Ditch the 430exII?

Currently I have a 430 ex II that I use quite a lot. Mostly it is for bounce flash as part of indoor photography, although I do occasionally set it up off camera on the little stand.

However, I have noticed myself often getting frustrated with ETTL not giving what I want, and ending up in manual power.

That being said, I am considering selling my (in very good condition) Canon Speedlite for a Yongnuo YN-560 III. I already have the YNG triggers. Does anyone have any advice or thoughts on what I am going to miss about my Canon flash?

I am planning on using the money toward either a new prime (85/1.8 or 100/2) or a second flash. I shoot mostly pictures of my family and church events with my flash. The rest is usually flashless work.

Thanks!

Honestly, I pretty much never use ettl flash. For me it's always manual.

I have a 580 EX and actually use the YN 560 III with triggers as well.

I use the Yn 560 alot more, i am about to get a second one next week, i hardly ever use the 580, the ETTL is nice, but the controls are more complicated and the zoom and back-light stopped working on my 580.

I wouldn't be without an ETTL capable flash even though I don't shoot using ETTL much, it's still the only way to fly in some situations. Personally, I would stick with the 430exII, work the bugs out of why you can't be more consistant, but also get a set of YN622C triggers.

windpig wrote in post #17000850
I wouldn't be without an ETTL capable flash even though I don't shoot using ETTL much, it's still the only way to fly in some situations. Personally, I would stick with the 430exII, work the bugs out of why you can't be more consistant, but also get a set of YN622C triggers.

Although I rarely use the 430EXll, I'd go with Windpig on this. It should work well especially with the YN-622Cs. If you foresee doing a reasonable amount of flashwork at events and extend this to using a key and rim light, then get a second flash and an extra trigger which will make the difference to getting much better lit portraits at those events.

Not aware of what else you use but I think once you master your first flash, you will have a better idea of what to get next, that second flash or a fast prime.

If you have an ETTL facility, it's not compulsory to use it. If you haven't got ETTL facility it's impossible to use it. I'd always ensure that I had at least one ETTL-capable flash unit; just in case (you never know what future needs will be) - and this is from someone who uses ETTL once a blue moon. But it's there if ever I do need it.

windpig wrote in post #17000850
I wouldn't be without an ETTL capable flash even though I don't shoot using ETTL much, it's still the only way to fly in some situations. Personally, I would stick with the 430exII, work the bugs out of why you can't be more consistant, but also get a set of YN622C triggers.

another vote for this ^^^.

ETTL should give fairly consistent results. If I remember correctly, using evaluative rather than spot metering is the preferred method. Between finding the right metering mode and using FEC (flash exposure compensation) you should get you on the right track.

Keep the 430EXII.

In the famous words of Richard Pryor, "It is better to have it and not to need it, than to need it and not to have it

i did a quick search while slurping down some coffee and chocolate chip cookies, man i love that combo.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1369764

https://photography-on-the.net …7&highlight=ETT​L+metering

https://photography-on-the.net …8&highlight=ETT​L+metering


digital paradise has a real good grasp of how ETTL works, take heed of what he says. Much more so than what I say, seems what i said above about camera metering isn't entirely correct. It might help with balancing ambient with flash, maybe?

I have a 430exii and three YN560s. 99% of the time I use them in manual. However, last week I had to use ETTL, like someone said above I think it's important to at least have the option if you need it.

Oldschool1948 wrote in post #17001184
In the famous words of Richard Pryor, "It is better to have it and not to need it, than to need it and not to have it

Franz Kafka (d.1924) not Richard Prior (b.1940). It was a widely known and oft-quoted aphorism decades before Prior's birth. The quote is possibly Kafka's interpretation of something from Gustav Flaubert's scandalous 1857 novel 'Madame Bovary', or conceivably by Guy de Maupassant - a Flaubert protegé. Definitely European in origin though.

Irrespective, it's a very sound principle indeed. Money for example (something of which I have too little personal experience :cry .............. or a working ETTL flash which can also be used in Manual if preferred.

Keep the 430EXII, buy another cheap 430EXII from the Canon refurb store, and invest in 3 Cactus V6 triggers that let you control flash power from the camera for each remote flash independently. Ditch ETTL and shoot manual. You'll have so much better control with exposure and flash placement. A couple of cheap light stands and an umbrella or two and you're golden. All of the shots in this link were shot with two Canon speedlights. One behind me high on a stand shooting into a silver umbrella with a front diffuser fabric, the second dead center behind the group high on a stand pointing straight down with the diffuser panel on the flash flipped down for a hair light. The light stand behind them was cloned out afterwards in post processing. If you want to get the results you visualize in your mind, forget about using TTL, ETTL, or any automated exposure at all. It's all about balancing your light sources against each other, and against ambient. Link to examples - http://billsmotrilla.z​enfolio.com/p340561152​#h35f26f61

windpig wrote in post #17000850
I wouldn't be without an ETTL capable flash even though I don't shoot using ETTL much, it's still the only way to fly in some situations. Personally, I would stick with the 430exII, work the bugs out of why you can't be more consistant, but also get a set of YN622C triggers.

Plus one
I have my little issues with ETTL2.
But agree it is incredibly useful in certain conditions.
For example, shooting a portfolio by a river on an incredibly bright sunny day. But with lots of very thick and fast moving clouds. Must have been a hurricane up there - they were flying along.
In setting the ambient background, the 5D3s meter was flicking from left to right so fast and frequently I got out the seconik meter to check that it was not broken.

Ettl2 certainly saved the day. Yes I had 30 crazy exposures but 400 good ones, of which 200 ish were near perfect. Job done!
Well better than I could have done manually! My fingers are just not fast enough!

I think the OP is correct that there is no reason to have 430ex if you you are going to be in manual all the time. If he has none, grabbing a fast prime would go a long way to improving most folks photography. IMO, it would be preferred to having multiple flashes, stands modifiers etc.

That said, if you really feel the need to ditch ttl, yongnou triggers and flash is a good starting point.

Whortleberry wrote in post #17001723
Franz Kafka (d.1924) not Richard Prior (b.1940). It was a widely known and oft-quoted aphorism decades before Prior's birth. The quote is possibly Kafka's interpretation of something from Gustav Flaubert's scandalous 1857 novel 'Madame Bovary', or conceivably by Guy de Maupassant - a Flaubert protegé. Definitely European in origin though.

Irrespective, it's a very sound principle indeed. Money for example (something of which I have too little personal experience :cry .............. or a working ETTL flash which can also be used in Manual if preferred.

Hmmm "nation divided by a language" what