Stock flash vs After Market

[KmH]

No.

Lens quality is paramount, and a flash of light is just a flash of light. The cheap manual flash may be less durable than a more expensive unit, but the bottom line is....all a flash does is flash.
Regarding durablility - If a cheap flash is well cared for, and carefully handled, it will likely last longer than an expensive flash unit that is mistreated.

Light, regardless the source, is all made of the same thing - Photons. Photon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Ballistics]

No.

Lens quality is paramount, and a flash of light is just a flash of light. The cheap manual flash may be less durable than a more expensive unit, but the bottom line is....all a flash does is flash.
Regarding durablility - If a cheap flash is well cared for, and carefully handled, it will likely last longer than an expensive flash unit that is mistreated.

Light, regardless the source, is all made of the same thing - Photons. Photon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So then if a flash is a flash, then why are so many against the pop up? Just for the lack of control and power?

 

[Ballistics]

I have seen you recommend this flash

Amazon.com: Yongnuo Flash Speedlite Yn-460ii for Nikon Canon Pentax: Camera & Photo

I am considering purchasing, because I do a lot of low light shooting indoors and it seems to be well received. Your thoughts?

 

[Village Idiot]

So does that allow the use of a slower lens when the environment permits a flash? More specifically, can you get comparable IQ between a cheap manual flash w/ a cheaper lens and a faster, more expensive lens with out a flash?

Light is light regardless of where it comes from. You'll get difference from different types of sources that can still work together but may need corrections and modifiers, but generally the only difference between the light from two different flashes is color temperature.

 

[Geaux]

So then if a flash is a flash, then why are so many against the pop up? Just for the lack of control and power?

...and the ability to take it OFF the camera.

 

[Jarmo]

So then if a flash is a flash, then why are so many against the pop up? Just for the lack of control and power?

-The pop-up flash is always in the same line with the lens. An aftermarket flash can be moved around to create the lighting you want.

-The light the pop up flash creates also comes from a very small spot creating ugly and harsh shadows. With aftermarket flashes you can bounce the flash off surfaces so that the light source effectively becomes bigger and softer. You can also use multiple flashes together.

-For high-speed photography (freezing movement with the flash) the power control is important.

-With after market flashes it is easier to change the color temperature.

 

[robb01]

So then if a flash is a flash, then why are so many against the pop up? Just for the lack of control and power?

Yes, and you also have the ability to choose where the light comes from w/ an aftermarket flash, ie, bouncing it off walls/ceilings, this makes the subject have a much softer light than the stock flash which is usually harsh and pointed right at the subject

 

[Village Idiot]

First of all, all of these questions could have been answered by doing a little googling.

So, STFU and read this:
Strobist: Lighting 101

Then look at examples here:
Flickr: Strobist.com

And then come back when you know what you're asking about.

 

[mjhoward]

So then if a flash is a flash, then why are so many against the pop up? Just for the lack of control and power?

There are several reasons really. The pop up flash is weak and only emits a limited amount of light (low power). Seperate flash units are much more powerful usually having a Guide Number of ~120'+ at ISO100. The popup flash will only have a guide number of ~35' at ISO100. A studio strobe is even much more powerful.

The pop up flash is also attached to the camera directly in front of the lens. In most cases, this is going to result in harsh, flat lighting. A separate flash unit will allow you to direct the light and allow for bouncing the flash which will help diffuse the light and give you control over direction.

The two largest advantages, however, are that you can place the flash wherever you want, and you can introduce multiple light sources rather than a single one. It can be somewhat difficult to get creative with only a single source of lighting that is both weak and in a fixed place relative to your sensor, but with separate flash units, you can do just that... get creative. At that point, you can use umbrellas, barn door, snoots, gel packs, etc...

Good luck!

Edit: Several responses were posted while I was typing out my long winded one and share many of the same points. I'll leave this post though just to reiterate the importance of the poins.

 

[Jarmo]

First of all, all of these questions could have been answered by doing a little googling.

