Newbie looking for a flash

[ggweci]

Hi all... first post here.

I've had my Rebel XSi for about 6 months or so and I'm looking to add an external flash. My main desire/need is to take better pictures indoor of my little 10 month old daughter (she's moving all the time!).

I am a total newbie to the flash world, so I've come here for advice. Should I even consider the 220EX or 270EX models, or should I go straight to the 430EX? I think the added features of the 430EX may give me better options down the road as I develop more skill/interested with flash, but it of course costs more than the other two.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

FYI... the 580EX is out of my price range, so unfortunately, it's not an option.

[jeromego]

Hi all... first post here.

I've had my Rebel XSi for about 6 months or so and I'm looking to add an external flash. My main desire/need is to take better pictures indoor of my little 10 month old daughter (she's moving all the time!).

I am a total newbie to the flash world, so I've come here for advice. Should I even consider the 220EX or 270EX models, or should I go straight to the 430EX? I think the added features of the 430EX may give me better options down the road as I develop more skill/interested with flash, but it of course costs more than the other two.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

FYI... the 580EX is out of my price range, so unfortunately, it's not an option.

if you can get a 430EX, then go for it or the 430EXII. don't even consider the 270EX

[ggweci]

Sorry, I meant the 430EX II.

That's one I was leaning towards, but if I could save some money (plus get a more portable unit) without losing too many features, I may have considered the lower end models.

Did some more research last night and I think the 430EX II is the best choice for the long run, given my budget.

Thanks.

[gonzogolf]

430ex, either incarnation I or II. The 430exII is a little nicer, but if you can find a 430ex on the used forum here it will serve you just as well.

[dougT]

I have a newbie question. I have an XTi and I am debating getting either the 430 ex ii or the 580 ex ii. My question is, if I connect either of these to the camera via a hot shoe cable, will I still be able to use the XTi's E-TTL II functionality?

Thanks,
DougT

[gonzogolf]

Yes, provided you get the proper cable. I like these http://flashzebra.com/ttlcords/ettlcords/index.shtml#at

The vendor is a member here, gives great support, and they are a very fair price..

[dougT]

Thanks! I was just reading the description for the cord on Canon USA's site and the description said that ETTL and ETTL II was not supported. I was wondering how the flash could tell it wasn't on a camera's shoe.

Thanks again,
DougT

[jeromego]

Thanks! I was just reading the description for the cord on Canon USA's site and the description said that ETTL and ETTL II was not supported. I was wondering how the flash could tell it wasn't on a camera's shoe.

Thanks again,
DougT
OCE 3 cords just like the one of flashzebra posted above supports ETTL functionality.

[gonzogolf]

Thanks! I was just reading the description for the cord on Canon USA's site and the description said that ETTL and ETTL II was not supported. I was wondering how the flash could tell it wasn't on a camera's shoe.

Thanks again,
DougT

Not sure which cable you were looking at, but there are several that allow you to use the flash away from the camera just as if it were on the hotshoe

[dougT]

I was looking here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=141&modelid=14998#SNAModelSuppliesAct

I started with the $65 and $70 Connecting Cords and they say NO ETTL for you!

There is no entry either way for the others, which is why I decided to look on PONT for something definitive. I like the look of the FlashZebra products so I will go that way. Now I just have to argue with my piggy bank about 430 vs. 580. I'm leaning towards the 580 since it will act as a master.

DougT

[AxxisPhoto]

OP, the 430 EX-II would be a good flash to start with.

[gonzogolf]

I was looking here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=141&modelid=14998#SNAModelSuppliesAct

I started with the $65 and $70 Connecting Cords and they say NO ETTL for you!

There is no entry either way for the others, which is why I decided to look on PONT for something definitive. I like the look of the FlashZebra products so I will go that way. Now I just have to argue with my piggy bank about 430 vs. 580. I'm leaning towards the 580 since it will act as a master.

DougT

The one you would want from canon is the OC-E3, lower on the page. The ones I linked to earlier are cheaper and just as well built. (I have both)

[dougT]

Thanks for all the info.

I am leaning towards the 580 simply because, even though it's $200 street price more than the 430, it will act as a master and take an external battery pack.

Back when in the stone age when I used a 35mm, I have a vivitar flash -- who didn't -- with the battery pack. It was great. No lag, no missed shots. Then again, I didn't have rent/kids/wife/etc back then ...

Is there a third party flash that will speak ETTL II and act as master and take an external battery pack? Yea I'm asking for a lot but what the hell. This is that great time when I haven't bought anything -- besides the camera -- and I can dream.

