I need help - flashes

[DVC Jen]

I have a Canon XTi and want to purchase a better flash for it. However I have no idea what any of the specifications mean - what I need -bascially I am totally ignorant on how to make the best decision for me.

The thing that I am toying with the most is the fact that I have quite a few purchases I want to make in the next few months before my youngest DDs dance recital, my oldest DDs high school graduation and our Disney trip.

I want to get a better flash (although I have no idea what that is), a gorillapod, a good comfortable backpack DH won't complain about carrying around , another battery, at least 4 more gigs worth of memory cards and the 28- 135 mm IS lens.

The only thing I am totally confused about is the flash. I have been going to our local Wolf camera store for most of my purchases. I know they carry a line of their own products. When I purchased my camera they were out of the additional lens 70-300mm (canon) that was supposed to come with my camera. So they replaced the canon lens with thier brand for a discounted price. I am not unhappy with thier lens - but then again I am such a novice I don't know any better.

Since I really don't know what I am doing that much as far as a flash goes - and since I really won't be using it that much - should I go with their less expensive flash so I can easier get some of the other things I want? Or should I just bite the bullet and get the Canon lens - even though I would probably have to go with the least expensive one?

At this point I am just starting to figure out the camera so I am not sure I am ready for all the bells and whistles of a fancy lens.

Can someone explain to me what I should probably be looking for - what I can do without and so on?

 

[jann1033]

i just asked the same thing and the replies were either the canon 430 or there is a sigma 500 super ..the sigma has a couple more features and is about $45 less...here is a comparison of the 2( forum opinions)
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Db4l

 

[jann1033]

sorry meant to start a new thread

 

[wdwpluto]

Can't help you with the flash as I'm where you are, but I noticed you said your bought most of your camera stuff at Wolf. Even memory cards? If so, you can generally find them cheaper elsewhere. Check the Sunday sale papers for places like Staples, Office Max, and Best Buy. I've picked up 1GB CF cards for less than $20 on sale. Just thought that might help you stretch your budget, if you didn't already know.

 

[Lachesis00]

I too am shopping for a flash... I am told to look at Sigma (I think is the name). I shoot with the Canon 20d. In fact we were going to go look around today but I do not need a top of the line, but do not want a crummy flash either.

So I'd be curious to see replies.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Some things to consider in a flash are:

1) Power - The built in flash on the Rebel has a guide number of 13. The other Canon flashes have guide numbers of 22 (220EX), 43 (430EX), and 58 (580EX). Those equate proportionally to the distances the flash can illuminate. So you if you get a 430EX, it can be slightly brighter at 60 feet than the built in flash is at 20 feet.

2) Bounce - The 430EX and 580EX have the ability to be angled towards the ceiling. This is great for avoiding that "flash" look that you get when the main light source comes from the camera. Instead, the flash lights the ceiling and the reflected light gives a more diffuse and natural light pattern on the subject.

3) ETTL capability - That's Canon speak for the ability to do some fancy metering with the flash. It allows the camera and flash to work together to try to get the appropriate balance between natural lighting and light from the flash. Newer Canon's use ETTL-II, which is a somewhat improved metering mode. The improvements are in the camera, so any ETTL flash will do ETTL-II on a newer body.

4) Size - The more powerful bouncing flashes are bigger.

Without bouncing, you can still soften the light coming from the flash with a diffuser, but that robs more power and still gives you direct lighting which is usually not very desirable.

The 430EX series can be used as a slave flash in the master/slave combination. That's when you use more than one flash at a time. The 580EX can be used as a master.

External flashes usually also have some zoom capability so that you can focus the light more as you zoom in.

The 580EX also has a lot more manual controls. Doing manual overrides on your flash is getting into the relatively esoteric part of DSLR photography, so I wouldn't but much emphasis on that unless you really want to get into the geeky side of photography.

For lenses, I usually always recommend going with the camera brand. With flashes, the argument is less strong. Optical elements have a big impact on the picture. Flashes are simpler beasts and its less likely that a third party flash will be noticably inferior. I haven't looked at the Sigma flashes, but if I were on a tight budget, I'd by the Sigma before I'd by anything less than the 430EX. Having the ability to bounce is just too important to me.

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks everyone. Well I just got back from the camera store and I checked out the canon flashes but I really wanted one that would work with zoom - and the canon flashes were just more than I could justify spending (DH was right there with me).

I got one of the higher end of the Quantaray (Wolf Camera) flashes. I tried it out in the store and was amazed at the difference in it and the built in flash on the camera. I was so tired of everything being washed out... and this left a really nice skin tone (at least at the store).

It is adjustable so I can aim it at the ceiling (that is bounce right?).

The one thing I am NOT crazy about is how long it takes to recharge - but I can live with it until I am better at this photography stuff and want to go for some upgrades.

Here are the features that are on the box. Some of it is greek to me - but it sounded more impressive than the other store brand flashes. They didn't carry any sigma - just canon and their brand.

Quantaray by Sunpak pz40x II features

*Designed for your Canon digital EOS camera with a dedicated hot shoe.
*Full E-TTL II dedication with: Digital Rebel XT/350D, Digital Rebel/300D, EOS30D Digital, EOS 20D Digital, EOS 10D Digital, EOS 5D Digital cameras.
*Compatible with E-TTL II metering.
*Bright, easy to read and use LCD display and controls
*5 stop manual exposure control
*GN (ISO 100) 130feet@80mm
*24-80mm power zoom
*5 position bounce head
*Autofocus assist light
*Uses just 2 AA batteries
*Auto off extends battery life
*Attractive compact, lightweight digital design
*Pro black finish

It was 180.00 - good deal or not so good?

My thoughts are if I am happy with it for a year and I learn what I am doing with it then I can go to something better and use this one as a backup.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

It is adjustable so I can aim it at the ceiling (that is bounce right?)

Yes

It was 180.00 - good deal or not so good?

That's about what B&H charges for it. It seems like a fair price.

It's a bit more powerful than the Canon 430EX. It doesn't zoom quite as tight, but I think it's tight enough. It's E-TTL II compatible. It's got some manual control capability. Overall, I think it's a good choice for the money.

 

[DVC Jen]

Yes


That's about what B&H charges for it. It seems like a fair price.

It's a bit more powerful than the Canon 430EX. It doesn't zoom quite as tight, but I think it's tight enough. It's E-TTL II compatible. It's got some manual control capability. Overall, I think it's a good choice for the money.

thank you

I feel better about the choice now.