So, STFU and read this:
Strobist: Lighting 101

Then look at examples here:
Flickr: Strobist.com

And then come back when you know what you're asking about.

This is the beginners' forum. People should be allowed to ask questions.

 

[Kerbouchard]

So does that allow the use of a slower lens when the environment permits a flash? More specifically, can you get comparable IQ between a cheap manual flash w/ a cheaper lens and a faster, more expensive lens with out a flash?

No, it's not even close to comparable. Photography is all about light. What makes or breaks a shot is the interplay between the subject, light, and shadows. A fast lens allows you to capture a shot that is in front of you. A flash allows you to create the image you want.

Once you learn to effectively use light to create an image instead of just taking a shot that happens to be within the limits of your body/lens, your photography will take a giant leap.

I've never been a proponent of chasing fast glass until that person has mastered using lighting effectively, and that includes flash.

I wouldn't go with a cheap, 3rd party flash, but I'll take a kit lens and a decent flash over a fast lens and available light 99% of the time.

 

[Village Idiot]

First of all, all of these questions could have been answered by doing a little googling.

So, STFU and read this:
Strobist: Lighting 101

Then look at examples here:
Flickr: Strobist.com

And then come back when you know what you're asking about.

This is the beginners' forum. People should be allowed to ask questions.

Hi. If you would like to start that thread where it will eventually be locked again, go for it. Just go ahead and see how people feel about noobs that don't search about ask the broadest questions out there? The OP is still stuck on "why would someone not use a pop up instead of an external flash?" With a bit of reading he would be able to come in with more specific questions. Just go ahead and read that Strobist 101 link all the way through and tell me that wouldn't explain things to him just a bit better than his feeble attempt is currently going.

 

[Ballistics]

First of all, all of these questions could have been answered by doing a little googling.

So, STFU and read this:
Strobist: Lighting 101

Then look at examples here:
Flickr: Strobist.com

And then come back when you know what you're asking about.

This is the beginners' forum. People should be allowed to ask questions.

Hi. If you would like to start that thread where it will eventually be locked again, go for it. Just go ahead and see how people feel about noobs that don't search about ask the broadest questions out there? The OP is still stuck on "why would someone not use a pop up instead of an external flash?" With a bit of reading he would be able to come in with more specific questions. Just go ahead and read that Strobist 101 link all the way through and tell me that wouldn't explain things to him just a bit better than his feeble attempt is currently going.

For starters, Don't tell me to Shut the f*ck up. I am asking questions. I fought for that freedom, so before you go and tell people to STFU, mind yourself and where that right has come from.

Let me express to you how much I care about your preference of specificity...

...that should about do it.

I don't see where I am stuck on using a pop-up vs an external flash. Obviously I recognize the requirement, being that I asked why there is one. As for your ridiculously cliche' response of "If he googled it"... Googled what exactly? Google doesn't do the searching for you. You have to have a node of knowledge in a subject in order to successfully find something. Hence why they have stickies in the forum, which I haven't found one pertaining to flashes that actually answers my question.

Furthermore, I ask questions here, because direction is found here. But this is a thread more about inquisition than anything else. For me, the inquisition sparks the material for my own research. But my turn to be cliche': If you don't like it, don't respond. It really is that easy.

There is nothing you are going to do that is going to change the fact that people are going to ask easily googled questions. No matter how much you kick and scream and cry about it, it will always happen. Instead of being a little girl about it, a simple "Here's a good read: Link". It will save you a lot of heartache in the future.

Learn some couth, and then get back to me.

 

[Overread36]

Easy on the tempers all!

VI - careful with your choice of language, esp to newer members of the site.
Ballistics - similar point to mind your language on the site

Now lets all get on without me having to lock this thread!

 

[Ballistics]

Easy on the tempers all!

VI - careful with your choice of language, esp to newer members of the site.
Ballistics - similar point to mind your language on the site

Now lets all get on without me having to lock this thread!

Roger dodger.