Camera flash recommendations? (camera experts please)

A

a11y

Veteran
 Central Scotland
OK, I'm looking to improve my indoor photo taking as I'll soon have a very good reason for wanting lots of indoor photos.

Looking for recommendations for a flash that will work with my Canon 350d. Budget preferably less than £100 but if that's unrealistic for something decent then I can spend more (if something's worth buying I'd rather do it right).

Mrs a11y's started window shopping and come up with the following - I'd welcome any thoughts about any of them, plus any recommendations for alternatives if they're better:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/YONGNUO-Speedlight-Speedlite-Olympus-eimo/dp/B009AOWGC2/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1351937801&sr=1-14 - no reviews, £40 Amazon

http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/Besel_extended_range_828_DFE_slave_flash_Canon_EOS_350D_t461_4166 - £85 Digital Toy Shop

http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/Extended_range_digital_flash_Canon_EOS_350D_t461_3621 - £42.50 Digital Toy Shop

http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/CANON_430EX_II_SPEEDLITE_FLASH_Canon_EOS_350D_t461_5516 - £238, Canon flash, seems expensive!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Speedlite-270EX-Flash-Unit/dp/B0020MLKFK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ce_4 - lots of good reviews, £120 Amazon

Cheers,
a11y
 
"camera experts please"

You mean tom? :)

Can I then ignore your request, and as a non expert suggest a 50mm fast prime lens as well if you don't already have one, for what I'll assume is a11y jnr portraiture...
 
I thought u had some new Gatso avoidance gizmo, pity
 
cj_eds said:
"camera experts please"

You mean tom? :)

Can I then ignore your request, and as a non expert suggest a 50mm fast prime lens as well if you don't already have one, for what I'll assume is a11y jnr portraiture...
Click to expand...


Oddly enough, there are other photographers out there besides Tom :poke:
 
The canon doesn't look adjustable.

I'd just get the cheapy off Amazon, I know a few who have this and it's always done the job!
 
you haven't actually given any clues as to what you are hoping to photograph indoors and as it's indoors, your options for choice of lighting is a lot greater than a flash gun.

you could look at getting some constant lighting (such as Arri) which give you similar lighting control to what is used in film. Having fresnel adjustment as well as output gives you a lot of control. Have a search on eBay for Chinese knocks off and it will cost you around £100.

or, could get an entry level set of lights like these on ebay. Obviously, you get what you pay for but for £100...

If you are planning on taking pictures of small items at home, you could consider a studio light box - again, ebay is a good source for these.
 
Constant lighting is cumbersome and not a good choice, basically you would have to move your whole light set up every time you change location. Im guessing this is for the new arrival!? A flash is a good starting point :)

Therefore a portable solution is a much better choice. If you use correctly you can get very close to studio quality, using on flash diffusers, cables and brackets to move the flash for side lighting etc even with just one flash. Takes a bit of practice tho.

Nissin is your go to brand.

Cheap and pretty much exactly the same as the Canons. About 1/3 to 1/2 the price.

http://www.nissindigital.com/top.html

£150 usually a good starting point. I would recommend something that is about the same as the Canon 480EXII. You want something ETTL (Evaluative-Through The Lens) Auto mode to start with, its pretty good, until you get used to the power modes etc etc. A lot of the cheap ones dont work as well needs to have full compatibility. Obviously I would stick to camera brand flash as you get full support but these are about the best you will get on a budget.

Learning is your key... finding out what you can do with these things, you can do a lot but they have their limits. Go on Youtube :)

[youtube]UUZajtzLoD3nxn2G9ripCjPg[/youtube]

He doesnt explain himself brilliantly but he knows his stuff.

I use two 580EXIIs, on camera and when I use two I use wireless triggers, and I use Gary Fong Lightspheres as you want a diffuser and the ones you get with flashes are poor, the light is very direct and harsh even if you bounce it. You can get cheap ones off ebay. It has a dome, with a cap and when the flash goes off it hits the top of the dome and difuses the light but bounces it back into the flash and illuminates 360 deg. So its gives extremely flattering light., no harsh shadows on the eyes, neither harsh shadows on walls behind the subject etc because its not direct. Infact how you use it is much more important than the flash itself. But it is a big learning curve but once you get used to it its like anything :)

But the Lightsphere is a great piece of kit, It is like having a full studio attached to the camera.

http://www.garyfongestore.com/featured-products/lightsphere-collapsible.html#.UJqC5Y6PB0g

Other than that I would get a quick prime. Nifty Fifty from canon £80ish shoot to F1.8 get some great depth of field and shoot in low light.
 
