Canon flash and diffuser advice

[Dante]

I'm starting to take more portrait/people pictures and I'm looking to expand my shooting to add a few more indoor, close/portrait and lower light outdoor shots.

I've read up a bit on Canon flashes, but would like to hear buying advice from folks that have experience (Flashes and diffusers).

Most of the reviews that I've read have been for the Canon 580Ex and 430EX.

My current equipment consists of:
Canon 30D, 300D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM, Feisol CT-3402N & CB-50H

I also ordered a Canon EF 50mm f1.4 from B&H last night.

Your advice and suggestions are very appreciated! :nod



-Troy (Dante)

[ziggy53]

I'm starting to take more portrait/people pictures and I'm looking to expand my shooting to add a few more indoor, close/portrait and lower light outdoor shots.

I've read up a bit on Canon flashes, but would like to hear buying advice from folks that have experience (Flashes and diffusers).

Most of the reviews that I've read have been for the Canon 580Ex and 430EX.

My current equipment consists of:
Canon 30D, 300D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM, Feisol CT-3402N & CB-50H

I also ordered a Canon EF 50mm f1.4 from B&H last night.

Your advice and suggestions are very appreciated! :nod



-Troy (Dante)

The 430EX and 580EX, along with the 580EX II just released, are Canon's best shoe mount flashes. The 580EX has more power and more features, and especially can act as the master flash for another Canon slaved flash.

The Sigma EF-500 DG Super has a similar feature set to the 580EX, but similar power and cost to the 430EX. The Canon flashes are better built, but for the price, the Sigma flash is hard to ignore.

I have two of the Sigma flashes and they are quite good indeed.

All of the above flashes are E-TTL II capable, and work best with lenses that provide distance information, which is many of the better Canon lenses and most (if not darned near all) current Canon "L" class lenses.

[ziggy53]

For light modifiers, I use several types of bounce card devices, including the Demb Flip-It.

I also use a home made "scoop" that works great when there is no reliable ceiling or wall to bounce from, or if I am shooting up or down at the subjects and want a consistant looking light.

The Demb devices are hard to beat for cost and flexibility of use, as well as fitting a wide variety of flash.

A "flipping" flash bracket is also important if you shoot in both landscape and portrait and want to keep the light positioned above the lens. It usually also provides some lift for the light, helping to prevent redeye and provide more natural looking shadows.

If you use a flash bracket, you will also want an off-camera flash cord.

[Terrence]

When I made my decision about a year ago I felt the extra money was worth it to go for the 580EX. The extra flexibility and power that flash offers is well worth it. I knew a flash unit is a workhorse you'll always need to have handy, so I figured in the long run the extra cost was negligible. You can always look for used gear and save some money.

From what I read, the 430EX is a darn good unit but many people max out its capbilities and feel they want/need more power and end up with the 580EX down the road. Sure you can sell the 430EX, so it's not like you are throwing money away.

I don't know anything about non-Canon flash, but I do know Sigma and Metz are close in price to Canon with slightly less power. Sunpak is quite a bit cheaper but less powerful as well. That would draw me back to Canon.

Another option is to get into off-camera flash and give up ETTL altogether and save a LOT of money, while getting a LOT of flexibility. I'm a devout reader of Strobist (http://www.strobist.com) and have learned so much about flash there. No matter what flash you own, using it solely on camera is very limiting. I finally got off my butt and ordered the gear I wanted to go off-camera for less than $250US, including a flash (Vivitar 285HV) and wireless triggers. Even if you don't need or want to go into this use of flash, read that site and learn a lot. This is one area of photography where great results can come from a small investment.

Most importantly, do not stress over the decision. It isn't worth the aggravation. Set a number you can live with spending and go for the best you can afford. If the best you want does not match up with what you can spend you have two choices. Settle or keep saving.

All the best.

[Red Bull]

I purchased a 430ex a while back and have been very happy with it. For what I need it for, it does a great job. I mostly use it for macro stuff. I did use it inside a dance hall for a job I did and it worked very well! I'm sure at some point I will upgrade to a 580, or I will keep the 430 and use it as a slave.

