A bounce head flash for my Canon 350D

[JonRB]

I'd like to get a bounce head flash for my Canon 350D. Are either of these any good?


http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?c...



http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?p...

I'd like something pretty automatic and driven by the camera. Fit & forget basically.

[minky monkey]

The nissin 622 got a good review in a recent photo mag I bought, more than that I can't help, never used one I'm afraid.

[SamHH]

My preference would be to spend more on a second-hand Canon one like below but going by the text on the pages you linked to, they'll both work fine.

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/us...

[ofcorsa]

I've been looking at a flash gun for my 400D

2nd hand 550EX looks like a good bet if I can drop on one,then I can slave a 420EX in the future

These look like a good alternative though

[RobDickinson]

That 550ex is looking a good deal, after a flash for the 7D, wanrt remote firing & ttl, its a 430ex or a 550ex I think?

That works out to $330 + postage vs $475 for a new 430.

[ofcorsa]

One review of this nissin flash mentions that these wont work with remote flash triggers so I assume must be slaved to flash on the camera?

[LongQ]

ofcorsa said:

One review of this nissin flash mentions that these wont work with remote flash triggers so I assume must be slaved to flash on the camera?

The 7DS blurb mentions that you can use remote triggers for manual firing. I think this is normal for non-manufacturer's own equipment in most cases since the e-TTL, etc. technology is rather specific to thier products. Many would say that the auto systems may not give as much creative control (or even consistent results) that photographers crave, so having them availabl may not be such a big deal.

Metz, for example, get around that by developing different intermediary modules for different manufacturers (and, of course, different camera models and technology advances) to interface between the camera and the flash head. However they are dependent on the manufacturers sharing information about their technology and if such is forthcoming it may not be forthcoming in a timely fashion.

For the smaller units, as with Nissin, Metz make specific models for different manufacturers and cameras.

If you really want to be creative with your lighting in a multi flash set up you pretty much need something that offers a manual only control option. Trying to double guess what the TTL system will do or what a flash with an automatic light sensor control will do when influenced by other light sources throwing light in its direction can be, to say the least, challenging.

[RobDickinson]

Ant you just set the remote flashes to a relative value with ettl though and it will work out the overall exposure for you? Effectivly you can manage the groups of flashes power from the camera withotu having to balance it all up manualy?

[LongQ]

RobDickinson said:

Ant you just set the remote flashes to a relative value with ettl though and it will work out the overall exposure for you? Effectivly you can manage the groups of flashes power from the camera withotu having to balance it all up manualy?

Well, you can control the flashes from a 7D, many Nikon systems. the latest digital Metz high end offerings (I think) and some of the more recent independent offering from the likes of Pocket Wizard. Not budget stuff though as the e-TTL (or whatever) requires the ability to communicate with the camera.

It's not something have had an opportunity to try although I have seen articles that suggest that in the right situation it's all brilliant but sometimes it takes too much control to be the complete answer. I guess, as always, it depends on what you are trying to do and how the functionality has been implemented.

My elderly Metz flashes have internal systems for comparing the incoming light with the settings they are being told to use. Works brilliantly to tune the manually set criteria (I do have an intergration unit as well but have barely used it to date.) However, set up a requirement that has the flashes illuminating each other and the sensor kick in and change the output. I can over come that by setting them to manual but then don't have a range of power adjustments to play with oher than changing the distance of the light form the subject. On nearly most of them the power is controlled by the 'computation' value and the sensed light. If I block the sensor I get full power!

I guess I could use ND filters over the sensors .... )

On the other hand they were obtained for purposes where the situation described would be unlikely and a high power output was the primary criterion. From that perspective they work well. Through a light modifier like an umbrella ---- less well, as you might imagine.

So the ideal would be something that combinmes the latest e-TTL (or whatever) technology AND a decent muli-level manual setting, preferably with adjustments between the levels. Available certainly, but not inexpensive.

[jon-]

I bought a number of cheap flashes when I was getting into strobism.

I now own 4 Canon flashes, 2 x 430exII, 1 x 580ex and 1 x 580exII. I would not buy another cheap flash, they really are more ball ache than your time is worth. Unless your time is worthless, then do you want 3 hardly used YN460s?

[JonRB]

jon- said:

Unless your time is worthless, then do you want 3 hardly used YN460s?

All I want is something that "just works". ie. completely driven automagically by the camera. And without breaking the bank. The Nissin appears to do that for significantly less than the official Canon offering.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 23 June 14:31

[jon-]

JonRB said:

jon- said:

Unless your time is worthless, then do you want 3 hardly used YN460s?

All I want is something that "just works". ie. completely driven automagically by the camera. And without breaking the bank. The Nissin appears to do that for significantly less than the official Canon offering.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 23 June 14:31

I'm sure Nissin will do just that. I went from the £40 ebay jobs to Canon, so have no experience with them.

[RobDickinson]

JonRB said:

jon- said:

Unless your time is worthless, then do you want 3 hardly used YN460s?

All I want is something that "just works". ie. completely driven automagically by the camera. And without breaking the bank. The Nissin appears to do that for significantly less than the official Canon offering.

The nissin will do that whilst on the camera I think.