Author Topic: Speedlite Recommendations (Read 11971 times)

michealo · « **on:** January 07, 2009, 09:40 »

As some of may know I am new to Canon (the 5D2)

As the lens recommendations were good I am back looking for a speedlite recommendation

Which model would you recommend from Canons line up and why?

Is it worth paying more for the 430 or 580 over the base model?

stokfoto · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2009, 10:22 »

simple answer to your question if money isn't issue I'd get the 580 as it is more powerful than the 430.
I am planing to buy either of the flashes but I am on a bit tight budged so I'd probably get the 430 but once again my first choice would be 580 and I personally wouldn't choose anything else but there are also some sigma flashes that get good reviews like sigma 530 dg etc. but if you are looking for a non TTL flash there are a lot more choices but like I said I'd personally stick with canon

good luck with your choice

leaf · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2009, 10:38 »

the 220ex is a waste of money. The flash head can't move so if you stick in on your camera all your pictures will be deer in headlights.

between the 430ex and 580ex - they are both good. Unless i am mistaken (going from memory here) the only difference is light strength and the option to use the 580ex and a master in a dual light set up.

the 430ex will probably be more than enough power for 95% of your needs so that might be a fine first flash. You don't need it to be an infrared sender if you only have one flash. If you end up buying a second flash in the future then perhaps you could consider the 580ex.

araminta · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2009, 10:50 »

I agree, don't buy the 220EX: you cannot tilt the head and this one is not very different than a basic on-camera flash.

Looking for an elegant lighting solution for my studio shots (objects, not people yet), I've recently purchased 1 580EX and 3 430EX as well as an ST-E2 flash trigger instead of studio strobes : this is an extremely portable and inexpensive lighting setup powerful enough for objects studio shots as well as 1-2 people shots.

The 580 as a main light, one 430 as the fill light and 2 430 for a nice and easy white background... it's all you need for semi-pro studio shots I would say.

For microstock, this is a setup I would recommend warmly

This is the reason why I would recommend you to purchase either a 430EX or a 580EX: this may be the first element of your future lighting solution.

You need in this case one master flash (the 580 or the ST-E2 trigger) and 1-n slaves (the 430).

For your first flash, as you don't need a master-slave configuration yet, you may go for the 430 or the 580, the main difference being that the 580 has more lighting power, shorter recharge time and is more robust. But the 430 is a good choice too.

michealo · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2009, 11:15 »

Once again - excellent advice and reasoning.

Thank you

leaf · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2009, 11:33 »

If you are going for a studio setup I would rather purchase studio strobes. They aren't necesarily any more $$ than speedlights and work much better for studio use. Only get speedlights if you are wanting to use them outside of studio work.

michealo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2009, 12:20 »

Indeed, I have a set of Gemini 500s - the speedlite is for outside stuff including the Uberlypse in Berlin

araminta · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2009, 12:46 »

Quote from: leaf on January 07, 2009, 11:33

work much better for studio use

Can you elaborate on this point? I'm interested

I decided to go with Speedlite after reading Strobist:Lighting 101 as I'm not currently shooting people but only still life and it seems to me that a hotshoes solution was a good one to start with even for 1-2 people shots.

I must say that I'm now quite impressed to see how easy and portable this setup is.

But I'm still interested in knowing which advantages offer studio strobes.

I understand that Speedlite are not powerful enough for groups of people, and you don't have a modelling light, but is there any other real advantage? Is it really a "much better" solution?

Because Speedlite also have huge advantages as soon as you shoot on location as they are a lot more portable (4 strobes are definitively not realy portables... only transportable) and you don't need an external power supply, only plenty of AA batteries.

le_cyclope · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2009, 18:09 »

Quote from: araminta on January 07, 2009, 10:50

I agree, don't buy the 220EX: you cannot tilt the head and this one is not very different than a basic on-camera flash.

Looking for an elegant lighting solution for my studio shots (objects, not people yet), I've recently purchased 1 580EX and 3 430EX as well as an ST-E2 flash trigger instead of studio strobes : this is an extremely portable and inexpensive lighting setup powerful enough for objects studio shots as well as 1-2 people shots.

T

Why did you get a ST-E2 unit if you have a 580 which can be used as the master?

I do have a 430 and I'm planning to get a 580 shortly... Are there some limitations on the 580's master capabilities?

To the OP, I did exactly what Leaf said here, I first bought a 430 and I'm looking for a 580 2 years after the 430. I never encountered a situation where my 430 did not the job, I'll get a 580 only for that master capability

Claude

Claude

araminta · « **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2009, 03:08 »

Quote from: le_cyclope on January 07, 2009, 18:09

Why did you get a ST-E2 unit if you have a 580 which can be used as the master?

Because I want to be able to put the 580 off-camera, typically on a stand with an umbrella or a softbox. This is a lot simpler as you then have a constant light on your subject while you move your camera to get the proper composition.

Otherwise the 580 as a master is even more powerful as the ST-E2 because the latter can handle only two groups of flashes while the 580 can handle three groups (main - fill - background).

madelaide · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2009, 17:25 »

What is the difference between 430EX and 430EX II? (Yes, the "II", but what does in really means?)

Regards,
Adelaide

araminta · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2009, 06:23 »

From http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eosfaq/ex_speedlites.html

The 430EX II features the same basic appearance and layout as the 430EX, but adds a metal shoe with the same locking mechanism as the Speedlite 580EX II and 1/3 EV step output control in manual mode. The 430EX II can also be fully configured via the rear LCD menus of recent Canon digital SLRs as well as from it's own LCD control panel. The recycling time of the 430EX II is 20% faster than the 430EX and recycling is much quieter. Like the 430EX, the 403EX II can act as a wireless slave, but not as a wireless controller.

null · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2009, 06:31 »

Quote from: araminta on January 07, 2009, 12:46

But I'm still interested in knowing which advantages offer studio strobes.

Depth of field. You can do frontal flashing with softboxes without having hard shadows. With a cam strobe you are bound to do ceiling-bouncing which is much less efficient lightwise spoken. With ceiling-bouncing, the most I can do is 5.6 on 160 ISO. With softboxes you can easily do F16 or up at 100 ISO.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #13 on:** January 15, 2009, 07:03 »

I never used studio strobes, but I know that you are not limited with camera flashes to the ceiling to get the soft light effect. You can use a softbox or an umbrella with normal camera flashes. But you are right you do not have the same power -> less depth of field options at low iso. I have not got a canon, but a sigma EF-500 DG Super. Its powerful and cheap, but also cheaply built.
For off camera flash I got an old Nikon SB 24. With a cable its probably one of the cheapest off-camera flash options for canon

araminta · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2009, 07:49 »

Correct: you can use umbrellas / softboxes with speedlite, no problem, except probably for biggest softboxes.

You have here an example of a group shot (11 people) done with two speedlite/43" umbrellas: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2009/01/back-to-basics-how-to-choose-umbrella.html.

For those interested in using speedlite based studio lighting, search "strobist" on Google or go to http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/.

I would not try to shoot a car or a house with speedlite flashes, but small/medium sized objects or portrait/single people full shots are absolutely possible.

I would not argue that studio strobes are better, but speedlites are so portable! And as you anyway probably need a flash for your camera, purchasing a second unit and 2 white umbrellas give you already an interesting lighting setup.

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Author Topic: Speedlite Recommendations (Read 11971 times)

michealo

stokfoto

leaf

araminta

michealo

leaf

michealo

araminta

le_cyclope

araminta

madelaide

araminta

null

Freezingpictures

araminta

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