Any Help WIth A New Flash?

Do you want a status symbol or a flash? Paying more isn't any guarantee of a hedge against obsolescence or any particular guarantee against failure. There are reasons to buy one brand, or one model over another but high end isn't one of them.

High end is (buying one flash that has the ability to do what a pro can do with his/her flash, so when I get better I won't need to upgrade)

ETTL I know nada TTL is through the lense which uses the camera to tell the flash what it need to know to make a correct exposure, but it isn't manual.

Everything from people, pets, wildlife building etc. Pretty much anything you can with one good flash.

I know you want your flash off camera, bounce flash makes nicer light etc. I know some, but I'm new to flash and don't know flash.
Seth

Bonecollector wrote in post #17873642
Is the flash you mentioned high end?


I want a high end flash so I don't have to purchase another.


Thank you!
Seth

For a high end, full featured, do everything flash, I would recommend the Canon 600EX-RT . It is something you will not have to replace or buy again.

You can also add the Canon ST-E3-RT off camera transmitter for full off camera capability. I wouldn't bother with Pocket wizards or any other transmitter/receiver if you have the Canon 600EX-RT.

I don't care about what it looks like or the brand or anything.

I don't want to do what I've been doing for years.

Buying the cheaper item, and then having to upgrade to the more expensive item. You lose money in the long run that way. I'd rather spend the money and get the good flash than have to buy 2.

Seth

Bonecollector wrote in post #17873697
I don't care about what it looks like or the brand or anything.

I don't want to do what I've been doing for years.

Buying the cheaper item, and then having to upgrade to the more expensive item. You lose money in the long run that way. I'd rather spend the money and get the good flash than have to buy 2.

Seth

Then lose terms like high end, it makes you sound ridiculous. Ask specific questions about quality and functionality. What an item costs isnt necessarily and indicator of those things.

Bonecollector wrote in post #17873697
Buying the cheaper item, and then having to upgrade to the more expensive item. You lose money in the long run that way. I'd rather spend the money and get the good flash than have to buy 2.

gotcha.

I have a variety of flashes from 30 odd years of flash photography. On a rare occasion I will put my Minolta 20 into use and hope that it doesn't explode into a ball of flames. My very old Sunpak is still very useable, my 15 year old Nikon SB-28 is damn near as competent as my Canon 580EXII that was just discontinued a year or so ago.

Point is that in large part, light is light.

I don't take the time to know what each of the Youngnou brand is capable of doing but BH Photo has recently picked up most, if not all of their line. I think the YN-568 II is essentially the same as a Canon 580 EXII. The YN cost a hundred bucks new and the Canon cost $220ish used. I got a great deal on th e580 about 3-4 years ago for 200 used so i jumped on it. This was before a reputable US based dealer had picked up the YN brand. Either of those flashes will do what you are looking to do.

oh yeah, this is very important, delete all that distance information garbage from your mind before going forward. That is a relic from the days before ETTL flash.

I guess some folks might still try to make use of it, but IMO it would probably be along the lines of having something to brag about.

buy a good ETTL flash, experiment with FEC, and come back here for answers to why something isn't working the way you expect.

Incase this helps...


I'm planning to use this flash for everything...

On canon mostly nature/anmals.. Pets, wildlife, macro, outdoor things (trees, rocks, sunsets, things you'd use a flash for outdoors.)

On Sony also outdoors as mentioned above, additionall for indoors, Interiors (Like photos of rooms for decorators) portraits, sports (canon for sports also).

I'm learning so I will practice using flash for everything and figure out what I'm good at and what I like before I buy a bunch of flashes and strobes etc.

Thank you everybody for the help!
Seth

If you want to buy one flash to use on both the Sony AND the Canon then it is going to have to be a non-ETTL, Manual mode only flash.

I would recommend a $70 Yongnuo YN560 IV that comes with a built-in receiver that allows you to remotely control the power levels. http://www.amazon.com …sr=8-1&keywords=yn-560+iv
Then you just need to add a $40 YONGNUO YN560-TX tranmitter that will work on both Sony and Canon cameras. http://www.amazon.com …fRID=18AJ0JBET0​2GJE00Z8PK

This is very cheap way to get into off camera flash and also a very good system that many people love. It is also the only way you can use the flash on both Sony and Canon.

Bonecollector wrote in post #17873753
On Sony

pretty sure you can forget about that too. Your best bet would be to use a set of dumb triggers between the sony and the Canon flash for off camera flash.

GTFM...Get The F* Manual, if you do not have it...available online for free, which is how I got the information for your flash! RTFM, page 55-57, too.
Assuming you have done both and simply do not comprehend, let me simplify...

The Sony HVL-F60M does indeed have Manual mode.

" Manual flash provides a fixed flash intensity irrespective of the brightness of the subject and the camera setting", which means you simply turn it on, and depend upon 'Guide Number arithmetic' to calculate exposure, and you may use partial power Manual mode (selected via rotary cpontrol wheel) to change to lower power and Guide Number

• Guide Number = Distance * f/stop
  
• but the Guide Number changes if you change the Angle of Coverage of the flash
  
• and the Guide Number normally quoted assumes ISO 100, so you have to alter the GN if using a different ISO
  for each additional +1EV of ISO sensitivity, multiply GN*1.414 to obtain applicable Guide Number
  
  

Wilt: I think the OP (Seth) has returned the Sony flash and ordered a canon 600EX-RT. He has also ordered some Pocket Wizard Plus II I transceivers and he wants to use the 600EX-RT on both Sony and Canon cameras. .

Seth: Is that correct?

Wilt wrote in post #17873774
GTFM...Get The F* Manual, if you do not have it...available online for free, which is how I got the information for your flash! RTFM,

he STFB (sent the f@#er back).

signed,
another guy who often doesn't RTFT before responding.

Correct... I am now trying to cancel the Canon flash and get the Falsh and tranciever you have just above.

I will either keep the pocketwizards for later or try selling them.
Seth

msowsun wrote in post #17873763
Then you just need to add a $40 YONGNUO YN560-TX tranmitter that will work on both Sony and Canon cameras.

interesting. Does it not provide any sort of automatic/ETTL for either brand?