Help choosing beginner flash for canon

[DisFam95]

I hate the pop up flash on cameras so I never use it. I just brave high iso indoors! I bought a 580ex maybe a year ago. It seemed way to big to me. I hardly used it then sold it for more than I paid (after the tsunami) in order to get some other equipment.

Well I've been asked to do some pictures at a party this weekend for my family. It's indoors. I have really no experience w external flash but feel I need to invest in something for this event for better pictures.

I've only wanted flash when doing indoor kids pics etc so I don't need all the bells and whistles.

I have a 7D and would like something smaller than the huge 580 flash (I have hand pain issues and even just the camera gets to be a lot at times).

Adjustable head to bounce (not sure if that's a standard thing).

Can anyone recommend any of the smaller canon flashes and what you like/don't like?


Thanks!!

 

[Frantasmic]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/741740-REG/Sigma_199101_EF610_DG_ST_Flash.html

This one got good reviews in Popular Photography.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/616667-USA/Canon_3806B002_Speedlite_270EX_Flash.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/754468-USA/Canon_5246B002_Speedlite_320EX.html

The smaller speedlights are supposed to be good too

I have a Sunpak2000 that is small and light and provides that extra ummph the built-in flash doesn't provide.

 

[Bstanley]

I have a 7D and would like something smaller than the huge 580 flash

Another solution might be to get a big 'ol flash like a 580 and put it off camera somewhere and slave it to the built-in Flash. That way you don't have any weight added to the camera.

Might be a bit problematic at some parties - but I've done that at a Birthday Party where folks were basically staying close to a central table. I set the flash on a side table out of the way and aimed it at the ceiling. Set the on-board Flash at -2 EV and everything worked out pretty well.

 

[photo_chick]

Just to throw in the voice from the other side of things, never underestimate the power of a fast lens. If you don't like the weight of a flash, don't like the look, or want to preserve the atmospheric lighting, get a fast prime.

I have the 50D (so just slightly below your 7D ISO performance wise) and I shoot parties with my 50mm f/1.8 and rarely have to go above ISO 800 at night time parties. I've done some outdoor events at night where I never went above 1600. So it is possible to stay on the low end of the ISO range without having to crank it up to 3200 or 6400.