Canon 430ex as Insurance

[slitherjef]

I am heading out on a trip to Oregon in about 10 days and now I am wondering if I should take a flash along. I don't even have one, besides the built in flash on my elan 7n and 30D. So I am looking at the 430ex. Have the funds and have perhaps till Monday to pull the trigger if I am going to get the flash here before I head out on my trip.

Its a reunion so there will probably be people shots along with me just finding other stuff to shoot (macro). I was also going to get a diffuser or bounce. May stuff in a reflector too if I have enough. Do I need a flash? Maybe. Would it be cool to have to play with? Probably :D

Guess it would be better to have it just in case then not have it, then need it. I am about 65% for the flash and 35% not to get a flash. Guess I need a shove in the right direction :)

[ssim]

If you take alot of flash pictures I would serioulsy suggest that you consider this flash as a minimum. A reunion is a good spot to get alot of use out of this.

I prefer to use a diffuser on my 580 and currently am using a Lightsphere. Most of the 'tupperware type" diffusers are effective though.

You will have so much more flexibility in your flash pictures above and beyond what you get from he onboard flash.

The only downside is that it doesn't look like you will have much time to get used to it before your reunion. They are not rocket science though and it is pretty easy to get the hang of them.

[slitherjef]

Something has come up and it don't appear as if I will be going. Our pet care provider seems to have flaked out on us and its a 10 day trip and I have elected to stay behind. So I am no longer in a rush to get the flash. But even so, I guess one would be nice to play around with indoors. I planned my vacation from work around this too so I need something to do in this 100 degree heat

[ofdphoto]

Sorry you're not getting your holiday, but if I were you I'd treat myself to a flash as compensation :-) I haven't used the 430EX (I use a 580EX), but the beauty of the 430 is that it'll give you a great start with flash photography and if/when you find it's not quite powerful enough, you'll be able to use it as a slave off a 580.

As far as diffusers go, you'll need to look around and find the best option that suits you. I've just ordered a Flip-it! from http://www.joedembphotography.com/flipit/ which looks like being a good option, but a slightly cheaper one would be an omnibounce ("tupperware"). I've been a bit disappointed with mine tho. Lumiquest also make some flash accessories (haven't actually used any yet tho!) and the Gary Fong Lightsphere is supposed to be rather good (tho rather 'interesting' looking). Bear in mind that diffusers reduce the power of your flash so you'll probably start wishing you had a 580EX before too long... :-S

And as sheldon said, flash shooting isn't rocket science, but practise does help. So will this: http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html

Hope that helps.

[Thornfield]

I contemplated getting the 580EX but decided that it would be overkill and bought the 430EX instead. I've used it a lot and have never needed the extra power of the 580EX. I don't intend to use it as a master and don't need the stroboblash function. It's way to easy to get carried away and buy the biggest and the best of everything but why would you spend money on something you don't need. Only you can decide if the 430EX will be enough for your needs. Here's a pic of what is possible with nothing more than the 430EX and a white card for bouncing light forward (cut out of a white plastic icecream container) held on with velcro http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=190865

[sboerup]

Get the 430EX, its a great unit. I did some readup on getting either the 430 or 580 and decided that the 580EX is overkill on power, for most people. Ya, the guide number is greater and all the other things are good, but I've never had to use my 430 on fuller power--ever. At full power, thats a lot of power there, even in the 430.

I might upgrade to the 580 because it has a jog dial and it's easier to change the compensation. The buttons on the 430EX are a little hard to set, and that get's annoying when you need to do it on the fly without looking.

Overall, I love the 430EX. It's smaller, lighter and easy to use. Highly recommend it. Oh ya, it recycles just a hair faster than the 580EX (only because it doesn't use as much power), but the 580EX recycles pretty dang fast. Its a good unit, and the only one that sports the full 180 degree swivel in both directions.

[gcobb]

I have the 430 and love it. There is no comparison between that and the pop up flash. Most all on-cam flashes are good from 4-14 feet or and you have to deal with washing things out. I agree on using the 430 as a minimum flash option.

[slitherjef]

thanks all, its due in this Friday :D Just hope UPS can make the date :)

[corinto]

I might upgrade to the 580 because it has a jog dial and it's easier to change the compensation. The buttons on the 430EX are a little hard to set, and that get's annoying when you need to do it on the fly without looking.

Am I missing something here? I change FEC on the 20D controls (I would guess the 5D also has them). Is there any difference by doing them on the flash instead?

Julio