Do I need it?

[ang1995]

Okay, so I really want to get a flash but I'm not sure that I NEED to get it right now. I'm looking at the Canon Speedlite 430 EXii... any thoughts?

I'm still learning photography but I have several people who want me to do newborn pictures for them and I think that the flash would help a ton and make my pictures look so much better. What would be your thoughts on it... do you think I should get one now or wait?

 

[TheKenTurner]

If you can afford it, and it will make the pictures better, then why wouldn't you get it? Everyone needs a flash eventually, it's just a madder of when you get it...

 

[ang1995]

Well thats kinda what I was thinking but I needed to get some other opinions. What about that flash do you think its a good one?

 

[pgriz]

It's a can of worms, really. If you get the flash you're thinking of, then the good thing is that you'll have more light. The bad thing is that if you shoot with the flash aimed at the subjects directly, you'll get harsh light and hard shadows. So you will want to either use light modifiers, or use the flash off-camera. If you use the flash as fill light, then you'll also have to learn how to control the amount of fill. If you use the flash off-camera, then you'll need to either get a synch cord that allows you to maintain ETTL functionality, or you go with radio triggers and full manual. Somewhere along the way, you'll decide you need "larger" light so will start pining for umbrellas and softboxes. And a second flash. And a third. As your skills grow, you'll discover flaws you weren't aware of before. To fix these, requires better technique, and almost always, some more gear. Next you'll be asking if a 10 ampere-hour battery pack is sufficient for powering a bank of 1800 watt-second strobes. And you'll be moving so that you can have a room with ten-foot ceilings, and at least twenty feet of wall in any direction. Then.... you see where it goes?

Humor aside, the 430EX is a very good flash. But before you spend money on that, maybe getting this book: Amazon.com: Light Science and Magic, Fourth Edition: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting (9780240812250): Fil Hunter, Paul Fuqua, Steven Biver: Books will be useful. Keith (KmH on this forum) pointed out this book to me, and it has opened my eyes to how photographic lighting can be achieved. I've read it from cover to cover, and am now working through the various examples and exercises discussed in the book. Excellent information, and will help you get your money's worth out of any flash you get.

 

[TheKenTurner]

I don't own a flash, and I don't know much about them, but I think I might be getting one soon... I guess I'll have to make a new topic eventually

 

[RyanSands]

Canon 430 ex ii is a great start...or if you can afford it pop for the Canon 580 ex ii. I use the 580 for all of my weddings and it absolutely rocks.

 

[sm4him]

Lighting 101 on strobist.com was recently recommended to me in another thread, as I am also thinking of including a flash in my next purchase, but not sure what will work right with my camera.
I've started reading it and it is really good, basic, understandable information.

I highly recommend it no matter what flash you decide to go with.
That's assuming you decide to buy one. But we all KNOW the answer to that one...once you start seriously considering a piece of equipment, you're gonna eventually break down and buy it, just a matter of time. Usually not very much time, lol.

 

[tirediron]

Of course you need one; you don't have one, therefore you need one (or two, or three...) Seriously though, after a body and basic lens kit, a shoe-mounted flash (which can be moved off-camera) is, IMO, one of the most important tools in any photographer's bag.

 

[MTVision]

Lighting 101 on strobist.com was recently recommended to me in another thread, as I am also thinking of including a flash in my next purchase, but not sure what will work right with my camera.
I've started reading it and it is really good, basic, understandable information.

I highly recommend it no matter what flash you decide to go with.
That's assuming you decide to buy one. But we all KNOW the answer to that one...once you start seriously considering a piece of equipment, you're gonna eventually break down and buy it, just a matter of time. Usually not very much time, lol.

We have the same camera. I have 2 sb700's and these studio hut triggers/receivers so they work off camera. Also the pop up on the 5100 will trigger the sb700. It's all manual control of the flash off camera. I'll send you the link for the triggers when I get to my computer. The only issue I've had is this past time the trigger/receiver would only work sporadically. I put new batteries in and everything. It's never done it before. Not sure what's going on with it.

