How much has an external flash changed your photography?

[NateNLogansDad]

So, I've been looking at the Nikon SB-600 for the longest time but really just wanted to get used to the equipment that I have already (Nikon D5000, Sigma 18-250, Nikon 35mm 1.8.) I'm still learning but there are some times where I just didn't have the light to pull off the picture I had in mind. (Wedding reception was way too dark, and outdoor pics in the woods I should have used a fill flash)

I have it in the back of my mind that a flash is going to improve things so much for me and will dramatically enhance my pictures. As long as I use a diffuser or bounce the flash, it should be hard to tell if you are really using one, correct?

Up till this point, I've just made what I have work but I can't get out of my head. How much has having a flash helped you? Any comparison pictures?

Thank you in advance!
-Rob

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

It has been a major game changer for me. First, I want to stress I'm not a professional photograper nor do I profess to be a highly experienced amateur.

For myself, I didn't use a flash for a long time because I was very unhappy with the results. Finally, I broke down and bought one and I still was not happy. After some research, study and practice, I learned what I was doing wrong and my flash photography has gotten considerably better allowing for shots I would have never gotten in the past. I had to learn the combination of settings for my camera to allow for better images (i.e, ISO 400, Flash EV +1), when to bounce flash, when to use diffuser, etc., etc. What I'm talking about is not studio lighting using external flashes and other lighting, but things like sports photography and on-the-go type shooting with the flash mounted on the camera. Fill flash is another area that I have been working on and that is progressing. For me, it has been an entire new area of photography learning. I don't have any comparison shots, but here are a few from this weekend that I would have struggled to obtain without the flash.


Boys Basketball 1_22_11 by Gianna'sPapa, on Flickr


Get the Rebound! by Gianna'sPapa, on Flickr


Boys Basketball (2) 1_22_11 by Gianna'sPapa, on Flickr

I have since gotten another external flash (a more advanced one), one for each our DSLR's. I use the Sigma EF 530 series, I have the ST and the Super. I have been pleased with both of these flashes as they allowed me to learn a ton at a reasonable expense.

 

[SarahJN]

I have the SB-600 and I love it! I have a more than 4 year old Nikon D50 and the grain with anything above ISO 200 annoys me so I really need extra light. I take a lot of pictures of my girls in our house, which is fairly dark (esp. in the winter) and the Speedlight made a HUGE difference.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I heard rumors that the SB600 is being discontinued, anybody else hear that?

I'm going to start looking at the Sigma flashes also. I know it's only ~$200 for the SB600 but any $$$ I can save makes it easier to justify

 

[JoeDif]

I heard rumors that the SB600 is being discontinued, anybody else hear that?

I'm going to start looking at the Sigma flashes also. I know it's only ~$200 for the SB600 but any $$$ I can save makes it easier to justify

I thought I saw something about Nikon releasing the SB700 so it is possible the 600 is being discontinued. You can most likely still find them around though

 

[PhotographyDR]

One thing to keep in mind when using flash is that it will improve your photographs but not by just attaching the flash an using a diffuser and they wow. It does take some know how still. I am still learning and I have to say it is a lot of fun. I am by no means an expert but I have written a little on the subject.

http://www.wdwphotography.com/flash-in-the-park/

I would recommend a Nikon (or whatever your camera mfg is). The flashes work best when paired up with the body mfg. While any flash will work your learning curve will be better with one that matched your body mfg. The i-TTL on Nikon does do a great job and measuring the amount of light and giving the proper setting to take the shot. Much better than trying to do it manually. You will eventually need to learn it but the results will be better while you are going through that phase. The third party flashes do not use this mode. I have the SB600 and it has been a great flash. I might be upgrading and getting a second one (probably a 700 or 900) but feel the 600 has done a great job. Even if they discontinue it, it is still a great flash. The only short comings of the 600 will be the limit of the flash distance. It only goes up to around 85mm in Auto. You can manually bump it up a little for longer focal lengths but might have to do some experimenting. Still for what you will probably use it for it is a great starting flash. Besides if you upgrade later you can always will use this flash as a second fill or back light. I will be using mine that way.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm going back and forth because I'd rather stay with the Nikon line but I also don't always like paying for a name.

The Sigma Super says that it supports ITTL which is a plus, reaches out further which will be great for the kids sports, and costs $40 less.

I'm having a hard time finding a direct comparison but need to do a little more research first.

