Help me decide...

TamiAz · Oct 29, 2011

I have a little money to spend...Should I buy an external flash or Photoshop Elements?? I've been using PhotoScape and I just downloaded gimp the other day, so I have something to edit my photos with. Thank you!!

I was looking at this flash...
Amazon.com: YN-560 Speedlight Flash for Canon and Nikon: Camera & Photo

tirediron · Oct 29, 2011

It's a tough call; if it were me, I would probably go with the flash. You have the Gimp for editing, and there are lots of additional software packages for it, as well as many other free applications that you can use, but there's really no way to get more light into an image (other than by reflector which is limited) than using a strobe of some sort. Go get flashed!

KmH · Oct 29, 2011

+2. Get the flash unit, stick with GIMP and it's associated plug-ins for now. Gimp and Elements have about the same capabilities.

dots · Oct 29, 2011

Get the flash.

bazooka · Oct 29, 2011

Depends on what you want to do and if you're current editing system is holding you back. I love my lights, but PS is great to have as well (I don't know how elements stacks up to cs 5.5 which is what I use). Haven't used GIMP so I don't know if it's capabilities. That's a tough call.

TamiAz · Oct 29, 2011

I went to a camera store to browse and walked out with a SB-700.... :boogie:

480sparky · Oct 29, 2011

I'm more inclined to spend money on gear instead of software right now. I feel it's more important to capture good images now and forgo souping 'em up until later when I have the funds for the computer.

Patrice · Oct 29, 2011

TamiAz said:
I went to a camera store to browse and walked out with a SB-700....

Not a bad choice, this one has a few more features than the minimum strobist flash. Have fun with it.

I use, among others (Vivitars, Metz's and various strobes), 2 sb800's and a sb600. Very versatile flashes and mesh well with your Nikon camera.

marmots · Oct 29, 2011

KmH said:
Gimp and Elements have about the same capabilities.

being someone who used gimp for about 4 years, i'd say gimp has many more capabilities than pse

MelissaP · Oct 30, 2011

tirediron said:
It's a tough call; if it were me, I would probably go with the flash. You have the Gimp for editing, and there are lots of additional software packages for it, as well as many other free applications that you can use, but there's really no way to get more light into an image (other than by reflector which is limited) than using a strobe of some sort. Go get flashed!

I totally agree! I have both. I think that there's no beating original lighting, although I'm just learning how to use my external properly by bouncing and reflecting. Flash it up!