[David_S85]

I just got my 580exII a few weeks ago and so far it works very well. I've only used it in fully automatic mode, but have no doubt that as I learn to grow with it, the manual modes (along with the dozen other functions it does) will be fun to experiment with. One of the first tests I did was to see if it covered the 10-22's widest setting. Check. :thumb The 580 has been reduced in price twice since it's introduction, and now hovers around $430. It is a little bit overkill for what I use it for, but then, so are L-lenses and anything above a 400D. :D

I'm also interested in a diffuser, but will probably make my own. Doesn't look too difficult to do. Velcro is my friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM

[claudermilk]

While I've managed to avoid buying one for a few years now, I occasionally borrow a 580EX and when the time comes, that's what I'm getting. It just works, and does it well. The two-axis head rotation is nice as is the built-in bounce card. I also intend to get a bracket, though am undecided between the RRS Portrait Perfect package or the Newton Di100FR2. Since I have an RRS L-bracket I'm leaning towards the RRS setup.

I've read both good and bad reviews of the Metz and Sigma flashes, so that's a tossup. In this case I figure it's safer to spend a bit more and stick with OEM. TTL flash is complex enough without adding in reverse-engineered products.

[Dante]

For light modifiers, I use several types of bounce card devices, including the Demb Flip-It.

I also use a home made "scoop" that works great when there is no reliable ceiling or wall to bounce from, or if I am shooting up or down at the subjects and want a consistant looking light.

The Demb devices are hard to beat for cost and flexibility of use, as well as fitting a wide variety of flash.

A "flipping" flash bracket is also important if you shoot in both landscape and portrait and want to keep the light positioned above the lens. It usually also provides some lift for the light, helping to prevent redeye and provide more natural looking shadows.

If you use a flash bracket, you will also want an off-camera flash cord.
Thanks Ziggy

I'm leaning towards the 580EX II. The Flip-It also looks like a good way to go.

[Dante]

When I made my decision about a year ago I felt the extra money was worth it to go for the 580EX. The extra flexibility and power that flash offers is well worth it. I knew a flash unit is a workhorse you'll always need to have handy, so I figured in the long run the extra cost was negligible. You can always look for used gear and save some money.

From what I read, the 430EX is a darn good unit but many people max out its capbilities and feel they want/need more power and end up with the 580EX down the road. Sure you can sell the 430EX, so it's not like you are throwing money away.

I don't know anything about non-Canon flash, but I do know Sigma and Metz are close in price to Canon with slightly less power. Sunpak is quite a bit cheaper but less powerful as well. That would draw me back to Canon.

Another option is to get into off-camera flash and give up ETTL altogether and save a LOT of money, while getting a LOT of flexibility. I'm a devout reader of Strobist (http://www.strobist.com) and have learned so much about flash there. No matter what flash you own, using it solely on camera is very limiting. I finally got off my butt and ordered the gear I wanted to go off-camera for less than $250US, including a flash (Vivitar 285HV) and wireless triggers. Even if you don't need or want to go into this use of flash, read that site and learn a lot. This is one area of photography where great results can come from a small investment.

Most importantly, do not stress over the decision. It isn't worth the aggravation. Set a number you can live with spending and go for the best you can afford. If the best you want does not match up with what you can spend you have two choices. Settle or keep saving.

All the best.

Thanks Terrance!

Strobist is a great site - and good suggestions and information to go through :thumb

[Dante]

I just got my 580exII a few weeks ago and so far it works very well. I've only used it in fully automatic mode, but have no doubt that as I learn to grow with it, the manual modes (along with the dozen other functions it does) will be fun to experiment with. One of the first tests I did was to see if it covered the 10-22's widest setting. Check. :thumb The 580 has been reduced in price twice since it's introduction, and now hovers around $430. It is a little bit overkill for what I use it for, but then, so are L-lenses and anything above a 400D. :D

I'm also interested in a diffuser, but will probably make my own. Doesn't look too difficult to do. Velcro is my friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM


The 580EX II is what I'm leaning towards. Nice to know that it will cover wide for my 10-22MM :D.

Thanks David