Which flash?

[jon-]

Hi,

I going to be annoying and ask a very open ended question, but I've been reading the strobist too much of late!

I shoot with a canon eos 400d, and would like to start shooting high speed stuff that requires a decent flash.

I don't really want to spend the earth, so can anyone recommend me a semi decent remote flash that works well with my camera?

Thanks

[Snapper7]

The only way to get full compatibility with your camera is to bite the bullet and go for the Canon 580Mk11. It is really the only option given the requirement you list. Metz 76MZ-5 is the only other option, but that is expensive (If not more)


It might help me if you was able to tell me what you are planning to shoot and if the flash is off camera, how you plan on shooting your subject matter. If you are looking for a second flash gun on a remote trigger you might be able to get a 580Mk 1 on ebay.

Hope that helps

Edited by Snapper7 on Friday 24th April 13:25

[jon-]

Snapper7 said:

The only way to get full compatibility with your camera is to bite the bullet and go for the Canon 580Mk11. It is really the only option given the requirement you list. Metz 76MZ-5 is the only other option, but that is expensive (If not more)

Thanks Snapper - a little more expensive than i'd hoped but at least it will stay with me as a follow the upgrade path (50d / 5d etc)

[SamHH]

It depends on whether you only want to do off-camera manual flash, or whether you also want to use it on camera with TTL metering.

If the former then I believe you can use any old flash (I think lots of people use second-hand Vivitar 285s). If you want a flash that is fully compatible with your camera's ETTL metering then you'll need a Canon EX series flashgun, although I don't think it needs to be a 580EX II. There are other cheaper ones, both new and second hand. As mentioned, Metz and also Sigma make compatible flashguns. Whatever flashgun you use, you need some way of triggering it, either a cable or a wireless trigger, and this can add considerably to the expense, depending on what you go for.

Edited by SamHH on Friday 24th April 14:12