Need a CHEAP flash..

[Ogrt48]

Ok, the 420 is out of the question so doesn't bother..please. I can't afford it. I'm working on a $50 gift card from amazon.com. I don't have any idea on what to buy with the card so I thought about something for my Rebel. I already have 512 CF so I don't need that for now, I think. I have the kit lens and 75-300mm. So it's either the 50mm thats so famous or a flash. Is this flash good? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004TVSC/ref=wl_it_dp/104-3091115-0144730?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=ILTGSUS279RJK&v=gl ance&colid=3GAT6BIWVLUOH

If you have any other ideas that are <$50 only only a FEW dollars more then I'd be more then glad to hear it.. Thanks :P

[Andy_T]

Guide number 28 is not all that powerful ... about twice as much as the built-in flash.

Why not save some more money?

Best regards,
Andy

BTW, check out:
http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

[Ogrt48]

Because I'm moving right now and won't have a penny to spend until xmas... :\

[Andy_T]

Not knowing the flash, I would vote for the famous 50/1.8 :lol:

That's something you'll keep for a longer time.

Best regards,
Andy

[psychedelic_never]

I would vote for the famous 50/1.8

Me tooo

[Ballen Photo]

YUP! The 50mm f/1.8 wins my vote. You'll be glad you got it. :D
-Bruce

[Scottes]

50mm f/1.8 gets my vote, too.

[ejwebb]

50mm 1.8 is my favorite lens by far (see others in my signature). Small, best quality, good portrait zoom and fast when I need it. The on camera is not all that bad for snapshots and fill flash and with the 50mm 1.8 you'll be able to get by without a flash more often. Wait and get the flash when you can afford a better one.

[DocFrankenstein]

I am in similar situation. I chose to go with Vivitar 285 and Wein Safe Sync adapter. Together it cost me 130 and the flash is quite powerful... but as I found out I could've gotten the flash cheaper.

You need wein safe sync to reduce the camera voltage. Because it's an older flash, it may give voltages much higher than 6V recommended for canon cameras. Costs 50 bucks at BH.com

You can also build a circuit which reduces the voltage for around 3 bucks. That's the cheap way of going. Some thysistor flash and the 3 buck protector.

[DocFrankenstein]

oooh... and I'd choose the 50/1.8 for that budget.

[Hellashot]

Is the 50mm II f1.8 better than the 50mm USM f1.4 ?

Hellashot

[DocFrankenstein]

Is the 50mm II f1.8 better than the 50mm USM f1.4 ?
Yes if you don't mind the price.

[Andy_T]

Is the 50mm II f1.8 better than the 50mm USM f1.4 ?
Yes if you don't mind the price.

It's the other way round.

The 50/1.4 is more solid, and will not break as easily.
The 50/1.8 II and the 50/1.4 are close in optical quality, with the 50/1.4 being marginally better.

The 50/1.4 is arguably not 5 times better than the 50/1.8, but it is 5 times more expensive.

A test can be found here: http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

Conclusion: When on a budget, go with the 1.8 ... it's a no-brainer.

Best regards,
Andy

[Kenski]

Is the 50mm II f1.8 better than the 50mm USM f1.4 ?
Yes if you don't mind the price.

It's the other way round.

The 50/1.4 is more solid, and will not break as easily.
The 50/1.8 II and the 50/1.4 are close in optical quality, with the 50/1.4 being marginally better.

The 50/1.4 is arguably not 5 times better than the 50/1.8, but it is 5 times more expensive.

A test can be found here: http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

Conclusion: When on a budget, go with the 1.8 ... it's a no-brainer.

Best regards,
Andy

You will notice quite a difference in quality of the lens build. the 1.4 is a better lens though. It focus faster and better in lower light then the 1.8 from playing with two of them side by side on two rebels. then of course the obvious quieter difference but who cares. Hmm, what else did we notice. Build, It is CRAZY what the difference is. the CRAZY cheap feel. There is going to be a alot of instances where the 1.8 is not going to perform as well as the 1.4 but that web site doesn't show it because they only show a few pictures. In available light situations @ 1.8-2.8 hands down, the 1.4 is going to rock the 1.8 in contrast and sharpness. I don't remember who it was but he took pictures of the Dave Mathews band with the 1.4 50mm, WOW! CRAZY! you wouldn't of gotten that quality with the 1.8, NO WAY.


As for the flash, why are you in such a hurry, why can't you wait at all? Heck can't you save up for the EF-500 at least? if you can't go with the canon, you can at least go with the Sigma...

[vfilby]

I just recently bought a 50mm 1.8 II and Sigma EF-500DG Super, both used. I do love the flash but I can honestly say that I use the 50mm much more often.

Once you get a nice sharp lens you will never want to take it off. My other lenses are the 18-55 and 75-300, neither comes close to the 50mm; infact, the only time I pull them out is for wide or telephoto work where I can't move far enuogh to make the 50mm due.

I wouldn't bother to buy a cheap flash, not when you have one built in. You will probably find the f1.8 better for lowlight conditions than using a small flash.

So my vote is for the 50mm all the way.

[evilenglishman]

you can buy a crappy cobra700AF flash on e-bay for around $15 they are safe to connect directly to the hotshoe and are quite powerful. You'll have to use on manual though

[Kenski]

I just recently bought a 50mm 1.8 II and Sigma EF-500DG Super, both used. I do love the flash but I can honestly say that I use the 50mm much more often.

Once you get a nice sharp lens you will never want to take it off. My other lenses are the 18-55 and 75-300, neither comes close to the 50mm; infact, the only time I pull them out is for wide or telephoto work where I can't move far enuogh to make the 50mm due.

I wouldn't bother to buy a cheap flash, not when you have one built in. You will probably find the f1.8 better for lowlight conditions than using a small flash.

So my vote is for the 50mm all the way.


How do you like that Sigma Flash.. I might pick it up for the wife and use it as a slave... Hmmm, can it be slaved by the 550ex? I'm sure it can...

[vfilby]

How do you like that Sigma Flash.. I might pick it up for the wife and use it as a slave... Hmmm, can it be slaved by the 550ex? I'm sure it can...

I quite like it, it is a decent unit. There are a few differences between it and the 550EX. The 500DG can act as an optical slave where it fires when it detects light, I don't believe the 550 can. However, the 500DG is lacking the custom functions that let you set things like FEB for a whole series, with the 500 you have to set it manually every three shots. The 500DG is also missing the external battery pack plug.

It supposedly has the capabilities for acting as both a slave and a master, but I have not tried it out. Others here have and told me that it works well in those situations.

As much as I like my flash (and as necessary as it can be sometimes) I would recommend getting the 50mm first if you don't have a good sharp lens.

Cheers,

[robertwgross]

That is correct. The Canon 550EX cannot act as an optical slave. It can act like a slave of the Canon wireless flash system.

---Bob Gross---