Opinion: why you shouldn't buy high priced flash.

I don't know if I should call myself an amateur, but I am at the beginning of my professional career. I've been into photography and videography since I was very little, and I started concentrating on photography for the last 3-4 years. This year I took an advanced photography course where each lesson a professional, sometimes the best around, teaches you about his field of photography, tips and tricks and finally does a workshop with the group. Before I had done the advanced lighting techniques workshop, I bought for a 600$ price the Canon 600EX-RT. It proved very useful when I went to picture event photography with the right conditions. Later on I learned from the workshop how to better use umbrellas and softboxes. I had also learned that I made a mistake and bought an overpriced flash. I bought a Yongnuo flash for less about a 100$ (and even less) from eBay. I started using only the manual flash, seeing that ETTL wasn't anything necessary. I rarely used the 600EX-RT since then, I took couple of test shots with the YN and I was fixed for the whole night.
So yesterday, I felt like using the 600EX-RT, I mounted it on my lighting stand and took some pictures of a friend. I have a cheap stand, so it falls almost all the time if I don't use something to hold it down. I asked my friend to look after it, but it fell, and the 600EX-RT's so called secured attachment didn't help, and the flash fell from a one meter height. It didn't make a harsh sound, but it didn't turn on. A 600$ worth just fell and 'died'.
This day, I learned that what our instructor told us was true: flashes break, and they break heavy often.
Because of that, and the fact that ETTL is a privilege, and you don't need any fancy overpriced transceivers to trigger the flash (about 10-20$ on eBay), you shouldn't buy all those overpriced flashes.
What do you think? How often does your flashes break? Which kinds of flashes do you use? I'd be happy to hear your opinions.

I've owned 6 flashes now - all Canon; (2) 580EXIIs, (3) 430EXIIs, and now a 600EX-RT. I never had any of them break.

I had a cheap ebay trigger on a 430EX II on an umbrella stand fall over.

Cheap trigger snapped in half and the flash was untouched.

Plus it's way too much of a pain in the ass having to walk to the flash to change settings all the time.

Stuff falls all the time. The cost of the object usually has little to do with it's falling. But two things stands out. First, you were using a cheap stand so you have greatly increased the odds of something bad happening. And that leads to the second, you knew you were using a cheap stand and you knew it falls over yet you placed it in charge of someone who probably didn't know how cheap and unstable it really was. I'm sorry but that was just asking for it.

You could have done things differently. First, dump the cheap stand and get one that is more stable. It will cost more but seeing how the cheap one already cost you $600, in the long run it would have probably saved you money. Second, if you insist on using unstable stands, take much more care that they are properly secured. Don't rely on someone who doesn't know any better to protect your equipment.

Depends what you are doing. I use both manual and ETTL. You are in a learning curve so you completely dropped ETTL but how do you know you want it again? Are you going to bring umbrellas and softboxes to all future event photography gigs? I know you can shoot manual at events as well. Just a personal choice.

There are less expensive alternatives to Canon for ETTL capability. I decided to get rid of triggers and went with Canon RT. I'm very happy with it. Yongnuo just announced an RT flash system which will be Canon compatible and cost less.

As for falling. You said you are using a cheap stand that falls all the time and you had your 600 on it. I'm sorry for your loss but perhaps investing on a more sturdy stand would have been something to look at when you got your 600. I know cost's can be tough starting out but you want to protect an investment.

Anyway good luck to whatever path you take.

"...I have a cheap stand, so it falls almost all the time..."

Sounds to me like this is absolutely nothing to do with the flash but more a problem with the operator not taking care of the equipment!

$600 flash, $20 stand.......not a great combo.

Yongnuo manual flashes are great and off camera, where the flash to subject distance is consistent, manual is the better option. On camera where the flash to subject distance is constantly changing ETTL is a god send.

Lesson here isn't that expensive, or even ETTL flashes, are not needed. Rather its that if you have expensive equipment on cheap stands that you know fail often you will end up having an expensive accident!

ted krazonowski wrote in post #16365490
"...I have a cheap stand, so it falls almost all the time..."

Sounds to me like this is absolutely nothing to do with the flash but more a problem with the operator not taking care of the equipment!

WORD.
Why would you put $600 flash, or anything, on a stand that you know falls over all of the time??!?
I have cheap all manual YN flashes and put them on very sturdy Linco stands. I've only had it get blown over once (very windy day and no assistant to hold anything with a 20" softbox, wind changed direction so sandbag became useless on the side it was on) and a direct landing on the flash. Broke the door locking clip but the flash still works fine. I've dropped my flash down a flight of stairs and it works fine (was trying to carry a bunch of stuff at once and the flash fell off).

Even YN flashes are too expensive to place on a stand that 'falls almost all the time'.

Hey everyone - the op put a big red banner up in the title of this thread - "Opinion" - that really sets the stage for what he followed with. It's like asking what one's favorite color is - it's really futile to think you should debate it.

Tripods and stands are as valuable as the equipment it holds, don't skimp if you have expensive gear!

There's lots of stuff you can buy which you don't need. What makes even less sense is using canon ETTL flashes as a strobist.

Before an opinion can even be formed, let alone expressed, one must first define "High Priced Flash". To some, a US$600 flash is a mere drop in the Ocean. To others, a US$25 expenditure on a flash unit must be both justified and saved for.

ted krazonowski wrote in post #16365490
"...I have a cheap stand, so it falls almost all the time..."

Sounds to me like this is absolutely nothing to do with the flash but more a problem with the operator not taking care of the equipment!

and if you are this kind of operator, for sure do not get an expensive flash.

I have 2 Yn flashes , I never felt that I need to upgrade even on TTL it works fine (recycle time is better than Canon)