needing flash.....

Need flash for indoors...have a d7!! and a eos 5d!!!. know very little about flash but know I need something for indoors. Something to build on in class I later want a slave for special pictures.

thanks

What's your budget? What are you shooting with flash indoors? Are you planning on using it more on the camera hotshoe? Or off camera on a lightstand in studio-style setups?

Without this information, my blind recommendation would be a $110 Godox TT685C and $70 XPro-C transmitter to use it off camera, because I have drunk the Godox kool-aid. But that could change with more information.

Yep, Godox/Flashpoint (same stuff rebranded) is probably the best in terms of value for the price, and the ability to be cross compatible between different camera systems is great for future-proofing to some degree. Personally I lean toward Flashpoint stuff because I find they come with higher quality cases and a few extras sometimes vs. the Godox brand... even though they’re essentially the same item.

Lyndön wrote in post #18629287
Yep, Godox/Flashpoint (same stuff rebranded) is probably the best in terms of value for the price, and the ability to be cross compatible between different camera systems is great for future-proofing to some degree. Personally I lean toward Flashpoint stuff because I find they come with higher quality cases and a few extras sometimes vs. the Godox brand... even though they’re essentially the same item.

Been reading on here and the F;cashpoint/Godox seems to be the goto item instead of a canon or other off brand (shoot canon) lite. Shooting family some sports but mostly family gatherings.

They’re very popular on here for sure. One reason is that they have an entire system of lights from small speedlites up to very powerful 1200w/s strobes, that can all be mixed and matched for off camera use with a single transmitter (per camera brand). That’s great for us who shoot more than one system, since we only need to buy one transmitter per brand and all of our lights are cross-compatible whether we’re using a body from Canon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic, or Nikon. The only catch is that you have to buy a flash unit specific to your camera brand if you’re going to be using it ON the camera. Once they’re off-camera they don’t care about what brand the master is. They’re also built pretty well, probably not quite up to Canon’s build quality (at least not in weather sealing), but hey... you can get about 4 TT685’s for one Canon 600EX-RT.

IMO, the only reason to get a Canon OEM flash (and I own a couple) is if you need the absolute toughest build and weather sealing... or you need reliable AF assist that works every time. I’ve found the third party AF assist lights to be lacking and not work as well as the Canon 600’s (the YN600’s AF assist really sucks IMO). I’ve never used a Godox speedlites on my Canon though, just on my Sony and Olympus which don’t use AF assist on the speedlite for some reason.

will use it on the camera until I find out something else that would make a good picture (where more than 1 light is needed).

Don't make the same mistake as I did: Get the most powerful you can afford and are willing to lug around. For on-camera you want lot's of ooompf (bounce flash).

Lyndön wrote in post #18629388
... I’ve never used a Godox speedlites on my Canon though, just on my Sony and Olympus which don’t use AF assist on the speedlite for some reason.

I think, from what I've read, that since AF function is done by the image sensor on mirrorless cameras (not a separate AF array), and because the image sensor has a UV/IR cut filter over it, and most AF assist lamps are IR or near-IR, they can be less-than-useful. That's why mirrorless cameras tend to use a white LED instead for AF-assist.

The other criticism I've heard with Godox on the hotshoe is the stiffness in the head rotation (since the head is held in place by friction, rather than a lock button) can put additional torque on the hotshoe of the flash. And some folks feel that TTL performance isn't quite as good as with OEM, although reports vary on that.

There's also some gracenote features in the RT system that aren't duplicated in the Godox X system, such as shutter release control via the camera hotshoe connection (i.e., you can use a flash as a shutter remote), four-digit ID codes (rather than two), the RF interference graph, remote wakeup, etc. Not to mention actual customer support and warranty factory repair vs. retailer exchanges and an email address in Shenzhen that never seems to bother replying to queries . But for a lot of folks, the price difference between the two (600EX II-RT: $480; TT685C: $110) can more than make up for the differences.

The RT system does also allow for access to some 3rd-party studio strobes, notably a Phottix Indra and the Jinbei/Orlit RT strobes.

But again, Godox is probably gonna cost less, and the AD200 option is more or less unique (although Cactus is changing that). And, of course, Godox also offers li-on versions of all their speedlights, which simplifies battery handling, which can be irresistible if you're an all-day multiple-flash shooter.

drifter106 wrote in post #18629392
will use it on the camera until I find out something else that would make a good picture (where more than 1 light is needed).

Ok, then you may want to also consider a Canon OEM flash, since they tend to be better for on-camera use. If you are budget constrained, possibly consider a used 580EXII rather than one of the newer radio-equipped RT flashes. The Godox TT685C or V860IIC tends to be better if you're budget-constrained or plan to use the flash off-camera as often as on-camera. You can always add an X1RC receiver to the foot of a 580EXII to use it along with other Godox gear.

Whatever you get, for on-camera use, I do recommend finding a speedlight with 360º swivel and TTL/HSS capability.

drifter106 wrote in post #18629169
Need flash for indoors...have a d7!! and a eos 5d!!!. know very little about flash but know I need something for indoors. Something to build on in class I later want a slave for special pictures.

thanks

The R2 system is really fantastic, well made, reliable, and friendly to the budget.

Adorama's rebrand of it is Flashpoin R2 Zoom TTL: https://www.adorama.co​m …3s7wiLEAQYAiABE​gIt5vD_BwE

Excellent flash.

They're plenty powerful for indoors.

Once I touched the R2, I started selling my other flashes in general, my Canons and my Yongnuos. The R2 communication system is just great, being able to integrate and control speedlites, strobes, etc, all from the same controller and mix and match different types.

The on and off camera ETTL & HSS works fantastic.

