Flash advice please

I only use my 550 flash for family get togethers, as ive been advised before i leave my 7D on P mode and use the flash on Auto, my photos seem to be ok, would i be better getting a smaller flash like the 430exII
or should i stay with the 550, which seems a bit large thank you...Ray

So if I understand correctly you own a Canon 550EX speedlight? And you're trying to upgrade your flash? Are you trying to upgrade your flash because your current flash is not performing properly? Could you maybe show some example pictures where you're unhappy how the speedlight performed? By putting the flash in "auto" I'm assuming you mean E-TTL mode correct? I personally recommend manual settings but they are a bit more advanced. Are you bouncing your flash or directing the lights straight at your target?

Jarvis Creative Studios wrote in post #17776990
So if I understand correctly you own a Canon 550EX speedlight? And you're trying to upgrade your flash? Are you trying to upgrade your flash because your current flash is not performing properly? Could you maybe show some example pictures where you're unhappy how the speedlight performed? By putting the flash in "auto" I'm assuming you mean E-TTL mode correct? I personally recommend manual settings but they are a bit more advanced. Are you bouncing your flash or directing the lights straight at your target?

Yes i have the 550ex, im pretty happy with the photos i get, nothing fancy, i have nobody to please but my family, who think i take good photos, i was just thinking from a weight point of view the 430 would be lighter

happyduck wrote in post #17776995
Yes i have the 550ex, im pretty happy with the photos i get, nothing fancy, i have nobody to please but my family, who think i take good photos, i was just thinking from a weight point of view the 430 would be lighter

Hi, If you sometimes bounce your 550Ex off surfaces for softer light, you might miss the in-reality 2/3rds stop extra power over the 430. The 550 has the same output as a 580ExII despite what the quoted GNs would have you believe. The 'II' series lights do re-cycle far more quickly and they offer full setup & control from camera's flash menus.

OceanRipple* wrote in post #17777013
Hi, If you sometimes bounce your 550Ex off surfaces for softer light, you might miss the in-reality 2/3rds stop extra power over the 430. The 550 has the same output as a 580ExII despite what the quoted GNs would have you believe. The 'II' series lights do re-cycle far more quickly and they offer full setup & control from camera's flash menus.

Thank you ill stay with the 550, it seems ok cheers...Ray

IMO, it is very rare that a flash in auto mode is going to fire at full power, or even 1/2. So the extra 2/3 a stop really won't make much difference.

I shot an event saturday night with on-camera flash, but I use a very different set up. I was in manual everything, camera and flash. I set up my flash at 1/4 power and zoomed it in to 105mm. i pop up the white card for a little more fill when shooting landscape mode. I was using my 24-105 at f/4.5 (i think) and around 2000 ISO. I stand back and zoom in so I'm rarely under 70mm.

I bounced the flash off 18 foot ceilings all night and it was a great balance of ambient and flash.

I have a 580 EX and a smaller Nikon SB-28. I brought the Canon flash in out of habit and never had time to run back out for the Nikon, which would have done the job just fine.

Anyway, I understand not liking to have a heavy flash hanging off the camera. For me, it really makes a difference when holding on to a camera for a few hours and the smaller the better. I'd rather carry a heavy lens than have a flash throwing off the balance of the camera.

if you aren't bouncing the flash, the extra power is definitely not coming into play. Well unless you are shooting at super long distances.

Just another opinion to throw into the hat.