Need advice about flashes and macro photography.

Hi fellow photographers,

My dilemma is finding a flash that will work with my purpose (macro photography), but also for general usage (in dark lit surroundings, and a one or two portraits here and there).
There are so many too choose from, i thought i should ask for honest opinions in here.. anyway.

These are the ones i've been looking at:

Canon 430 EX II
YN-460 II
Nissin Di622 II
Sigma DG 610

I will use the flash with either a cord or a transmitter.
I've read that both nissin and sigma have firmware options to work with later canon models, the sigma and nissin have higher led count than the canon 430.
All 4 seem to work as optical slaves (off camera with built-in flash).

I dont know if i need the high led count, highspeed sync(when do you use this?), slave mode and other features, but it would be much appreciated to hear from all of you how you use them and what features you missed when buying the other option.

For me, personally, i have no problems buying the cheapest flash as long as it does the job.

Thanks in advance.

No one?
I'm used to get alot of replies, you guys are usually very fast with info and what to do.

The 430 exii, and 460ii will both work as optical slaves w / popup. However, for macro I don't think the popup route would be practical. So some yn 603c transceivers would probably help for all applications ( macro, portrait, etc). As far as flash brightness, both of these flashes will more than likely be more than enough for macro. All 3 items Ive mentioned are compatible w/ a 60d. I have 1- 430exii, 2-460ii, and 4-603c's, and all play nicely together at the same time.

I haven't figured out what I'm missing feature wise, having a lot of fun with this setup.

Hope that helps some.

Be careful throwing around the phrase "work as optical slaves w / popup". The 430ex and the 460ii are completely different animals when you want to talk about "slave".
The Canon flash will work as a slave with the Canon proprietary master/slave system. It does not have a simple optical slave that will fire when it sees any flash.
The YN 460ii only has a simple optical slave that reacts to any flash going off. It will not work in the Canon master/slave arrangement.

Jarhed27 wrote in post #15191081
The 430 exii, and 460ii will both work as optical slaves w / popup. However, for macro I don't think the popup route would be practical. So some yn 603c transceivers would probably help for all applications ( macro, portrait, etc). As far as flash brightness, both of these flashes will more than likely be more than enough for macro. All 3 items Ive mentioned are compatible w/ a 60d. I have 1- 430exii, 2-460ii, and 4-603c's, and all play nicely together at the same time.

I haven't figured out what I'm missing feature wise, having a lot of fun with this setup.

Hope that helps some.

Thanks for the input.. do you use any wires or transmitters between the flashes?
Have you shot alot of macro with the flashes? good/bad?

I've used the 320ex (handheld) as a slave to the onboard of my 60d for some macro work. You'll need to diffuse the flash output somehow to get good light, but the system will work that way, albeit somewhat awkwardly. I'd go for that or the 430ex. The others are ok, but are significantly larger. I would avoid the YN because (I think) it is manual only.

if you are not buying a ring flash, than there is nothing special about the macro application. virtually any flash can be used for macro when on a cord. radio and optical triggering are also the options, but that, again, has nothing to do with macro. sounds ike you simply need to get a decent general purpose flash.

I've only had experience with the Nissin and Canon units from your list. Here is a comparision:

Nissin Di622 II vs Canon 430EX II

bent toe wrote in post #15191518
Thanks for the input.. do you use any wires or transmitters between the flashes?
Have you shot alot of macro with the flashes? good/bad?

I use the Yongnuo yn603c transceivers. I haven't tried any macro w/ any flash, although a macro style ring flash is probably in my future.

dedsen wrote in post #15191383
Be careful throwing around the phrase "work as optical slaves w / popup". The 430ex and the 460ii are completely different animals when you want to talk about "slave".
The Canon flash will work as a slave with the Canon proprietary master/slave system. It does not have a simple optical slave that will fire when it sees any flash.
The YN 460ii only has a simple optical slave that reacts to any flash going off. It will not work in the Canon master/slave arrangement.

Agreed, but, the user actions, and end result are basically the same.

Green Li wrote in post #15192090
if you are not buying a ring flash, than there is nothing special about the macro application. virtually any flash can be used for macro when on a cord. radio and optical triggering are also the options, but that, again, has nothing to do with macro. sounds ike you simply need to get a decent general purpose flash.

I've only had experience with the Nissin and Canon units from your list. Here is a comparision:

Nissin Di622 II vs Canon 430EX II

hope this helps a bit

Good comparision, thanks for the link.

I've been using a YN460 and RF-602 wireless trigger for macro shots, it's a goood inexpensive setup. But if you don't have any other flashes get one with ETTL