Be carefull when you buy stuff

FranDaMan · Apr 2, 2011

We set out today to buy a flash unit.
I have done some research and I knew what I would like to buy.
When I got to the store, the clerk advised me to buy the original Canon Flash instead of Metz flashes.
Since Bruce P gave me the same advice I figured it would be the best idea.

So I asked them if I was correct that these flashes can be fired off camera by means of infra-red. They said it was no problem........So, forked out 225 euros for a 430EXII.Well, we got home and guess what !!!
It didn't really work the way I thought it would !!

You can fire the 430 as a slave flash though IR when you have the 580EX or the Canon Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2. Dagnammit !! that was bummer.

So for now I can only use it as an on-camera flash, cuz I used up my photobudget for a while.

Oh well....we will make the best of it.

Trever1t · Apr 2, 2011

or better you can buy radio triggers

tirediron · Apr 2, 2011

Buy either a cheap radio trigger (Cactus or similar) or a cheap optical trigger; both should cost less than E20, and are all over eBay, and do the job nicely.

FranDaMan · Apr 2, 2011

Looked into them, but you lose a lot. E-TTL, second curtain sync etc.....unless you buy a system that costs double what I paid for the flash.

Tired Iron....you just beat me too it. I was talking bout the expensive systems here.

I have seen the cactus ones. They look pretty interesting indeed.

KmH · Apr 2, 2011

Learn to do strobed lighting manually, and save your self a lot of headache and money.

eTTL can give inconsistant results because the camera is not as well informed about what you are wanting to do, as you are. So it has to make a lot of guesses, and it often will guess wrong.

It's actually easier to learn to use flash manually than it is learn all the permutations and nuances of using eTTL.

An inexpensive radio trigger set Yongnuo 2.4GHz Wireless Flash Trigger/Receiver and Shutter Remote for Canon 1D/5D/7D/10D/20D/30D/40D/50D DSLR can be used with the light you have, and if you want to add lights you already have a transmitter and just need to get another receiver for each light you add: Yongnuo 2.4GHz Wireless Flash Receiver .

Or, if you choose to give manual a try you can buy less expensive flash units like YONGNUO Flash Speedlite YN-460II for Nikon Canon Pentax
or the more powerful
YN-560 Speedlight Flash for Canon and Nikon

kundalini · Apr 2, 2011

The IR triggering method is shadowed by the RF..... IMO.

Not meaning to kick a man while he's down or flog a dead horse or even to bow my own chest out..... but when I read...

FranDaMan said:
I have done some research and I knew what I would like to buy.

... it makes me think you did not do enough research on an expensive purchase. I realize the subject can be shrouded in confusion, but the correct information is out there. I don't know Canon, but from what I've seen on forums and such, the 430 is in a similar vein with Nikon's SB600. Good but with caveats. The caveats are where you spend more time to understand. I hope you don't have buyers remorse because you should have a decent flash, but now you know. Congratz on stepping up your game with flash. :thumbup:

FranDaMan · Apr 2, 2011

Not kicking me while I am down. I always do thorough research before I buy. This was unfortunately a simple case of miscommunication on my end. I asked a question, they answered correct, but I misunderstood.

No buyers remorse either. With a flash that can tilt and swivel and the nice 5 in 1 reflector set that we bought with it, a whole new world will open up for us.

KmH · Apr 2, 2011

Interstingly, most of the hot shoe flash units I use (Vivitar 285HV's) tilt but don't swivel, but I use them OCF on light stands so I can swivel them 360° real easy if I want to.

More important to me is their zoom feature, but that is a manual adjustment with the 285HV.

FranDaMan · Apr 2, 2011

If I was to buy extra flashes it would be vivitars or similar.
I will just have to try and see what to do with this flash. Taking hundreds of shots and see what works best.
I might get an omnibounce to put on the 430EXII. Works great when bouncing it of reflective surfaces I heard,

FranDaMan · Apr 2, 2011

Just found this website: http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/

I am going to have a blast with this flash gun !!

o hey tyler · Apr 2, 2011

The 430EXII is a great flash. I've had experience with a Sunpak flash when used in ETTL mode and didn't produce the same quality of light. Of course, it's not as powerful as the 580, but it's also not as expensive. I bought the 430EXII as my first flash and used it on camera with TTL for a while, but after I got my Cactus triggers, I had to learn how to set up flash and use a manual power setting. Something that I would suggest anyone learn to do. I'll use the 430EX as my primary flash until I can afford the 580 without a doubt.