Still early for a flash?

[rockangel]

Hey guys, I've been doing photography for about 6 months now, and I own a 17-55mm and 55-250mm lens. It it still a little early for me to get a flash? And if I get one, which one should I get; 430EX II or 580EX II?

[canonnoob]

No. I think a flash is one of the first things to get... personally.. I would save money and get the 430 ex (not the II)

[Curtis N]

Six reasons to get a good flash unit:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=207470

[Lightworks Imaging]

I've been shooting seriously for almost a year now. I feel that the single most worthwhile investment that I've made in equipment, outside of the obvious things like the camera, was to buy a flash. I purchased the 430EX, and haven't looked back. Currently, I desire MORE lighting and am seriously considering upgrading to a 580EX or 580EX II. I consider a flash a "must have" piece of equipment.

[partsman]

I agree with all the coments above. Flash was probably the best thing I bought and once I learned to use it made a big difference in my photography. There is a little learning curve but all the info you need is in this forum.

[cdifoto]

It's never too early to get a flash.

[Big Mike]

Of course you are going to get people telling you to get a flash...in the flash section of this site. :D

What kind/type of photos do you like to take? Maybe a tripod would be more useful than a flash. Maybe a fast prime lens would suit your style better than a flash.

Have you ever felt the urge to use the built-in flash? If so, then a hotshoe flash would probably be a good idea.

[speedster00]

After I played around with my brothers XT with and with out a flash, I was instantly sold. So I got my 430EX with my XTI. HIGHLY recomend the flash as everyone else has said. It will make an amazing difference to your images bouncing that flash.

[iamdogdog]

Hi rockangel,

You said you have 17-55mm lens, so I assume budget is not going to be a big issue, in the case, I suggest 580EXII. With a flash, you can shoot at 1/200 or 1/250 indoor to freeze motion(if you want to shoot this kind of thing), without a flash, I can't think of a way to do it.

[chukdivad]

No. I think a flash is one of the first things to get... personally.. I would save money and get the 430 ex (not the II)
Good choice if money is a concern. If not, get the 580EXII. After I got the 580EXII I never put a 430EX on again.

[sally_tomato]

+1 for 580exII. but Big Mike makes a good point -- you should tell us more about what kind of images you want to make. I take lots of indoor kid shots, so it has become essential for me.

[rooeey]

+2 for the 580EX11...
I have a 430ex11 and just finished the first part of a flash photography course which has oppened up my mind to flash to no end and with his today i am off to get a 580ex11 and some tupperware...

[vivala1210]

+1 430ex

[gonzogolf]

+3 for the 580wxII. There are great shots to be made with available light, but learning how to control light means using a flash and learning how to use it properly. Its worth the time and effort and will pay off immediately.

[Alleh]

SB-28's to save money and get some alien bee cyber syncs for off camera. I shoot Canon as well but for shoe mount flashes I only own Nikon.

[YORCHI]

I'm a newbie...and I'm only putting off on buying a 580 because of two reasons

I want to learn to shoot without a flash first

and secondly, I don't have the money readily available to spend on it right now...a few months of not eating fast food or eating out at all and I'll have more than enough

[rockangel]

Of course you are going to get people telling you to get a flash...in the flash section of this site. :D

What kind/type of photos do you like to take? Maybe a tripod would be more useful than a flash. Maybe a fast prime lens would suit your style better than a flash.

Have you ever felt the urge to use the built-in flash? If so, then a hotshoe flash would probably be a good idea.


I already got a tripod actually. Just a simple one, but I was never really satisfied with the built-in flash, so I avoided taking pictures with it... But now with all the comments, I am seriously thinking of getting one :)

[rockangel]

+1 for 580exII. but Big Mike makes a good point -- you should tell us more about what kind of images you want to make. I take lots of indoor kid shots, so it has become essential for me.


I like to take landscape, portrait and black and white photos actuallly...

[The Moose]

I wish I'd gotten a flash earlier. I got mine a few weeks ago. It's changed my indoor shots even more than the nifty fifty did.

[wem]

I'm a newbie...and I'm only putting off on buying a 580 because of two reasons

I want to learn to shoot without a flash first

and secondly, I don't have the money readily available to spend on it right now...a few months of not eating fast food or eating out at all and I'll have more than enough

Why would you want to learn to shoot without flash? I have some fast lenses, but unless flash is forbidden, I almost always use flash to fill in (on portraits, that is). Using flash in an even more subtle way is what I want to learn.

[RichNY]

I like to take landscape, portrait and black and white photos actuallly...

If you are going to be taking portrait photographs the first thing you will want to do is to get your flash off of your camera. An inexpensive older strobe like the Nikon SB-28 that was recommended is an excellent flash to use on a small light stand.

In addition to the flash and light stand you will also need an umbrella bracket (goes between stand and flash and also holds the umbrella) and an umbrella. For most general purpose work a 46" Photek Softlighter will give you the most versatility- it works as a shoot thru umbrella, a reflective bounce umbrella, and also comes with a diffusion screen for even softer light that you'd typically get with a softbox. You will want a pair of wireless remotes such as Cybersyncs to fire the flash for you when you take a picture.

All of this can be purchased for about the cost of a new 580EX II. Where the 580EX II would be preferable is if you were doing event photography and you needed to have the flash mounted on top of your camera and you were going to be using the flash to try to bounce off walls and ceilings.