How important is bounce flash?

Rick Hess · Dec 22, 2014

New here. Please bear with some background from a cellist - not a photographer - who nonetheless loves photography. Several years ago, my kids pitched in and got me a Nikon D5000. Standard 18-55. I planned on expanding the lenses, but it's years later and I've always used extra $ for other stuff. The best thing I ever purchased for the camera a was a bounce flash (SS-400), after talking with a photographer relative and asking him why his pictures taken at family events looked ten times better than mine. He replied much of it was a bounce flash. Love it.
OK - I'm thinking that I'm not likely to expand my lens collection and I've looked at selling the D5000 and the SS-400 to a friend, who wants it. A possible replacement is a Coolpix S 9700 - lots of bells and whistles - but here's the question of this too-long post - how much am I going to miss the bounce flash? Am I missing something, or am I about to return to washed-out flash shots at Christmas??? Someone told me Canon may have a point and shoot with a hot shoe (not certain on that), but buying a camera and flash could get expensive? Not married to Nikon at all - just want the best bang for the buck.
Appreciate any counsel given!
Rick

weepete · Dec 22, 2014

On camera flash is useful if you need a bit of fill but as you have found out vastly better results are possible with a speedight (and off camera entirely). So don't ditch the idea of an external flash.

WayneF · Dec 22, 2014

Once you've seen bounce flash, there is no going back.

Nikon has some compacts with hot shoe for external flash like the SB-400.

I don't think S9700 is one, but see:

Coolpix A - manual at
http://download3.nikonimglib.com/archive1/LmdWU00s97sd00D2WYR5351V1E78/ARM_(En)03.pdf

(page 227 about flash)

Or Coolpix P7800 - manual at
http://download3.nikonimglib.com/archive1/0WKAQ00ioZNB00s9GOg74EIvhs78/P7800RM_(En)04.pdf

(page 108)

The_Traveler · Dec 22, 2014

there is another option - sell cello and some/all of children and get nice camera equipment.

Designer · Dec 22, 2014

Rick Hess said:
The best thing I ever purchased for the camera a was a bounce flash (SS-400)

Welcome, Rick!

As far as I know, the SB-400 flash will not articulate like the SB-600 and up models do. If you cannot point the flash at the ceiling or a wall, then you are not actually getting "bounce" flash.

Direct flash is what most people don't like about flash photography because it washes out the shadows almost completely. This type of lighting is called "flat", meaning that the contours of people's faces are not defined by light and shadow.

If you really want to see what you can do with indirect (bounce) flash, see if you can borrow your friend's flash for a weekend and try it out.

(Or buy one)

The head tilts and swivels, allowing you to aim the flash at a wall or ceiling, or whatever is nearby, and will most likely give you the kind of photographs that you want.

Good luck!

TCampbell · Dec 22, 2014

The on-board flash in any camera is only good for a short distance (perhaps 10'... you'd be doing EXCEPTIONALLY well if it could handle 14' ... and that's _not_ bouncing.) Basically they're only good as "fill" flash (which is great to reduce the intensity of shadows when shooting outside in the daylight).

Lighting can do more to improve the look of a photo than a lens... I realize many people hear "flash photography" and they run screaming the opposite direction, but it if you like good looking images, it's one of the best ways to get there.

MOST point & shoot cameras do not have a hot-shoe -- so you can't attach a flash for bounce purposes. But a few do (these tend to be "advanced point & shoots"). Wayne already linked a couple of the Nikon point & shoots that have it. As long as you use a point & shoot that has that hot-shoe, you can still use bounce flash -- even with a point & shoot. I do this with my Canon G series camera.

JustJazzie · Dec 22, 2014

My nex 7 is small and is designed so that you can bounce the on camera flash. I'm not sure if the a6000 kept that feature, but you may check it out!

Designer · Dec 22, 2014

If you're seriously thinking of trading down anyway, for sure get one with a hotshoe. Using your hotshoe and an RF remote trigger, you can have one or as many flashes as you can afford all with remote triggers and really do some fancy shooting.