Side note, my wife wanted something that costs a few $$$ and I've been putting this off. I never told her that I just got a few $$ as a safety bonus a few weeks ago. Looks like we will both be happy soon

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

One thing to keep in mind when using flash is that it will improve your photographs but not by just attaching the flash an using a diffuser and they wow. It does take some know how still. I am still learning and I have to say it is a lot of fun. I am by no means an expert but I have written a little on the subject.

http://www.wdwphotography.com/flash-in-the-park/

I would recommend a Nikon (or whatever your camera mfg is). The flashes work best when paired up with the body mfg. While any flash will work your learning curve will be better with one that matched your body mfg. The i-TTL on Nikon does do a great job and measuring the amount of light and giving the proper setting to take the shot. Much better than trying to do it manually. You will eventually need to learn it but the results will be better while you are going through that phase. The third party flashes do not use this mode. I have the SB600 and it has been a great flash. I might be upgrading and getting a second one (probably a 700 or 900) but feel the 600 has done a great job. Even if they discontinue it, it is still a great flash. The only short comings of the 600 will be the limit of the flash distance. It only goes up to around 85mm in Auto. You can manually bump it up a little for longer focal lengths but might have to do some experimenting. Still for what you will probably use it for it is a great starting flash. Besides if you upgrade later you can always will use this flash as a second fill or back light. I will be using mine that way.

I'm confused by the statement that the "third party flashes do not use this mode". My Sigma's both use P-TTL metering for my Pentax. I use the flash's controls to fine tune it to the exposure that I personally like. It would take better images than without the flash if I did nothing. Am I missing something?

 

[bob100]

I'm confused by the statement that the "third party flashes do not use this mode". My Sigma's both use P-TTL metering for my Pentax. I use the flash's controls to fine tune it to the exposure that I personally like. It would take better images than without the flash if I did nothing. Am I missing something?

I'm also confused by the remarks, The "third party" flashes I have used work fine in ETTL mode, e.g. the Yongnuo YN465 and Yongnuo YN468

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Well, if you guys are confused, how do you think I feel

Kind of like a guy who wants to go from shooting with his cell phone to using a SLR.

I.E. Totally clueless

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Well, if you guys are confused, how do you think I feel

Kind of like a guy who wants to go from shooting with his cell phone to using a SLR.

I.E. Totally clueless

When your researching the flashes you will need to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. The only way I found that made sense was to compare the guide numbers. That is a number expressed in feet/meters at ISO 100 at a focal length. In simplistic terms, that means, using ISO 100 at 53 meters/174 feet @ 105mm you should be able to obtain a properly exposed image. My 530's guide # is 53 hence 530. The newly released 610's guide # is 61 indicating a longer reach/stronger flash. I hope that helps. Of course my flash has a plastic mount whereas some others have a metal mount. That may make a difference to a pro, but not to me. It works just fine.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

That helps me tremendously

Right now I'm still trying to figure our what an apple looks like!

I know I can't really go wrong with a Nikon SB600 or greater but if it's possible to get more bang for my buck I'm all for it.

 

[NLD]

For those of you who use third-party flashes with Nikon...

Do the third-parties still have the same capabilities in terms of communicating with the pop-up in commander mode when using wireless, off-camera flash?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Two more things, with the Sigma do you find that accessories are just as easy to find as for a Nikon unit? (diffusiors, boxes, etc)

Also, do any of these flashes have an A/C adapter to run off of or charge the batteries with?

 

[MICKEY88]

I use 2 sigma flashes and they are totally compatible with my Sony A700s

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Two more things, with the Sigma do you find that accessories are just as easy to find as for a Nikon unit? (diffusiors, boxes, etc)

Also, do any of these flashes have an A/C adapter to run off of or charge the batteries with?

I have only purchased the Sto-Fen Omnibounce and that was readily available. Also I checked my owners manual and it states that with the alkaline batteries you should get about 220 flashes and with the rechargeables about 100.

The Sigma does not have an A/C adaptor.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

For those of you who use third-party flashes with Nikon...

Do the third-parties still have the same capabilities in terms of communicating with the pop-up in commander mode when using wireless, off-camera flash?

I checked the Sigma write-up for their Super model and yes its states the Nikon version has wireless TTL. The ST model does not. I use the wireless for my Pentax.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm thinking by the end of the week I'll be playing with my new flash

 

[NLD]

I checked the Sigma write-up for their Super model and yes its states the Nikon version has wireless TTL. The ST model does not. I use the wireless for my Pentax.

Thank you!

 

[Shutterbug]

I got a canon 430EX II last month, I tried it out some here and there but really didnt use it until this past week at the autoshow in Detroit. It was really hard for me to get good shots of the car models.

Using the exact same settings and focal length and FE settings in one shot it would be exposed properly but in the next shot look totally underexposed