Small Flashguns

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RevOnline

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I've got a Canon 5DmkII, which obviously doesn't have an on-board flash. When I'm taking the full kit out, it isn't a hassle taking a regular sized flashgun out too. But I'll frequently just take out the body and a single lens, where a flashgun is a bit of an inconvenience.

Can anyone recommend a cheaper alternative to the Canon 270ex (or ideally even smaller than that) because that seems like a lot of money for what it is?
 
I need one physically small - they're not, particularly. The 270ex is this one:

270EX_front_001.jpg


I want something similar or smaller than that in form-factor.
 
Think the 270's the only real option I'm affraid. but the guide number is really really low. So you may find that it's about as much use that an on camera flash (if you had one) would be
 
Yeah, I know that it isn't particularly great - hence looking for an alternative that might at least be better value for money. Before I started looking, I assumed there would be millions of unknown brand ones...but there only seems to be one that looks really rather dodgy by even the lowest standards.

(This one http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11402~r.99767638 - probably quite useful for off-camera though considering the price...)
 
RevOnline said:
Can anyone recommend a cheaper alternative to the Canon 270ex (or ideally even smaller than that) because that seems like a lot of money for what it is?
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yeah. shoot with a F1.2-1.8 lens. then you dont need a flash at all (if its that much of an inconvenience to carry a small waistpack with a flash in it)
 
I think dodgy is definately the word there, I only thought it was a flashgun because you said it was :lol:
Don't YongNuo or whatever do something? not even like a 430EX just a little smaller?
 
vaizki said:
Metz does the Mecablitz 36:

http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electro...litz-36-af-4-digital/product-information.html

Has full E-TTL and a decent power output. The zoom is manual though. I have the bigger (biggest) 58 AF-1 and it's quite nice.

There are smaller units out there, but usually no E-TTL and the power output simply isn't enough.
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Cheers, I'll have a look at that. Not sure it's quite small enough, but it's already a fair whack cheaper than the Canon one...

Te Amo said:
yeah. shoot with a F1.2-1.8 lens. then you dont need a flash at all (if its that much of an inconvenience to carry a small waistpack with a flash in it)
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Save money on a flash - buy an f1.2 lens! I like your style.
 
RevOnline said:
Yeah, I know that it isn't particularly great - hence looking for an alternative that might at least be better value for money. Before I started looking, I assumed there would be millions of unknown brand ones...but there only seems to be one that looks really rather dodgy by even the lowest standards.

(This one http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11402~r.99767638 - probably quite useful for off-camera though considering the price...)
Click to expand...

No adjustable power, so of limited use for off-camera use and 70v trigger voltage, so enough to = dead 5d MkII if used on the hotshoe :nono:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
No adjustable power, so of limited use for off-camera use and 70v trigger voltage, so enough to = dead 5d MkII if used on the hotshoe :nono:
Click to expand...

Yeah...I'm not buying that one. Even if it wasn't capable of killing it, it looks like it would try to.
 
If it was me I'd just buy the 270EX and be done with it, I'm sure Kerso could do you a deal on one.....
 
RevOnline said:
Save money on a flash - buy an f1.2 lens! I like your style.
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definitely the way to go.
if youre going to buy a flash, you might as well buy a proper flash that will serve many purposes. but until youre ready for that, id go ahead and invest in a fast lens and be done with it.
and it doesnt necessarily have to be 1.2.

the 50mm f/1.8 is around $100(usd)
the 85mm f/1.8 and the 50mm f/1.4 are aound $300(usd)

all of these lenses are great in low light situations, and relatively easy on the pocketbook (unlike the 50mm f/1.2 which will definitely have you skipping a few meals).
and with the 5D2's high ISO performance, you really dont even need f/1.8 for most things.
 
I don't think there's anything as small or light as the 270EX. Dinky little gun, does bounce and is about two stops more powerful than the average pop-up flash - £102. With the 5D2's high ISO, you should be able to do plenty with that. You can get a Stofen for it too.

Was going to get one myself but it doesn't do High Speed Sync, which is pretty much essential for me with fill-in flash.
 
Te Amo said:
definitely the way to go.
if youre going to buy a flash, you might as well buy a proper flash that will serve many purposes. but until youre ready for that, id go ahead and invest in a fast lens and be done with it.
Click to expand...

I'll be honest, I genuinely don't think I would be able to focus to the level of accuracy required to make use of f1.4 in a situation dark enough to require a flash - it's extremely precise and hard enough to get right in great lighting conditions. Even if I fluked perfect focus, it still wouldn't be anywhere near as sharp as using a flash in the same situation, which is the biggest requirement for shots I take. It doesn't really sharpen up until f2.8ish - which isn't much of an improvement over f4 with IS that I've already got.

And I am buying a "proper" flash as well. That's already sorted. This is in addition to that, not instead of.

HoppyUK said:
I don't think there's anything as small or light as the 270EX.
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Yeah. Really does seem there are no good alternatives - strikes me as rather strange, but c'est la vie. I'll be getting one next pay packet.
 
You do have to be careful with the 270EX though if you are using it with a largish L series lens for example (77mm wide) you might end up with flash vignetting where the flash isn't high enough to go over the top of the lens.
 
RevOnline said:
I'll be honest, I genuinely don't think I would be able to focus to the level of accuracy required to make use of f1.4 in a situation dark enough to require a flash - it's extremely precise and hard enough to get right in great lighting conditions. Even if I fluked perfect focus, it still wouldn't be anywhere near as sharp as using a flash in the same situation, which is the biggest requirement for shots I take. It doesn't really sharpen up until f2.8ish - which isn't much of an improvement over f4 with IS that I've already got.

And I am buying a "proper" flash as well. That's already sorted. This is in addition to that, not instead of.
Click to expand...

F/2.8 is a huge improvement over F/4 IS in regard to low light AF. Same with F/1.8, etc. Even if you're using a F/1.4 lens at F/4, autofocus is much faster and more precise. I think you need to actually use one for yourself before you fully understand just how beneficial it is. Same with "focus accuracy". It really isn't as difficult as you might think. It's very easy to get tack sharp images w/o flash at F/1.8.

But thats neither here nor there.

I was under the impression thus woukd be your primary flash. If you already have another one, thats cool. I personally think its just more practical to buy a small bag or cargo pants to make use of a normal flash, or use a fast lens, then it is to buy a tiny flash that is very limited in ins function.
To each their own I guess. Hope it works out well for you. :)
 
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