alanworland
newbie
Reged: 13/07/2006
Posts: 33
Loc: Essex
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I have always been an 'available light' photographer but would now like to add a flash gun to my kit to improve my low light photography. Its main use would be at weddings and family type gatherings where it would be possible to bounce flash off ceilings etc It would be used with an eos 350d and my new 40d. At a recent wedding the professional picture taker was using a 5d with a 550ex fitted to the hot shoe which while it seemed to be very versatile it looked as though the cameras handling was affected by the size of flash gun. I dont know much about the latest units but I understand they can 'talk' to the camera and would it be best to stick to canon? any advice/recommendations gladly welcome!
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Bawbee
Out on a whim
Reged: 06/05/2000
Posts: 6996
Loc: Dundee, Scotland, UK
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The 550EX is certainly a good unit but you may be better with the 430EX. Remember that you will need an 'EX' series speedlite for your digital body.
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Bawbee BSRIPN
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Bawbee Louis Stevenson 1850-1894
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NorthernMonkey
enthusiast
Reged: 01/05/2007
Posts: 271
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The 430EX has more power than I have ever needed, lacks the ability to control slave flash guns, but is significantly ligher.
I didnt think the ability to control slave flashes was worth the extra cash for a 580Ex, and ive never desired any more flash power than the 430 has. I'm happy with it
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Scphoto
Little Fruitbat
Reged: 13/11/2005
Posts: 2535
Loc: Birmingham, UK
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The older models 380EX (only tilt) and 420EX (tilt and swivel head) are worth looking at. I had the 380EX and was happy with it. I did sell it as I wanted something that could be remote triggered.
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Happiness is a Kebab call donor - Pictures/Blog
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alanworland
newbie
Reged: 13/07/2006
Posts: 33
Loc: Essex
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Thanks for your responses, sounds like its worth a look! Do you have to 'set' anything on the camera or flashgun? Does the flash gun see the reflected flash and terminate it when the camera has seen enough regardless if it is bounced or direct?
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Malcolm_Stewart
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2541
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Having bought my 550EX flash guns some years ago, I was a bit surprised to see (somewhere in Canon literature, but obscure?) that they're not fully compatible with the latest bodies, and that the 580EXII, 220EX and ST-E2 fare better, with the latest bodies, where AF illumination is concerned. I don't know how the 40D sits in this but perhaps worth checking out, and the warnings aren't included in the "Specifications" pages of the manual.
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Malcolm Stewart
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Malcolm_Stewart
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2541
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Quote:
Thanks for your responses, sounds like its worth a look! Do you have to 'set' anything on the camera or flashgun? Does the flash gun see the reflected flash and terminate it when the camera has seen enough regardless if it is bounced or direct?
The flashgun fires a reduced level flash a few ms before the mirror rises, and the reflected light from this is analysed by the camera's metering, and instructions sent to the flashgun as to how much energy to dump into the main flash. Most seasoned Canon flash users tend to set their cameras to Manual mode at around 1/125 and say f5.6, and with the FE exposure compensation set to +1/3 or +2/3 stop. (0 compensation tends to produce dull images.)
Working in P or A mode with Canon ETTL flash can set slow shutter speeds leading to background blur. Masses about Canon flash on the web from N K Guy.
Guy's pages
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Malcolm Stewart
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geoffL
old hand
Reged: 15/06/2007
Posts: 726
Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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I've got a 580exII which is great but you may only need the 430 depending on use - it's slightly less powerful and can;t trigger slaves - if this isn;t a problem you can sace a good bit of money.
Only other problem can be the preflash. My wife seems to be very sensitive to this which means with it on she almost ALWAYS has her eyes half shut in pics.... and no I'm not exagerating. Going to full manual cures it. I have heard of other who can be affected like this........
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Geoff Love
Take a look at my other pictures at:
www.geofflove.co.uk
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Malcolm_Stewart
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 2541
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Quote:
...Only other problem can be the preflash. My wife seems to be very sensitive to this which means with it on she almost ALWAYS has her eyes half shut in pics.... and no I'm not exaggerating. ...
10 years ago I did quite a bit of commercial "people" photography, and the site manager who appeared in many of the publicity shots had lightning fast reactions, and nearly always had half-closed eyelids - it didn't make us look very good! And that was using a 360PX on my Minolta X700 - so I guess he was reacting to the noise of the mirror rising.
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Malcolm Stewart
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alanworland
newbie
Reged: 13/07/2006
Posts: 33
Loc: Essex
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So the light received back off the subject is measured by the camera (only?) the flash gun does not measure returned light at all? I take it it does this regardless of where the flash head is pointed (bounce/direct)
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9437
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
So the light received back off the subject is measured by the camera (only?) the flash gun does not measure returned light at all?
Correct. All measurement and calculation is performed by the camera using through-the-lens metering. All the gun does is deliver the light required.
Quote:
I take it it does this regardless of where the flash head is pointed (bounce/direct)
Yes but...
Beware of the nature of the surfaces used to bounce the flash. Coloured surfaces can play hell with white balance, surface which are not flat or at awkward angles may generate hot spots or shadows in the subject area which may distort the meter reading and reflecting surfaces which are highly polished or very matte may return levels of light which are close to or outside the normal range of the metering system causing under or over exposure. Avoid very long bounce paths too as this can throw things off a bit. Modern TTL flash is remarkably adept but it's not perfect and can be tripped up. Of course with digital you have the advantage of being able to check instantly whether everything is fine or whether a bit of compensation is needed...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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alanworland
newbie
Reged: 13/07/2006
Posts: 33
Loc: Essex
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Thanks for all your inputs they have been most helpful! I shall let you all know how I get on.
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PhilW
Blue Peter Badge Winner
Reged: 14/03/2007
Posts: 954
Loc: Near Wakefield, Yorkshire
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Quote:
I didnt think the ability to control slave flashes was worth the extra cash for a 580Ex, and ive never desired any more flash power than the 430 has. I'm happy with it
That depends on your intended use - the point of slave flashes is more to do with controling the diretion of the light than it's power. For example you might have your slave off to one side proviing the main light while the 580EX just gives a small amount of fill.
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Phil Winterbourne
http://www.pbase.com/calis
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