Suggestions for cheap lighting

Having recently spent a bit of money for the sigma 17-70 I have my set of lenses in a pretty good place right now, no L glass or anything but good enough for my purposes and cash flow at the moment. I do however need to get a good flash in the near future however I don't necessarily have the cash I would like to spend on it.

My question:

Would one of the older model flashes such as the Vivitar 285HV be suitable for flash photography or would I just be better off saving and then springing for a sigma, the 430 or 580?

I tried to go cheap and it was a very unsatisfying experience. I returned 3 before finally getting the Canon 430EX.

You really want a bounce/swivel flash to get the most out of your flash. Just buy a 430EX when you have the money. I recommend buying from B&H Photo.

As usual, it all comes down to usage; therefore, perhaps a bit on what is good for what.

When talking about small strobes (i.e. SBs, 580EX, Metz 58s, etc...), those are great for ETTL, and off camera, but mainly they are expensive for their strength at light output and ETTL abilities, both on and off camera.

If you are looking to go pretty much remote with umbrellas, etc... and less use of on camera cords and direct hotshoe connects, then the lower end flashes could do the trick, but again the less expensive, often the less light output, etc....

Hope that helps,
Pat

yeah it helps, part of it would be whether or not the true strength of ETTL is worth it, the vivitar has the old style metering for auto but then can run manual as well you just plug in your ISO and APt.

Main reason for considering this was the plug on strobists blog so it might be worth it to get one anyways if I run it off camera in the future. Dunno be nice to get someone who has used that flash for some feedback before running though otherwise I would be definitely better off with a speedlight.

Older flashes are good for off-camera work, but you can't get TTL metering with them. The Vivitar 285HV, btw, is actually a new flash. The old one, the Vivitar 285, will just fry your camera if you try to fire it from the hot-shoe.

If you are restricted cash wise. Get an older flash and experiment shooting manual. You will make a lot of mistakes and use the trash button a lot --- but you will also learn a lot for not much cash outlay.

Just ensure you check the trigger voltage of the flash if it is an older non-canon version.

As others have said, it depends on your intended use.

I bought the Sigma 500 Super because:

1. Its cheaper than the Canon alternatives (430/580).
2. It has wireless master functionality, the 430 does not.
3. Its ETTL, so you can "just use it".
4. It has full manual control.
5. It has an optical slave, so you can use it off camera with a bit of monkey business.

Its not without its warts, but on balance I think its easily the best "bang for your buck" hot shoe flash if you need an ETTL flash.

mbellot wrote in post #3644273
As others have said, it depends on your intended use.

I bought the Sigma 500 Super because:

1. Its cheaper than the Canon alternatives (430/580).
2. It has wireless master functionality, the 430 does not.
3. Its ETTL, so you can "just use it".
4. It has full manual control.
5. It has an optical slave, so you can use it off camera with a bit of monkey business.

Its not without its warts, but on balance I think its easily the best "bang for your buck" hot shoe flash if you need an ETTL flash.

I agree 110%

mbellot wrote in post #3644273
As others have said, it depends on your intended use.

I bought the Sigma 500 Super because:

1. Its cheaper than the Canon alternatives (430/580).
2. It has wireless master functionality, the 430 does not.
3. Its ETTL, so you can "just use it".
4. It has full manual control.
5. It has an optical slave, so you can use it off camera with a bit of monkey business.

Its not without its warts, but on balance I think its easily the best "bang for your buck" hot shoe flash if you need an ETTL flash.

Nicely put. I agree and have two of them.

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I will wait and get one of the ETTL models most likely the sigma. Which is a pretty good deal considering.

Vitruvius wrote in post #3646115
Thanks for the input everyone. I think I will wait and get one of the ETTL models most likely the sigma. Which is a pretty good deal considering.

B&H is selling the Sigma 500 for the same price as the Canon 430 EX. That's why I went with Canon.

Just Be wrote in post #3646220
B&H is selling the Sigma 500 for the same price as the Canon 430 EX. That's why I went with Canon.

But the Sigma is more powerful and has many more features than the 430 EX.

Tony-S wrote in post #3649852
But the Sigma is more powerful and has many more features than the 430 EX.

I didn't need the extra power for my uses.
The Canon has high speed sync which is what I really wanted.

I hear good things about the high end Sigma flash. Your call.

What's the Canon's fastest sync speed? The Sigma's is 1/250.

Well, I just checked my 30D's manual and all it says is:

"With high-speed sync, you can set a sync speed faster than 1/250 sec."

Clearly, then, the Canon flashes are faster than this. What is the max sync speed?