Tell me why I should by a flash!

I have always thought photography was interesting, but it wasn't until I went from the world of the compact cameras to a Canon EOS 40D earlier this year that it became one of my most passionated hobbies. Like many people I have been hanging around this forum reading alot, for about half a year now. It is really helpful to have a resource like this to learn from and get inspiration, and combined with my own experimenting and playing with the camera it is a great way to develop in this great hobby that we all here have in common!

My wonderful 40D combined with my Tamron 28-75 mm lens makes it to the no.1 thing I use/play with whenever I have time, and I always bring it when I am going somewhere. The thing I like most about photography is to take portraits and shooting pictures of people in different situations, and I think that the Tammy lens is most of the times the perfect lens for just that kind of photography. I think it is hard to get a better all-purpose lens for that price!

Now to my question. I have been thinking about what is gonna be the next thing I buy to put on my 40D. I have been searching this forum, and have read a lot about all the lenses there is. I have been interested in buying a Canon 85 mm 1.8 or a 50 mm 1.4 for portraits and low light situations, and also a Sigma 10-20 mm, since I like travelling and would like to get that WA wiew on the photos from my trips.

But recently I ran into a thread here about flashes, and after reading a little bit a thought crossed my mind, if a proper external flash maybe is the right thing to buy next. I don't think I have yet understood the importance of a good flash in photography, and how I would use it to improve my photographing. I almost never use the internal flash since I find it often gives quite unnatural light, and the shadows that sometimes occur behind the objects also destroy the picture. Do you think I can get more out of my photography and learn more by buying a real flash? I read from another thread that a person said he tried to "buy" good pictures with expensive lenses when all he needed was a good flash. A friend of mine also says that the lighting is 70% of the photography.

So, all you expert people, share your experiences about flashes and please tell me why I should buy a flash!

Thanks and have a good day all of you Canon-people!

Daniel_Linner wrote in post #6080661
I have always thought photography was interesting, but it wasn't until I went from the world of the compact cameras to a Canon EOS 40D earlier this year that it became one of my most passionated hobbies. Like many people I have been hanging around this forum reading alot, for about half a year now. It is really helpful to have a resource like this to learn from and get inspiration, and combined with my own experimenting and playing with the camera it is a great way to develop in this great hobby that we all here have in common!

My wonderful 40D combined with my Tamron 28-75 mm lens makes it to the no.1 thing I use/play with whenever I have time, and I always bring it when I am going somewhere. The thing I like most about photography is to take portraits and shooting pictures of people in different situations, and I think that the Tammy lens is most of the times the perfect lens for just that kind of photography. I think it is hard to get a better all-purpose lens for that price!

Now to my question. I have been thinking about what is gonna be the next thing I buy to put on my 40D. I have been searching this forum, and have read a lot about all the lenses there is. I have been interested in buying a Canon 85 mm 1.8 or a 50 mm 1.4 for portraits and low light situations, and also a Sigma 10-20 mm, since I like travelling and would like to get that WA wiew on the photos from my trips.

But recently I ran into a thread here about flashes, and after reading a little bit a thought crossed my mind, if a proper external flash maybe is the right thing to buy next. I don't think I have yet understood the importance of a good flash in photography, and how I would use it to improve my photographing. I almost never use the internal flash since I find it often gives quite unnatural light, and the shadows that sometimes occur behind the objects also destroy the picture. Do you think I can get more out of my photography and learn more by buying a real flash? I read from another thread that a person said he tried to "buy" good pictures with expensive lenses when all he needed was a good flash. A friend of mine also says that the lighting is 70% of the photography.

So, all you expert people, share your experiences about flashes and please tell me why I should buy a flash!

Thanks and have a good day all of you Canon-people!

a flash is like a tripod. if you stick with photography long enough you'll get one and appreciate its value.

ed rader

Your friend is correct... Photography is all about light. Apart from buying more glass, light is paramount. Buying an external flash was the best decision I've made yet as far as making purchases go. Learning and using flash techniques will enable you to get the shots you weren't able to get before, and will expand your appetite for photography. I too was turned off by flash when all I had was a point and shoot camera - but that was before I discovered dslr's and bounce flash. Here's a good link if you need more convincing... http://planetneil.com …h-photography-techniques/

Flashes can do a lot more for you. They can solve problems with excessive dynamic range by lighting shadows (outdoor portraits, interiors with windows etc.)

More important, flash can light the scene the way you want it to look.

