Cheap Flash

[Disneypics]

Is picking up a cheap flash (to use as a third slave, maybe just as a background light) a good idea? Generally, "you get what you pay for." So maybe these cheap flashes won't work for long or won't synch properly as slaves?

The Bower SF328AZ is $50 with a couple of decent reviews on Amazon.

An Eyetek flash is available on eBay for the same money.

Is it true that a Nikon flash will slave with a Canon master? (But you don't want to use it in the hotshoe.) The guy at the fancy camera store said no, but I'm thinking he may be wrong.

Any advice on choosing an inexpensive option for a third flash much appreciated.

[sblais]

Read this. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=246797)

And listen to everything Curtis has to say.

Sorry, but I cannot answer your other questions :oops:

[Curtis N]

Do you want an ordinary optical slave, or one that works with Canon's wireless flash system?

If it's an ordinary optical slave you want, the most important capability is variable manual power. I'm not familiar with the two units you mention, but you want to stay away from "E-TTL only" flash units and go for something with a variable manual mode. The most popular units available today are the Sunpak 383 and the Vivitar 285HV. They go for $80 to $90 new. Of course, you'll need a slave adapter also. The on camera master will also need to be in manual mode for optical slaves to work (no E-TTL pre-flash).

If you want a flash designed to be used as a slave with Canon's wireless flash system, you have about five choices: 420EX, 430EX, 550EX, 580EX, or a Sigma EF-500 DG Super. There may be Metz units that would work too, but none of them are in the "cheap" category.

[Disneypics]

That's a lot of great information for optical slave users. I need the same kind of thing for wireless! :)