I need your opinion on equipment

[Derrel]

Would you like to pay $80 for a Tupperware with a hole on the bottom?[/QUOTE

Now, in all fairness...it's like a $65 hole...it's a NICE hole!!!

 

[gsgary]

if you want photographers to make fun of you.. get the Gary Fong.

why is that?

Expensive crap

 

[LuckySe7en]

hey thanks for telling me this. I think the flash is the better purchase. I really need to be able to shoot portrait style with flash

 

[tacticdesigns]

If you're asking for opinions, here's mine.

Get the external flash. (The Canon 430 EX II is nice with its swivel and such.) As mentioned above, it will do a lot to expand what you can do with your camera.

Especially when you get it off your camera.

BTW, which type of camera do you have? Will it be able to fire the flash off camera? If not, consider getting a long flash cable [ http://www.amazon.com/Off-Camera-Co...6IUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329575338&sr=8-1 ] to get the flash off the camera or a cheap wireless off camera trigger [ http://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-Wirel...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1329575369&sr=1-1 ] (although the cheap wireless off camera triggers are a bit finicky and prone to break -- like mine that's waiting to get re-soldered right now.)

Also consider getting a shoot through / bounce that will allow you to diffuse or bounce light around, if you don't already have one. [ Amazon.com: Opteka 43" 5-in-1 Collapsible Disc Reflector, Translucent, White, Black, Silver, Gold, with Carrying Case: Electronics ]