useful flash for beginner

[waderbreak]

Hi all,

Any recommendation of flash that's useful enough for beginners to practice more on flash usage? I think like if i were to buy the 580exII, i won't fully maximize its capabilities.

Thanks in advance

[CS TAN]

270EX just hot off the press...

[Anson]

Originally Posted by CS TAN 270EX just hot off the press...

Hard to do portrait-bounced shots.....

[chsurfer]

Same situation, i'm having trouble deciding if I should get the 430EX II or the 580EX II, not sure if the S$200 increase will justify my use for it.

I like doing low-light photography though, and a good flash is useful for group shots and the like.

From what I gather, the 580EX II has a faster reload time, has an optional external battery source, can drive other slave flashes (prob not gonna use this feature at all) and is naturally more powerful of course. Any other significant differences that anyone encountered after using both?

A side-by-side comparison can be found here:

http://photo.greenlightstreet.com/ww...mArticleID/20/

[plastikcanvas]

my take is not to buy flash and rent the flash if you need it. the money can be spent else where but if you like to take alot of indoor and photos in dark lit background then get the 430? spend one good one and dont have to worry for a few years.

[habibansari]

budget minded person here.
i'm a user of a 420EX and am comfortable with it.
second hand ones cost roughly 200.

if u have problems with the recycle time, i would suggest u head down to mustaffa and get GP's 2700mAH rechargeables.
the setup comes with a standing/ vertical charger and a set of 4 AA batts.
can do a fast charge if ur on the go and it lasts me well for a 2 day event (wedding photography). forgot how much it costs... pai sei.

using this 420ex, u still can get lambency diffusers and what nots.
it also can act as a slave if need be *duh*... :P

[jeremyteocx]

Originally Posted by plastikcanvas my take is not to buy flash and rent the flash if you need it. the money can be spent else where but if you like to take alot of indoor and photos in dark lit background then get the 430? spend one good one and dont have to worry for a few years.

well ... if you really go by the logic of 'spend one good one and don't have to worry for a few years', then shouldnt you just fork out another $200+ more to get a 580EXII?

and will renting be cheaper? one would tend to upgrade a body or lens more frequently as compared to a flash unit, so i dun think renting again and again would be the best option, as flash is not only just useful for indoors, but for some outdoor situations which require fill-ins.

[HVB88]

Different people have different need.

For me, i need to have 2 flashes for product shots, so I bought 420EX & sigma EF 500DG.
With above setup, i can do many variations (because for remote flash, the sigma can act as commander to trigger 420EX)... and also my pocket not burn so much...

Adding ST-E2 even better!!

[TsQ]

is there any good + Cheap but non -canon brand flash for beginners?

i also need one but cant afford to buy one that cost 60% of an 450D kit

[2evans]

Does your current camera have a built in flash? Have you been using it, and if so, why do you feel like it's not achieving what you want? Have you tried the diffuser for built in flashes?

Do you have a budget in mind? What situations are you using a flash for? Is additional weight a concern? 580 is a heavier versus 430.

[solasido]

I recomend 430 ex.
I have been using it since starting photography. In B&S section, ppl are selling at about $300 only.

[TsQ]

Originally Posted by 2evans Does your current camera have a built in flash? Have you been using it, and if so, why do you feel like it's not achieving what you want? Have you tried the diffuser for built in flashes? Do you have a budget in mind? What situations are you using a flash for? Is additional weight a concern? 580 is a heavier versus 430.

I take mostly indoors and at night.. as i like to take photo of my kids while by the time i reach home its already dark..

so far i been using flash if needed for my elder kid.. the baby i wont use as i dont think its good for his eyes..

i got use diffuser for the build in flash.

I tried using my fren's D90 with a higher end nikon flash gun .. and the effect was very good.. made the night time photo looks as if its day..

so i wonder if the cheaper one can hv similar effect or not. I dont expect it to perform as good as the higher end guns but with tight budget, i want to see if its worth spending on a low end (or cheaper 3rd party) flash gun

Oh lastly.. flash gun i see can tilt upwards.. therefore i can start shooting photo of my young baby without worries of causing hard to his eye ..

[3in1c]

[quote=chsurfer;4920805]Same situation, i'm having trouble deciding if I should get the 430EX II or the 580EX II, not sure if the S$200 increase will justify my use for it.

I like doing low-light photography though, and a good flash is useful for group shots and the like.

From what I gather, the 580EX II has a faster reload time, has an optional external battery source, can drive other slave flashes (prob not gonna use this feature at all) and is naturally more powerful of course. Any other significant differences that anyone encountered after using both?
QUOTE]

I owned both previously and 430 replaced. The hightlighted is worth more than 200 dollars bro. Until you know more about flash and strobe, you probably wont regret getting the 580. This is particularly useful when you take indoor low light shoots, additional slaves can be very useful in the end effect. Once you know how to play with it, that 200 dollars is all worthy.

[Snoweagle]

Get the 430EX II for a start. It's affordable too.

[Octarine]

Faster recycle times.. come on.. that's fractions of seconds usually, unless you blast the flash at full power. Unless you plan to trigger more than one flash or go into studio setups the 430EX is perfectly fine. Don't get carried away over marketing terms and small differences in specs.

[TsQ]

Originally Posted by Octarine Faster recycle times.. come on.. that's fractions of seconds usually, unless you blast the flash at full power. Unless you plan to trigger more than one flash or go into studio setups the 430EX is perfectly fine. Don't get carried away over marketing terms and small differences in specs.

as a beginner, i agree on this. many here are not event shooter.. u might not need the best like the pros..

[minimizor]

A 430ex would arguably suffice for events, provided you are not that far from the stage until u need to fire 1/1 or 1/2. For that matter even a 580 can't recycle in time for burst fire at that output. In this digital photography age, don't forget that toggling iso level is just a matter of a few button hits and not installing expensive high sensitivity film. The main feature people buy the 580 for would be its wireless triggering capabilities.

[waderbreak]

Originally Posted by Snoweagle Get the 430EX II for a start. It's affordable too.

[waderbreak]

Originally Posted by minimizor A 430ex would arguably suffice for events, provided you are not that far from the stage until u need to fire 1/1 or 1/2. For that matter even a 580 can't recycle in time for burst fire at that output. In this digital photography age, don't forget that toggling iso level is just a matter of a few button hits and not installing expensive high sensitivity film. The main feature people buy the 580 for would be its wireless triggering capabilities.

The 580II has wireless trigger but the 430 does not?
Is that lack of function on the 430 going to be a severe handicap?

1) indoor wedding shots, low light shots
2) outdoor events (with rainy or overcast conditions)
3) close up portraits

New to photography so hope you can help! Thanks everyone~

[Hairyworm]

Originally Posted by waderbreak The 580II has wireless trigger but the 430 does not? Is that lack of function on the 430 going to be a severe handicap? 1) indoor wedding shots, low light shots 2) outdoor events (with rainy or overcast conditions) 3) close up portraits New to photography so hope you can help! Thanks everyone~

i would recommend the 430EX.

there's alot selling @ the forum now. suggest u to pop by and take a look @ it.

im new to photography too. i too wanted to take close up portraits.

imo, u need a gd bounce card to really get wad u need.