spec me my first flash

Devrij

Devrij

Devrij

Soldato
Joined
23 Jul 2009
Posts
14,149
Location
Bath
I'm a bit of a noon when it comes to flash work, but I know the on camera is all but useless in most cases (unless I want to make people look terrible). Just sold my bike so have a wee bit of cash to play with. I want a flash I can bounce, and that I can use off-camera. I won't be doing any studio work or anything, I just want to be able to take pics at parties and make a lightbox etc. I shoot a 550d, what do people recommend for a modest first flash?
 
I've heard lots of good things about the Yongnuo 565. The only major features it seems to be missing is high speed sync and the ability to act as a master flash (although it can act as a slave).
 
My budget is budget. Preferably below 200 quid, but if that isn't possible then just recommend a not-crap flash that does all the above and i'll just start saving. I really know very little about them so just suggest what you think is about right for me.
 
Also, what is all this master and slave stuff? Presumably slave means it can be triggered by something else (another flash? Camera?) And master is being able to trigger other flashes?
 
The 565 would get my vote, it's around £100 and, bar HSS and a few things like a full 360 swivel head, it's roughly "on par" with the 580EX.

Hell, you could get two of them for your budget :)
 
Devrij said:
Also, what is all this master and slave stuff? Presumably slave means it can be triggered by something else (another flash? Camera?) And master is being able to trigger other flashes?
Click to expand...
Exactly ;). Your budget would be enough to cover a 565EX, a stand and an umbrella :)
 
Is there anything else I'd need? To use the flash off camera do I need a radio trigger or can my 550d connect to it without one (noob question I know)?
 
Lunawolfy said:
This seems to be a very nice budget flash, may pick up one myself, do they come with a diffuser or anything and is there any discernible difference between that and a speedlite?
Click to expand...

Main ones are lack of HSS (useful for outdoor fill in flash, although you can compensate for the lack of that with the built in flash on low power), the fact the head doesn't turn all the way around (270 rather than 360 iirc), and the fact they can't be used as master flashes.

For the cash though they're impressive - plenty of people with them on PoTN.
 
I believe that the 550D doesn't have wireless flash capability (correct if I'm wrong) so you will need a radio trigger. Get the Yongnuo jobbie, which I believe is the RF-602. With this you can use the flash off camera in manual mode. If you want wireless ETTL you must spend much, MUCH more for a trigger.

I have the Yongnuo YN565 and it's very good indeed.

EDIT: Oh yeah. Get some decent NiMH batteries and a charger to go with it. I have some Sanyo Eneloops and they are very good. You get a much faster recycle speed than when using standard alkaline batteries.
 
Last edited:
Beepcake said:
Main ones are lack of HSS (useful for outdoor fill in flash, although you can compensate for the lack of that with the built in flash on low power), the fact the head doesn't turn all the way around (270 rather than 360 iirc), and the fact they can't be used as master flashes.

For the cash though they're impressive - plenty of people with them on PoTN.
Click to expand...

They can't be used as master flashes? What do you mean by this? I'm a total photo noob here XD
 
A master flash is one which can be used to trigger other flashes. For example if you have a flash with 'master' capability on the camera and you have another 'slave' flash off camera you can remotely fire the off camera flash with the one on camera.
 
Lunawolfy said:
I just thought your light, triggers the other flashes, which emit light. Ergo lightening your picture?
Click to expand...

The wireless transmitter / master / slave ETTL stuff uses infrared afaik and doesn't light up the subject (you can turn the internal flash off completely with the 60d and wireless flashes)
 
Beepcake said:
The wireless transmitter / master / slave ETTL stuff uses infrared afaik and doesn't light up the subject (you can turn the internal flash off completely with the 60d and wireless flashes)
Click to expand...
I don't think it goes off completely but instead fires at such a low power it would only affect your picture if you had the speedlight on a super low power and were in pitch black.
 
Beepcake said:
The instructions say it doesn't fire at all, but can't say I've stared at it.
Click to expand...
Just tested it with my 60D. Looks like we were both right. It does fire the internal flash but it does it just before the shutter opens to trigger the other flash units so essentially doesn't fire when the shutter is open.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom