Flash or 50mm lens?

Ritzy · Dec 19, 2012

I posted this originally in my intro thread and realized that I probably should have posted it here so I edited the other post and am posting here.

I have 2 items that I would like to purchase before christmas but realize that only 1 will be purchased before and then the other after. I mostly just taking picutes of family at various events so nothing very serious. Trying to decide if my next purchase should be a 50mm f/1.8 lens or a speedlite 320EX. The lighting is usually kinda dark at the family events so I'm kinda torn and not sure which to get. Which one should I go for.

pgriz · Dec 19, 2012

If you're shooting family events, then I recommend you go for the flash. However, full frontal flash is a great zombie-maker, and if that's not the look you'll want for your loved ones, you will either need a diffuser, or use the flash in bounce mode. Which means you need a flash that you can point backwards, upwards, sideways... wherever you find a nice white surface to act as a reflector. And bouncing the light means that you usually need lots of it. I use a 580EXII for family events, and "usually" it's enough. If that flash is out of your budget, consider the 430EX, or perhaps a third-party brand like Yuongo.

panblue · Dec 19, 2012

I would get a flash. You don't say which lens you have already but I assume you have a lens

~You'll make better family pictures with a kit lens and a tilt-head flash than with a 50mm but no flash.

EDIT: appologies if you have a sig with your lens etc, I have avatars and sigs turned off.

texkam · Dec 19, 2012

What model camera do you have? On a 650D for instance, the 50, 1.8 shooting at 12,800 ISO will yield some fairly decent results in very low light.

Ritzy · Dec 19, 2012

I've got a Canon T3

Dao · Dec 19, 2012

Family indoor events, day or night, I will pick a flash (that can tilt and swivel) that allow you bounce the light first.

Ritzy · Dec 20, 2012

Canon T3

avangeline2 said:
What model camera do you have?

sactown024 · Dec 20, 2012

I would buy the Yongnuo 560 II for $80 on amazon. I have one and love it. Pick up a Omni Difusser while your at it for $10.

Ritzy · Dec 20, 2012

Think I'm gonna go with this one thanks ... just wish I would have known a week ago so I would have it for christmas ... oh well

sactown024 said:
I would buy the Yongnuo 560 II for $80 on amazon. I have one and love it. Pick up a Omni Difusser while your at it for $10.

Village Idiot · Dec 20, 2012

But a light stand, umbrella adapter, umbrella, and cheap rasio triggers for like $100 and learn how to do OCF.

This was done with the same set up, just with a moe expensive flash and triggers. But light is light no matter where it's coming from and you don't have to have a set of $400 triggers.

Ritzy · Dec 20, 2012

hopefully getting that stuff for christmas ... found a package I liked and told the wife to get it ... a large package did arrive yesterday so thats a good sign.

bratkinson · Dec 21, 2012

I'd definitely go for the flash. Indoor lighting is always problematic without a flash. While a fast lens such as the 50 f1.8 would go a long ways, using the flash, especially when bounced off the ceiling can provide better lighting results.

Ritzy · Dec 21, 2012

Picked up the lens lastnight and ordered the flash off Amazon ... wish the flash could have been rush shipped but it was too late

sactown024 · Dec 21, 2012

You're going to love that flash!

Watch some youtube videos on how to control speedlites in manual mode (zoom, power etc...) its pretty easy. I agree with getting an umbrella and a cheap light stand and the adapter for the speedlite, I got all that stuff for $50 at a local camera shop (promater brand) and it has lasted me quite a while now. If you want to go off camera you will also need a set of triggers, I HIGHLY recommend the Yongnuo RF603 which only cost $30 on amazon or cowboy studio, you can use them as a flash radio trigger or as a shutter release so its a 2 in 1, good bang for the buck. I have a set and I have not once encountered an issue with them, have not missed fired and they dont need line of site with the flash since they are radio. So for ANOTHER $100 you can have a really good starter setup to start learning off camera flash.