Cant seem to get the youtube link working for some reason but watch here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW4P37jHzn8&feature=share&list=UUZajtzLoD3nxn2G9ripCjPg
 
Quick video of the Lightsphere, gives very portable studio like results. Use this for weddings all the time, get great light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQnETgkh91g&feature=share&list=PLD398C0B1147F3A8B

I dont have the collapsable one I have the normal one.
 
Tom, what wireless triggers do you use? I'm in need of a set, using the same pair of Flashes you are. The Hahnel ones are getting a good review...
 
I went all out and got the pocket wizards because I needed to rely on them at weddings. But there are loads of cheaper alternatives as long as you dont mind setting the flash up. Like if you want cheap ones to shoot still subjects like having 3-4 shooting a car then the cheap ones are great. The pocket wizards allow ETTL tho which are really helpful in changing light.
 
They look pretty good! :thumbsup:

One of those things once you buy some dont usually need to upgrade them until you buy a flash or camera its not compatible with.
 
jakethecatuk said:
Oddly enough, there are other photographers out there besides Tom :poke:
Click to expand...

Sorry, he's just the one who always seems to post in camera threads! Judging by some of the photos on the forum there's either quite a few good photographers or quite a few good photoshoppers on the forum.
 
Thanks all :)

tomscott said:
Constant lighting is cumbersome and not a good choice, basically you would have to move your whole light set up every time you change location. Im guessing this is for the new arrival!? A flash is a good starting point :)

Therefore a portable solution is a much better choice. If you use correctly you can get very close to studio quality, using on flash diffusers, cables and brackets to move the flash for side lighting etc even with just one flash. Takes a bit of practice tho.

Nissin is your go to brand.

Cheap and pretty much exactly the same as the Canons. About 1/3 to 1/2 the price.

http://www.nissindigital.com/top.html

£150 usually a good starting point. I would recommend something that is about the same as the Canon 480EXII. You want something ETTL (Evaluative-Through The Lens) Auto mode to start with, its pretty good, until you get used to the power modes etc etc. A lot of the cheap ones dont work as well needs to have full compatibility. Obviously I would stick to camera brand flash as you get full support but these are about the best you will get on a budget.
Click to expand...
It is indeed planning ahead of the new arrival - I can manage reasonably well with outdoor shooting but tend to find I take better indoor photos with my compact point n shoot. My assumption is a foray into the world of flashes for my DSLR is a sense way to go, hope I'm correct?

Firstly, I totally forgot to mention I already have a 50mm lens on my shopping list (hope THIS is the correct one?).

Flashes... I've only today had time to read up a bit more on them. The Nissin Di622 mkII seems like a winner for the money (just over £100), although reviews seem to compare it to the Canon 430EXII rather than the 480EX11. Would I be wasting my money going for the Di622 mkII rather than spending almost double to get a Di866 mkII? Bearing in mind I'm still very much a beginner at all this and anything expensive will be wasted on me.
 
A11y, I think the standard rule of thumb of buying technology applies; buy the best you can afford to give yourself some headroom for growth in skills. If you shell out on one you'll ultimately replace, your pissing away money. If you just want the basics and don't think you'll be taking it further, go for a basic one
 
Stuart Truman said:
A11y, I think the standard rule of thumb of buying technology applies; buy the best you can afford to give yourself some headroom for growth in skills. If you shell out on one you'll ultimately replace, your pissing away money. If you just want the basics and don't think you'll be taking it further, go for a basic one
Click to expand...
That's me concern Stuart. Same rule applies when I buy anything - bikes, electronics, etc - should be of a standard I can grow into. From online reviews that Di622-II appears to be a good 'un but wondered about second opinions on them. Canon flashes are off the list BTW purely down to the cost - these Nissin ones appear to be just as good performers but a LOT cheaper.

http://speedlights.net/2010/12/22/nissin-di622-ii-review/
 
I don't know the Nissin ones, but Tom seemed to rate them. I've got a pile of photo mags with reviews in and will take a look if you like.
 
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