Rebel XS and 430EX II

Hey all, long time lurker, first time poster.

I have a question about choosing a flash for my Rebel. I like the idea of having a hotshoe flash that I can bounce off ceilings and such so the lighting isn't so harsh as the pop-up flash. The pop-up also isn't exactly powerful.

The biggest issue I have with the Rebel is the lack of an AF assist light. Every little point and shoot these days has one, including my SD780IS, but my XS does not. I don't think that any camera in the Rebel line does, actually. The 430EX does have one, does anyone know how well it works with a Rebel?

I just don't like blinding my subject in low-light when the camera tries to autofocus by blasting the pop-up flash.

It works very well. I have the 430ex II and until recently a Rebel XTi. It can focus in pitch black. You really can't go wrong with the 430ex II as an upgrade to the onboard flash but any speedlite with ETTL or ETTL2 will be a HUGE upgrade.

If you take indoor flash photos, you need an external flash. It will be the single best upgrade $ for $ to your photos, IMO.

B

Note that the smallest current Canon flash, the 270 EX, also uses the flash head for AF assist. You have to go to the 430 EX II to find one with LED-based AF assist.

430 EX works fine in an XS, buy one, you would regret the purchase

les_au wrote in post #11360443
430 EX works fine in an XS, buy one, you would regret the purchase

Did you mean to say you will NOT regret the purchase?

Thanks guys. I think it's the one for me. I just can't see spending the extra 200 for the bigger one, with master flash support. I figure if I ever need that some day, I'll already have the 430EX to use as a slave.

Just need to wait a little longer for Christmas, hehe.

BTW.. The XS does have an AF Assist beam according to the manual...

You have to set it via custom functions.. It is a series of low power flash bursts...

shankarhokie wrote in post #11360609
BTW.. The XS does have an AF Assist beam according to the manual...

You have to set it via custom functions.. It is a series of low power flash bursts...

Yhea, it uses the pop-up flash, I noted that in my original post.

It's blinding to a lot of people when you're trying to take a portrait. The little orange/red AF assist is much less annoying, and the 430EX is the lowest-level flash that includes one. It seems like a smart purchase to me.

shankarhokie wrote in post #11360523
Did you mean to say you will NOT regret the purchase?

yeap sorry was typing on the run mate

Virto wrote in post #11360755
Yhea, it uses the pop-up flash, I noted that in my original post.

It's blinding to a lot of people when you're trying to take a portrait. The little orange/red AF assist is much less annoying, and the 430EX is the lowest-level flash that includes one. It seems like a smart purchase to me.

Absolutely will be much better buy.. External flash has helped me take the photos to a higher level and a bit more creative. Now, with the addition of the RF-602 triggers, I can fire the flash off camera and that adds even more flexibility & creativity.

Got my flash in the mail. Haven't had too much time to mess around with it, but my god it's huge on this little XS, lol. Already it's making a difference in my indoor shots, since my house lighting is low-wattage and very dim, even with a lens wide open.

Very happy so far. God, the little tiny foot holding it to the camera makes me nervous though, but that'll change as I get used to it, I think.

Did you get something like a softbox or a diffuser? If you didnt try those. They make it even better! Good luck!!!

Virto wrote in post #11407605
Got my flash in the mail. Haven't had too much time to mess around with it, but my god it's huge on this little XS, lol.

You should see my 580 EX II on my daughter's G11...

Look into getting a stofen diffuser for a couple bucks on Ebay or Amazon. It'll help a ton, especially when you have no big white wall to bounce off of.

Also, just a warning: When I had my XS with 430EXII the flash bent forward [only slightly, but just enough for the contacts to be loose]. I don't remember bumping it or anything, but the hotshoe on the camera no longer held the flash snugly, so it wouldn't fire without me putting pressure on the flash. I'm still not sure how it happened, but be careful of that.

Luckily I had Black Tie warranty from Best Buy so they repaired it for free.

I bought the 430 EX II about a year ago for my Canon Rebel XTi and have not regretted the decision at all. We were expecting our twin boys at the time and I wanted something I could easily diffuse and bounce from the ceiling that would be easier on their eyes. This will be a great purchase and will really improve your indoor flash photography shots!