Downsizing speedlite?

Hi guys,

I need some inputs on choosing the right speedlite for my needs. I already have a 430EX, but it no longer works in E-TTL mode and I never liked the weight it adds to the camera in the first place. Too often I've left the flash at home because I didn't want to carry that heavy thing around. E-TTL is a must, I don't really need HSS, and the smaller, the better.

At first, I thought of getting a Yongnuo 500EX, as it does everything my 430EX used to for half the price. Downside, it's just as heavy. I did some research and found 3 lighter alternatives: Sunpak RD2000, Metz 24 AF-1 and Canon 270EX II. They all are roughly half the size and half the weight of my 430EX. That's great, but feature-wise they come with some compromises.

First of all, I have to say that I don't need all the power I can get from the big speedlites. I don't try to do crazy things like overpower the sun or light an entire building. My usage is focused on portrait and close up/macro photography. Most of the time, it's just one person standing 2-3m in front of me, or a small group of people (at most 3-4 persons). Direct flash (bare or through umbrella) shouldn't be an issue as I can do that with my 430EX and I need to dial the power way down not to over expose. What I'm not so sure about is if these small flashes are powerful enough to get a good exposure when bouncing off the ceiling...

Power aside, my main concern is that none of them swivel. They all tilt (nice), but none swivel sideways (boo). How to get a nice soft light in portrait orientation if I cannot bounce off the ceiling? I do have a TTL cord, so I imagine I could just hand hold the flash, point it towards the ceiling and shoot away. Anyone using this technique? Is it convenient?

The 270EX II looks quite attractive. It's the most full featured of the 3 but it also cost twice as much (and is even slightly more expensive than the YN-500EX). Is it really worth its premium price?

For the price the V860 is an excellent choice for a flash . I have the Nikon version and love how easy it is to use.

http://flashhavoc.com …c-ving-ettl-flash-review/

I will also add that since the V860 uses a lithium ion rechargeable battery rated for 650 full power shots with a recycling time of 1.5s at full power you'll save a fortune on AA batteries.

Thorrulz wrote in post #17219648
For the price the V860 is an excellent choice for a flash.

You didn't read my post, did you?

Sorry for trying to help, then get the YN-500EX you mentioned in your original post.

The 430ex is already a fairly small flash. The next size down is the 320ex and it still has a swivel head.

The 270ex and other flashes you mentioned are barely an upgrade from the pop up flash.

gremlin75 wrote in post #17220778
The 430ex is already a fairly small flash. The next size down is the 320ex and it still has a swivel head.

The 270ex and other flashes you mentioned are barely an upgrade from the pop up flash.

This is pretty much what I was going to say.

I think you should consider concentrating on off camera flash with something on the larger end. One of the Yongnuo units should work fine. With some practice one off camera flash can light up a room fairly well even if you are moving around a bit. Just keep the flash to your back or 90 degrees to the left or right and balance it with the ambient. If you were to grab two cheap flashes you could have one on either side of the room and shoot however you want.

Not sure the weight and size saving of the 320 would be significant enough for the other trade offs. Isn't the swivel limited to one direction?

Thanks, I do appreciate everyone's opinions but I realize I may not have been very clear in my first post: I want to get a smaller/lighter flash and don't need the power of the bigger flashes.

So anything the size of a typical speedlight (e.g. 430EX, 580EX, YN-5xx, etc.) is out. Actually, anything that runs on 4x AA is heavier than I want to deal with. The closest thing to a small full featured speedlight I could find is the Nissin 40i (4x AA too). It sits half way between a 430EX and a 270EX in both size and weight. Quite compelling but outside of my budget (it costs as much as a 430EX).

Since I don't need the power of my 430EX, I've been looking at much smaller units that runs on just two AA batteries like the 270EX to get the small form factor I would like. The GN charts for the 430EX and 270EX tells me the 270EX has about half the power of the former. Not bad as I use my 430EX between 1/4 and 1/64 power settings most of the time.

If I get another flash the size of my 430EX, I know it will collect dust at home as I hate to carry extra weight around. At home, I can continue to use my 430EX in manual mode and shoot through umbrella. I do that already with great results. But I also need a flash when I go out and shoot around (outdoor in low light or somewhere else indoor). No fixed setup, no umbrella, just casual walk around and shoot. That's why I need ETTL, and want something light only. A 270EX would take no space in my small bag and not be a burden to carry.

I do plan on using the flash off camera, which is why I'm leaning towards the 270EX rather than the sunpak or metz I mentioned. The 270EX has a wireless slave mode, so I could very well just hand hold it further away from the camera or place it somewhere on the side (wall, piece of furniture, tree, whatever) and fire away. In theory that should work. The bummer is the lack of swivel with the flash on camera. That limits the creative usage to just bounce off the ceiling in landscape and bounced off the left wall in portrait.