DougT

[gonzogolf]

580 is a great flash, you wont be disappointed. Ettl is great for situations where shooting conditions change from shot to shot. But if you are thinking multiple lights, consider radio triggers and manual flash. A lot more bang for the buck. You can put that old vivitar back to work.

[Robert Armbrust]

Buy as much flash as you can afford, it will save you from selling it as your skills progress.

[ggweci]

Well, I ended up getting the 430EX II this afternoon. Briefly tested it out and, wow, there is a significant difference between it bounced and the built-in flash. Looking forward to learning more of the benefits as I go. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Yes, provided you get the proper cable. I like these http://flashzebra.com/ttlcords/ettlcords/index.shtml#at

The vendor is a member here, gives great support, and they are a very fair price..

Do I need one of these for my XSi?

[MT Stringer]

Congrats!

You can do a lot with the flash mounted on the camera hot shoe. The off shoe cord would work well if you decide to move the flash off camera and still keep the ETTL.
Mike

[ggweci]

Congrats!

You can do a lot with the flash mounted on the camera hot shoe. The off shoe cord would work well if you decide to move the flash off camera and still keep the ETTL.
Mike

Thanks Mike. Good to know... maybe down the road.

[Gordeez]

Congrats!

You can do a lot with the flash mounted on the camera hot shoe. The off shoe cord would work well if you decide to move the flash off camera and still keep the ETTL.
Mike
This is what ive been trying to figure out. Whats needed to use the flash while not connected to the camera.
Thanks for this info, and OP, good topic.
Bookmarking it for future reference.

[MT Stringer]

Whats needed to use the flash while not connected to the camera.

There are really only a few steps.
a) Figure out how to mount the flash off camera. That can be a light stand, tripod or anything with a 1/4 x 20 bolt thread. Examples shown below.
b) Choose a method of triggering the flash from the camera. There are several options, some of which I am not familiar with. My experience with the cheap ebay Cactus trigger/receivers was a bad one - no reliability at all. Maybe 6 out of ten times the flash would fire. I bought a Universal set of Skyports in 2008 and they have been very reliable. Hundreds of shots at basketball games with no misfires. Other choices are offered by Pocket Wizards, Paul Buff's Cybersynch's, Radio Poppers and a newer model of the ebay triggers that have had some good feedback.

If you want to retain the ETTL capability, a 24 foot cable from Flashzebra should work just right.

Here are three mounting examples:
1) Spring clamp modified with a 1/4 x 20 bolt. Umbrella adapter mounted to it with cold shoe. Later I added a hot shoe adapter with wireless receiver plugged in.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Spring%20Clamp%20Mods/Clamp4-640.jpg

2) Spring clamp modified with 1/4 x 20 bolt through the center, umbrella adapter, hot shoe adapter with Skyport Receiver plugged into it.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Spring%20Clamp%20Mods/Flashsetup-600.jpg

3) Super clamp mounted on handrail with hot shoe adapter/Skyport combo.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd265/mt_stringer/Basketball/FlashSetup-650.jpg

[dougT]

MT,
I noticed in your last pic, you had a battery pack on that flash; which nicely leads to my next question. How do we feed these beasts?

Again, my old Vivitar came to me with an external pack that had a ton of C maybe D cells -- I can't remember. I looked up the price on a Quantum Turbo power pack to go with the 580 and dearly had a stroke. The Canon CP-E4 is more palatable, but will it keep up with a slew of shots or will it want to melt down after 20~25 fast shots? Having to buy 2 or 3 CP-E4s, so I can swap out a fresh pack, is worse than 1 pricey Turbo SC ... except that the I can buy the CP-E4's as I go along ...

Not sure how "newbie" this question is.
DougT

[MT Stringer]

That's a Quantum Battery 1. It is connected to the flash with one of Quantums battery modules. That's a Canon 540EZ. I had to grind off a little for the cable to pass through the door but it didn't affect the operation of the flash with regular batteries only. The battery door wouldn't quiet close so I taped it closed with a piece of gaffers tape. If you look real close you can see the tape.

Edit: About the battery pack. I have been using one on the 580 EX II for night football. The flash is on ETTL and I haven't had any trouble out of the combo, even after several hundred shots. I have been shooting in one shot mode, but I can get 2 maybe 3 shots when the play comes my way on the football field.

Example gallery here (http://www.maxpreps.com/photo/gallery.aspx?imageid=5fdebe36-11a3-4cf3-9a80-8693ce69ede9&photogalleryid=89170af6-42c9-4b4e-93cd-8a3cf4b6615c#imageid=5fdebe36-11a3-4cf3-9a80-8693ce69ede9) with 100-400, 1D MK III and 580 EX II/off shoe cord/battery pack.