be tempted by the 685, but both are great systems (the 685 integrates with the YN622c TX and will play nice with loads of systems)

But the 600 integrates with the Canon radio systems seamlessly.

You don't need anything else yet, there's no rush.
Click to expand...
Well you've convinced me to buy one :)
 
Nostromo said:
Well you've convinced me to buy one :)
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Way to go Dominic :thumbs:

Once you get properly started with flash, it opens up a whole new area of picture taking and creative opportunity :)
 
Never used one before, so I'm sure it'll be a steep learning curve.
Just of late I've come to understand it's all about light (Whether natural or artificial). You could have the best composed image in the world, but without the right light, what's the point.
 
I'd go for the Yongnuo 600ex rt. Good guide number and integrates with the top of the line Canon flash and triggers etc as well as the Yongnuo versions for a fraction of the price.

I have a 430ex and it is a great flash, but the Yongnuo 600 is my upgrade for it and getting going in the off camera flash when required.
 
Nostromo said:
Never used one before, so I'm sure it'll be a steep learning curve.
Just of late I've come to understand it's all about light (Whether natural or artificial). You could have the best composed image in the world, but without the right light, what's the point.
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Yes, it's all about light (given a good subject ;)). Good light, great light, the best light, the right light, call it what you will, no great photo makes it without.
 
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