The Lithium battery version is awesome. That thing pops flashes forever.
https://www.adorama.co​m …2ca.html?Catego​ryID=65022

+++++++++++++++

And they're plenty powerful for outdoors too.

Here's the Flashpoint R2 Zoom flash (ETTL & HSS) in a 28" beauty dish + sock, outside, as fill during sunset:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/21mz​BLJ

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Hv7X​dF

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/GVHr​tn

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/25d8​Qka

inkista wrote in post #18629416
I think, from what I've read, that since AF function is done by the image sensor on mirrorless cameras (not a separate AF array), and because the image sensor has a UV/IR cut filter over it, and most AF assist lamps are IR or near-IR, they can be less-than-useful. That's why mirrorless cameras tend to use a white LED instead for AF-assist.

The other criticism I've heard with Godox on the hotshoe is the stiffness in the head rotation (since the head is held in place by friction, rather than a lock button) can put additional torque on the hotshoe of the flash. And some folks feel that TTL performance isn't quite as good as with OEM, although reports vary on that.

There's also some gracenote features in the RT system that aren't duplicated in the Godox X system, such as shutter release control via the camera hotshoe connection (i.e., you can use a flash as a shutter remote), four-digit ID codes (rather than two), the RF interference graph, remote wakeup, etc. Not to mention actual customer support and warranty factory repair vs. retailer exchanges and an email address in Shenzhen that never seems to bother replying to queries . But for a lot of folks, the price difference between the two (600EX II-RT: $480; TT685C: $110) can more than make up for the differences.

The RT system does also allow for access to some 3rd-party studio strobes, notably a Phottix Indra and the Jinbei/Orlit RT strobes.

But again, Godox is probably gonna cost less, and the AD200 option is more or less unique (although Cactus is changing that). And, of course, Godox also offers li-on versions of all their speedlights, which simplifies battery handling, which can be irresistible if you're an all-day multiple-flash shooter.

I’ve read some things regarding the AF assist on mirrorless and seen similar explanations. It’s not that much of a big deal since the Sony and Olympus bodies I have both include AF assist lights (amber) on the body itself.

I actually prefer the non-locking head of the YN/Godox flashes as I think it’s quicker to adjust. I’ve never felt it needed enough force to put unnecessary strain on the shoe. I have no complaints about the TTL of my Godox flashes, except I usually need a bit of +FEC on the smaller/less powerful TT350. I have no issues at all with the the Flashpoint TT685, eVOLV200 (AD200), or XPlor600 that I have. I’m sure others may have different experiences.

Yes there are some features on the Canon flashes that aren’t on the Godox/FP models, but those are probably only used in very rare cases. If you need those features then I suppose they could be deal breakers. As for support, that’s another reason I tend to buy the rebranded Godox equipment from Adorama (Flashpoint). If you have any issues then you’re much more likely to get a satisfactory resolution from Adorama vs Godox, which I’ve heard isn’t the best at customer service.

I had forgotten about the Orlit/Indra being Canon RT compatible. I was already in the Godox system when I saw those, so I didn’t really consider them much for my own use. They seem like good options for someone only shooting Canon, but since I use multiple camera systems the Godox was a much better fit for me. I can grab the Xplor600 and not worry about which body I’m shooting with that day. That decision is going to save me quite a bit of money in my transition from Canon to Sony.

inkista wrote in post #18629417
Ok, then you may want to also consider a Canon OEM flash, since they tend to be better for on-camera use. If you are budget constrained, possibly consider a used 580EXII rather than one of the newer radio-equipped RT flashes. The Godox TT685C or V860IIC tends to be better if you're budget-constrained or plan to use the flash off-camera as often as on-camera. You can always add an X1RC receiver to the foot of a 580EXII to use it along with other Godox gear.

Whatever you get, for on-camera use, I do recommend finding a speedlight with 360º swivel and TTL/HSS capability.

while i know they mentioned the 580ex-II (for a lesser priced alternative) but here are a pair of 600s for a super price!

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1496108

what does the canon 600's have over the Godex/Flashpoint or visa versa. I know the canon is a lot more expensive but insofar as getting the job done and done right which would be the way to go.

thanks for helping out somewone who knows so very little about flash.

The Canon has a better AF assist if you shoot in dark difficult situations (wedding receptions), and it’s better weather sealed if you get stuck in a situation like shooting outdoors in the rain. It’s also got a few features that are rarely used, like the ability to trigger the shutter on one camera with a Canon 600RT on it from a separate camera with a 600RT. The ID codes and such mentioned earlier only come into play if you have a lot of shooters around using the same flash. You can think of it like putting them on different channels to prevent interference.

Basically, in everyday use when you just need a flash... there isn’t much difference between the two. Both produce a flash of light to light your subject. Power is comparable. Both have options to use them off camera. The Godox interface is pretty much a copy of the Canon, so usability is a tie. Compared to the TT685, both have features like TTL (the camera automatically calculates the flash power) and HSS (high speed sync to shoot with flash at shutter speeds > ~1/200th).

I own the Canon 600, recently had the Yongnuo 600, and currently have several flashes from Godox. Since you’re just starting out with flash, I’d recommend going with the Godox TT685 or YN600 (it’s directy compatible with the Canon RT system but much cheaper, it’s basically a Canon clone). Both will save you a lot of cash as you learn. You can always eBay the cheaper flashes with minimal loss, and upgrade to the much more expensive Canon 600’s later if you feel the need.

Bottom line, nobody will ever be able to tell if you took a shot with a Godox, Canon, or any other brand of flash. How you use the flash... bounce, modify, light position, gel, etc, makes much more difference in your final image than the brand of flash you use.