External flashes

[VVFF]

So you can't switch the on-board flash to manual mode? I can do this with my Nikons. I can see where pre-flash would be necessary for TTL, but why on earth would the pre-flash fire if you have the onboard flash in Manual?

He's talking about AF assist and on P 157 of his manual it says how to turn it off. I've never come across a situation its truly needed on my 50D.

 

[kim]

Where do you order from?? My local Wolf Camera doesn't have the Olympus FL 36 external flash I've decided on for my Christmas gift. (Also, what's the difference in FL 36 and FL 36R???)

Who's your source??

Thanks!!
kim

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

If I was in the United States, B&H photo hands down, no question. Since I am in fact in the middle of a frozen valley, I take what I can get from the local store

 

[Code]

B&H or Adorama are my usual sources for gear.

FL-36R adds wireless control for camera bodies that support it (E-420/520 or newer).

 

[ssanders79]

I like B&H as well. I've also purchased from Amazon.

 

[Country Flower]

Im thinking in buying a flash and have not a clue about the best option for me. I have a canon rebel xsi, with some inexpensive lenses, like 55-250, 18-55, 55 mm.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Without knowing specifics on what you're looking for in a flash, I'd highly recommend either:

• Canon Speedlite 430EX II : $280 (plus a $30 rebate from Canon until 1/16/2010)
• Canon Speedlite 580EX II : $445 (plus a $50 rebate from Canon until 1/16/2010)

(prices from the B&H Web site)

Both have tilt/swivel heads, so you can point & bounce your flash in any direction. Both have TTL (through-the-lens), which is basically a very effective "flash in auto" mode. Both have very fast recycling times. Both flashes are much more powerful than any camera's built-in flash.

In the future, if/when you decide to buy additional flashes, the 580EX II can serve as the "master flash" and control all your other flashes (ie. tell them all to fire at the same time at different power levels). The 430EX II, on the other hand, can only serve as a "slave" flash, meaning it can't control other flashes.

I would probably avoid the Canon Speedlite 270EX and Speedlite 220EX. If you're gonna expand your photography into flash photography, at the very least you'll need a flash that has a tilt/swivel head. These 2 Speedlites don't.

Hope that helps. Let us know which one you decide on!

 

[Country Flower]

Thank you for the recomendations!!!

 

[saturndb]

i'd go thru bing.com and use the cashback feature they have to save some more money....


Dave

 

[Frantasmic]

Here's a less expensive alternative I've been happy with on my XSi.

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/5...3;cidigital-cameras-and-accessories;ciflashes

 

[JoeDif]

I saw this on a Flickr group...a DIY Gel Holder Looks simple to make and may actually work.

 

[princess.chell]

For Christmas, my godfather gave me his "old" dSLR (Canon 20D), 4 lenses, and a flash (Speedlight 550, I think). The only problem is...I have no clue how to use the flash. I've never used an external flash before, and I can't find the manual with it in the bag he gave me. Any help on how to use it? I shoot mostly on aperture priority and a little bit on manual.
Oh. I have a Speedlight 580 as well that someone else gave me as a hand-me-down.
Hope everyone had a great holiday! =)

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I've never used an external either but I saw this on the net if it helps

http://gallery.nathue.dk/tingsager/Manualer/speedlite-550-ex-eng.pdf

 

[pjacobi]

The goal of flash protography on a dSLR is to make a photograph such that it does not appear to be taken with a flash - no dark shaddows, deer in headlights look or red eyes.

This requires balancing two exposures - the flash for subjects in the foreground and ambient light in the background. Wedding photographers are experts in this skill, which is why their photos a so much better than guests with a P/S camera or even some with a dSLR.

First, learn how to use your camera with available light. After you've mastered that skill, then learn how to balance in light from the flash.

Here's a good resource on flash photograpy:

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/



-Paul

 

[YesDear]

Strobist.com probably the best site to learn flash!

 

[mabas9395]

Here are some general tips.

#1 - Read this. http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

#2 - Point your flash strait up and bounce it.

#3 - Put the flash in ETTL mode

#4 - Your flash behaves very differently if you have your camera in Av than it does in M

#5 - If you understand exposure, use your camera in manual.