 

[ang1995]

Canon 430 ex ii is a great start...or if you can afford it pop for the Canon 580 ex ii. I use the 580 for all of my weddings and it absolutely rocks.

I was looking at the 580 EX ii but its a little out of my price range right now and I think that the 430 EX ii will work fine for me. My aunt has the 580 and she really likes it.

Thanks for the advice!!

 

[sm4him]

Lighting 101 on strobist.com was recently recommended to me in another thread, as I am also thinking of including a flash in my next purchase, but not sure what will work right with my camera.
I've started reading it and it is really good, basic, understandable information.

I highly recommend it no matter what flash you decide to go with.
That's assuming you decide to buy one. But we all KNOW the answer to that one...once you start seriously considering a piece of equipment, you're gonna eventually break down and buy it, just a matter of time. Usually not very much time, lol.

We have the same camera. I have 2 sb700's and these studio hut triggers/receivers so they work off camera. Also the pop up on the 5100 will trigger the sb700. It's all manual control of the flash off camera. I'll send you the link for the triggers when I get to my computer. The only issue I've had is this past time the trigger/receiver would only work sporadically. I put new batteries in and everything. It's never done it before. Not sure what's going on with it.

Oh, thanks MTVision! Bazooka actually mentioned another flash that's cheaper but I can't decide for sure if it's gonna work as well as the SB700 would for our camera. But I don't want to hijack this thread, so I may just PM you about later on. But do send me the link for the triggers you have!

 

[bazooka]

The LP160 that I recommended is completely manual. It will work with any camera that has a hotshoe. However, YOU set the power level and the zoom. It would NOT be good for journalist or event type photography. It is excellent for controlled environments such as portraits, still life, etc....

There are four clear benefits to me with this flash.

1. Price, duh. $160 new vs $400+ for a 580EXII.
2. It has a built in optical slave, the Canon EX flashes do not... they only work via Canon's proprietary IR system. I do not know if Nikon's have build in optical slaves.
3. Low liability... if I drop it or it's stolen or it dies (which none of them have yet, even after dropping them a few times), then it's only $160 vs $400+.
4. This doesn't matter at all to me, but the LP160 has a 1/8th" sync jack (in addition to the PC jack) which the EX line does not have.

However, I have a 580EXII and probably always will (or some kind of auto flash) for two situations...
#1 If I'm shooting an uncontrolled subject (like an event) with the 580 mounted on the camera....
#2 If I run out of LP160's and need another light... I can still trigger it remotely via my Cybersyncs.

 

[Buckster]

You might also consider some of the 3rd party vendors. I own 2 Canon 580EXII flashes and have loved them for years. Recently, I got 2 Yongnuo 565EX flashes though, and they rock too, for about $300 less than the Canons.

Check out these recent threads elsewhere on this forum for more info that I think may help you:

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...634-thinking-about-buying-external-flash.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...to-gallery/267325-flashes-canon-rebel-t3.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/canon-accessories/266649-430-ex-ii-vs-off-brand-flashes.html

 

[gsgary]

Okay, so I really want to get a flash but I'm not sure that I NEED to get it right now. I'm looking at the Canon Speedlite 430 EXii... any thoughts?

I'm still learning photography but I have several people who want me to do newborn pictures for them and I think that the flash would help a ton and make my pictures look so much better. What would be your thoughts on it... do you think I should get one now or wait?

They will only look better if you know how to use the flash, they could look a lot worse

 

[Buckster]

Okay, so I really want to get a flash but I'm not sure that I NEED to get it right now. I'm looking at the Canon Speedlite 430 EXii... any thoughts?

I'm still learning photography but I have several people who want me to do newborn pictures for them and I think that the flash would help a ton and make my pictures look so much better. What would be your thoughts on it... do you think I should get one now or wait?

They will only look better if you know how to use the flash, they could look a lot worse

It will be harder to learn how to use one without one to learn with.