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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> External flash, newbie questions.
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 08/19/2006 09:31:16 PM · #1
ok, first of all, my english sucks.

Just got myself the Canon 30D, and love it, and im allways having problem with right and enought light .. so im thinking of buying an external flash.

1.
I dont want too spend alot of money, like on the "580EX", but i've would like to have bonce function and so on, i see sigma have som cheap flashes, are they any good or is my best bet 420ex ?

2.
General usage, where would an external flash be at is best ?
what other areas is an external flash an advantage ? besides the obvious like portaits and so on.

3.
How practical is an external ? i mean, does it turn on with the camera, adjust itselfe and so on ? or is it alot of fiddeling and stress ?

hope somebody will take the time to share their experience and maybe som links with good info :)

Thanks in advance :)
 08/19/2006 09:37:39 PM · #2
Sigma EF500DG flash for canon is a good choice, works well.

In eTTL mode the flash is automatic - works with the camera in Full auto mode, Av, Tv and P as well as manual. Shutter speed has to be slower than 1/250 sec.

external flash can be used for lots of things but 'portraits'? not really a good idea as the interplay of shadow and light create the 3 dimensional look on the 2 dimensional surface of a photograph that makes a picture a 'portrait'. On camera flash will pretty much eliminate red eye, but direct flash is rather flat.
 08/19/2006 11:35:45 PM · #3
The 420ex was one of the best purchases I made apart from the camera. I since bought a 580ex and its now the best thing I've bought :)

I still love natural light but sometimes I just need the extra light for what I'm doing. I've used the 420 to light product shots of food by bouncing it. I also use it a fair bit for fill flash while shooting sports in bright sun light. It removes the harsh shadows and illuminates the subject when the sun is behind them. The flash automatically calculates when to act as a fill flash depending on the ambient light.

A good "tip" I once read is that its often best to use a flash when you would think you don't need it and don't use it when you would think you would. It doesn't always apply but it does make for some interesting pondering.

I generally just let the Flash work automatically with the camera using the TTL metering. I use some sort of reflector whenever possible. I believe some of the third party flashes don't support all of the TTL features on the Canon. Others can give you more advice on this.

The short answer is I haven't regretted spending on the Flash one bit :)
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