#6 - Practice, Practice, Practice.

If you have any specific questions, that might be easier to tackle.

 

[princess.chell]

So the link the manual is awesome! Thanks NateNLogansDad!
I was literally at step 1, how to turn it on. I could attach it and detach it but that was as far as I could figure out.
The other link was real helpful too! I'm very very slowly starting to figure it out.

mabas9395- Could you explain what you mean by #4. How will it work differently?

 

[disneyboy2003]

I can't find the manual with it in the bag he gave me. Any help on how to use it?

Congratulations on all your new Canon gear! There's tons to learn, especially when it comes to flash pictures.

Here's the link to a PDF of your flash's manual: Speedlite_550EX_manual.pdf I found it on the Canon Web site.

(Edited to Add: Looks like I can't link directly to the Canon Web site, so the link above won't work. However, here's the URL: "http://downloads.canon.com/cpr/software/camera/Speedlite_550EX_manual.pdf" Just copy and paste the address, and you can download the manual directly.)

Yes, I agree with everyone else about using your external flash. You should try to avoid pointing the flash directly at your subject. For more flattering light, try to bounce your flash off a wall or ceiling, unless you don't have a wall or ceiling nearby.

Also, learn about TTL ("through-the-lens", which is your flash's "automatic" setting). It works quite well. Many photographers set their cameras on manual, and their flash on TTL.

Like pjacobi said, you use the flash for your foreground subject. The background / "ambient" exposure is controlled only by your camera (on manual or aperture priority). The things that affect your flash exposure are (1) flash exposure compensation, which makes the flash brighter or dimmer, (2) aperture, (3) ISO.

And that photonotes.org link provides a wealth of introductory info on flash, so study that.

Hope that helps! Flash takes a while to get comfortable with, so practice, practice, practice! Good luck!

 

[mabas9395]

mabas9395- Could you explain what you mean by #4. How will it work differently?

Here is what the link to the photonotes website has to say:

FAQ #10) Why does my camera meter in P and Av modes very differently when I have a flash turned on?

That’s how EOS cameras are designed to work. P, Av, Tv and M modes all meter for flash in different ways. See the section on “EOS flash confusion” for details. Here’s the short version, which repeats some of the points made in previous FAQ questions.

Keep in mind that the camera meters for ambient (existing) light conditions and flash illumination independently.

P (program) mode keeps the shutter speed between 1/60 sec and the maximum flash sync speed your camera can handle. It does this so that you shouldn’t need a tripod, even if light levels are low. It then tries to illuminate the foreground using flash.

Av (aperture priority) and Tv (shutter speed priority) modes set the shutter speed or aperture to expose for the existing light conditions correctly. They then fill in the foreground using flash. If light levels are low you will need a tripod to avoid blur.

M (manual exposure) mode lets you set both aperture and shutter speed to be whatever you want. The camera then automatically controls the illumination of the foreground subject using flash.

The thing to remember in Av mode is that if the light is low and the camera thinks you need a 1/4 second shutter speed in order to properly expose the background, that is what it will do and you will probably get a blurry shot because 1/4 second is hard to hand hold. But the flash will do its job and your subject will be properly lit.

But if you are in M mode, you decide on the shutter speed (and all other settings), and if you pick a 1/30 shutter speed, the flash will correctly illuminate the main subject (as it will in Av as well) and instead of a blurry shot due to a long shutter speed, you will get a background that is three stops or so under-exposed (which you may or may not want).

Before you can grasp Flash photography, you really need to understand the basics of exposure (shutter speed, aperture, ISO). Then you need to realize that every flash picture is really two exposures, one for the ambient/existing light and one for the flashed light. Once you get those two pieces down, you can move from the technical side to the more creative side - and that's where the real adventure begins.

 

[LizAgna]

I got a SX110is a few weeks before our WDW trip in November. I love it for outside pics and for pics without a flash. But taking pics Christmas Eve and Christmas morning was frustrating waiting for the flash to charge. I couldn't get shots of the DDs as they opened thier presents. I have researched a little and found out that I should be able to add an external flash to my camera. Does anyone here have a SX110is with an external flash? If so which one should I get and are they easy to attach/use on my camera. Thanks!!