There are two paths:
1. Start with a simple flash you can bounce like a 430EX and later add an ST-E2 or 580EX to go off camera.
2. Assume you will be off camera for sure. Buy cheap manual flashes like Vivitar 285's and spend your money on a good wireless remote like PocketWizards.

I recommend the Strobist blog if you want to see what is possible.

Take the blue pill!. If you start with external flashes, the next thing will be studio strobes and reflectors and the money will REALLY start to add up. Stop now!

Do you have an online galleries so people can see your style? You might be better served by another lens if you've come to use natural light as part of the way you work. Do you find yourself in situations where you've run out of light or need more depth of field indoors?

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=207470

from

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=138907

I've merged both threads into the correct area.

Continue from here, please...

Pete wrote in post #6080797
I've merged both threads into the correct area.

Continue from here, please...

Now they're both merged.

Lighting is paramount. There are tons of wonderful natural light photographers out there.

I got into the whole flash thing when I started reading strobist.com. You find that alot of really cool pictures that you see don't show the flash lighting in any obvious way, but the effect is obvious.

Pick one up -- start with the 580 EX II, not the 430. The 430 is a great flash, but has no PC connector, which means you can't get it off camera cheaply, or at least without some "riggin". One you get the flash, spend $20 on a pc cord at flashzebra.com. Once you start with the light off camera, you will be indeed hooked.

mattograph wrote in post #6080826
Pick one up -- start with the 580 EX II, not the 430. The 430 is a great flash, but has no PC connector, which means you can't get it off camera cheaply, or at least without some "riggin". One you get the flash, spend $20 on a pc cord at flashzebra.com. Once you start with the light off camera, you will be indeed hooked.

Not that I'm pushing the 430EX (since it does have one stop less power and I do buy things based on the penis philosophy) -- but if you're only reason for grabbing the 580EX II over the 430EX is the PC connector, you're spending money unnecessarily.

You can get a PC to hot shoe adapter for the 430EX plus your PC cord (that you'd need for either flash) and still be way ahead. Besides, the 580EX II has the same port as the camera so you'd have to find a non-traditional male-male PC cord anyway and couldn't go with an easier to find female to male that would be compatible with everything else. The upshot of the 580EX II port though is you could go with a screwlock male-male cord and have a more secure connection on both ends.

Personally, I prefer wireless - even if it's the cheap eBay Poverty Wizards way. They don't cost much more than decent PC cords.

Daniel_Linner wrote in post #6080661
I don't think I have yet understood the importance of a good flash in photography

Fast aperture lenses are good for shallow DOF and faster shutter speeds. Flashes are good for filling in shadows, controlling the direction of light, stopping motion, and even enhancing natural light. A flash can also be used in combination with a fast aperture lens.
I have a small gallery that shows a few pictures taken with Canon flashes.


.

cdifoto wrote in post #6080835
Not that I'm pushing the 430EX (since it does have one stop less power and I do buy things based on the penis philosophy) -- but if you're only reason for grabbing the 580EX II over the 430EX is the PC connector, you're spending money unnecessarily.

You can get a PC to hot shoe adapter for the 430EX plus your PC cord (that you'd need for either flash) and still be way ahead. Besides, the 580EX II has the same port as the camera so you'd have to find a non-traditional male-male PC cord anyway and couldn't go with an easier to find female to male that would be compatible with everything else. The upshot of the 580EX II port though is you could go with a screwlock male-male cord and have a more secure connection on both ends.

Personally, I prefer wireless - even if it's the cheap eBay Poverty Wizards way. They don't cost much more than decent PC cords.

Some more reasons to own the 580

1) More Power

2) Integrated bounce card -- wonderfully hand when shooting on camera

3) Adjustability -- in manual, 1/3 stop increments from full power to 1/128.

The 430 is a great flash. I own one that pretty much stays on my G9. It was my first flash. But, about two months after buying the 430, I was back at the store getting the 580.

Oh I agree. But you originally only mentioned the PC port as a reason to get the 580EX II. The 580EX original will give you all of the above, without the PC port.

Having said that, I don't use my integrated bounce card. It's too specular, IMHO.

cdifoto wrote in post #6080906
Oh I agree. But you originally only mentioned the PC port as a reason to get the 580EX II. The 580EX original will give you all of the above, without the PC port.

Having said that, I don't use my integrated bounce card. It's too specular, IMHO.

Your are correct. The PC port is a sore spot with me, since there really is no good reason why they don't include them with all the flashes.

I do agree on the transmitters. It wasn't too long before I was into my skyports, which I love. Relatively cheap and extremely reliable.