Would love to hear from people who own a 270EX and have tried to use it for more than just on camera fill flash.

gremlin75 wrote in post #17220778
The 430ex is already a fairly small flash. The next size down is the 320ex and it still has a swivel head.

The 270ex and other flashes you mentioned are barely an upgrade from the pop up flash.

I got a 270ex hoping to use it in certain situations when I didn't want the bulk of 580exII. I hardly use it because it just doesn't have the power or flexibility I've come to rely on from the 580.

cedm wrote in post #17221427
Thanks, I do appreciate everyone's opinions but I realize I may not have been very clear in my first post: I want to get a smaller/lighter flash and don't need the power of the bigger flashes.

No you were clear, but the 270ex is still barely an up grade from the pop up. Though you can get it off camera so that is a plus. I've used one of the small flashes like the 270ex and was very disappointed in it. It's amazing how much you can miss a swivel head, Espically when using the wireless slave and need line of sight for the flash to fire (no way to have the head of the flash toward the subject and the IR sensor toward the camera).

It sounds like you're already sold on the 280ex though. If you think you'll be happy with it then get it. You're the one who will be using it so you're the one who has to decide if it will be right for you.

Personally if I'm going to bring a flash with me I'm going to bring a flash that has all the features I need/want (ETTL, manual, bounce/swivel head, powerful). A flash like the 270ex doesn't have what I need so bringing it is just going to be a waste of space anyways. To others any speedlight is going to be too small and be a waste of space. For you the 270ex might be the perfect option. Only you know though.

I've been reading good reviews on the Nissin i40.

http://www.nissindigit​al.com/i40.html

gremlin75 wrote in post #17221470
It sounds like you're already sold on the 280ex though. If you think you'll be happy with it then get it. You're the one who will be using it so you're the one who has to decide if it will be right for you.

Not sold yet, I'm still debating what would work best for me. I'm trying to set one of the requirement (the size) as a starting point and figure out if I can deal with the compromises. It would be a lot easier if I could get my hands on a few options and try each one. But all I can do now is extrapolate from what I have and make guesses.

Most people mention power as being the 270EX weakest point, but I'm not sure I really need that more much power. How much power do I need to light 1-2 persons, half body (waist up) at a distance of 2-4m (my typical style of portrait photography)? If indoor, I would want to bounce off the ceiling. Outdoor (evening/night time), direct flash I guess (no other choice, right?)

yogestee wrote in post #17222221
I've been reading good reviews on the Nissin i40.

http://www.nissindigit​al.com/i40.html

I'm having a look at it again. The specs are great. It's a little bit bulky but still smaller than my 430ex. The price is tough... $270? My budget is around $150++.

Does your camera have a built in flash? If so use it if you need something more checkout the frenel lens that can be installed to increase the effect.

how about the MEIKE MK-300-C ?

cedm wrote in post #17222389
Most people mention power as being the 270EX weakest point, but I'm not sure I really need that more much power. How much power do I need to light 1-2 persons, half body (waist up) at a distance of 2-4m (my typical style of portrait photography)?

That all depends on what modifier you're using, what your aperture is, and what ISO you're at.

If you're just shooting the flash difectly at the subjects then not much power is neededh. If you're using a soft box or umbrella (which I have to assume you're not since the flash it's self is more the you like to take), shooting at 100 ISO and f8+ then that might be stretching the limits of the little flash......and even if it does have enough power your recycle times will suck. If you're bouncing off a wall then the further away the wall is the more power you'll need (plus factor in desired ISO and aperture). Though since the head doesn't swivel that limits your bouncing options while on camera to basically the ceiling.

You can always decrease the power of a flash from its max output, but you can never go over its max power. Plus the lower the power setting of the flash the faster your recycle times will be and the more pops you'll get out of a set of batteries.

Blackey Cole wrote in post #17222395
Does your camera have a built in flash? If so use it if you need something more checkout the frenel lens that can be installed to increase the effect.

I have a 60D, so yes I got a popup flash (with wireless commander built-in). But the popup flash won't allow me to bounce off ceiling/wall nor go OCF. I only use it for fill flash when my subject is back lit.

malow wrote in post #17222505
how about the MEIKE MK-300-C ?

Seems like it doesn't tilt nor swivel. No wireless slave mode either, so that's just like a more powerful popup flash I believe.

So far it's a toss between the 270EX II and the i40 I reckon. I'll try to figure out how much flash power I really need and wait for a deal I guess.