How useful is a single Flash compared to two?

[SeinUndZeit]

Just wondering how many new creative doors would be opened if i got another 420ex to complement my 550ex? Also its kind of restricting using a chord as opposed to the wireless capabilities owning both would give.

[gonzogolf]

A second flash will let you provide fill light if you need it. The best use would be to create either rim light, or background separation for people with dark hair. Are you currently using a cord?

[MT Stringer]

I don't think the 420 has any manual control. Right? So how are you going to control it?
Just thinking out loud.
Mike

[SeinUndZeit]

yes im using a chord. Would i need manual control would it not be fine with ETTL.

[MT Stringer]

You've got me confused. How are you going to control 2 flashes in ETTL with one cord?
Mike

[SeinUndZeit]

no , if i had two one , they would be wireless master and slave right?

[itzcryptic]

Originally Posted by SeinUndZeit

no , if i had two one , they would be wireless master and slave right?

You can, but they don't have a huge range outdoors.

I'm just getting into this stuff & I plan on buying a couple of cheap off-brand flashes & using them on manual power (I already have a 580).

Manual controls let you have alot more control over the image. ETTL is great for getting an image you haven't setup for.

[gonzogolf]

The nice thing about having an ettl cord (not chord, unless you are playing guitar), even if you are using the wireless setup is that you can get your master flash away from the camera and make it useful. The biggest problem with canon's wireless system is that the master flash is mounted on the camera, often not doing anything while lower powered flashes are acting as slaves unless you have a set of 580's.. In your case a very powerful flash would be mastering a fairly low powered one.

[SeinUndZeit]

how do the other manual flashes sync with the camera?

[SeinUndZeit]

are there any cheap flashes that would work by themselves as slaves to my 550ex?

[Josh_30]

I don't think there are any cheap flashes that work with the Canon system. You may be find some used Canon flashes for not really expensive though. If you want to go cheap, then a couple of Vivitar 285HV's with wireless triggers from eBay is about as cheap as you're going to get for fairly reliable flashes off camera. They won't be eTTL though.

Canon uses the 550 or 580 to control other Canon flashes via infrared I believe. Some use flash pulses for a sort of morse-code communication.

You can control manual flashes with some sort of wired/wireless trigger that would either attach to your camera's hotshoe or sync port.

[gonzogolf]

I think you can slave a couple of the metz flashes wirelessly with the canon flash as master, but I dont know they would be considered cheap.

[itzcryptic]

Originally Posted by SeinUndZeit

are there any cheap flashes that would work by themselves as slaves to my 550ex?

You can get flashes that have optical slaves. I think they are supposed to be OK for indoor use, but outdoors they may not see the flash from the master.

I believe the Vivitar 285HV comes with a sensor so it can be an optical slave. You can use a radio trigger like cactus, cybersync, or pocketwizards. The pocketwizards are supposed to be the gold standard (most reliable), but they are far from cheap.

[Lordkwaz]

cyber syncs are great. Indoor outdoor...couple of hundred feet away. no ttl though

[TMR Design]

Originally Posted by SeinUndZeit

Just wondering how many new creative doors would be opened if i got another 420ex to complement my 550ex? Also its kind of restricting using a chord as opposed to the wireless capabilities owning both would give.

There's no doubt that having a second light opens doors and gives you greater flexibility

BUT don't underestimate the power of one flash/strobe or one flash and a reflector.

If you haven't already taken a look you may want to read through this thread:

Using a single strobe - creative examples - post yours

It's a long thread with some great work and incredible images shot with one light.

More lights will never be a substitute for creative thinking and a little knowledge.