Help please - what lens and flash to get next?

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utangvegas

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Peter
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Hi,

I am pretty new to photography but love learning next skills and taking pictures with my DSLR. I have a Canon 550D with a EFS 18-135mm lens and love using it. At the moment I take pictures of everything from landscapes right through to high speed action in lots of different light and situations as well as shoot video (both interview and action). I enjoy shooting at the moment and have not really settled on one thing which I like the best except I do enjoy playing with light at night.

Anyway, I want to keep moving forward and would like to get a couple of new bits of kit. First a flash and then a new lens.

Question 1 (ish). Should I look at a flash unit like the canon 430 new or is it worth spending on the 580? Is it worth getting a canon unit or are the Metz ones just as good? Any recommendations?

Questions 2. What lens would compliment my set-up? I like the look of a 50mm 1.8 mkII but should I think about something else instead? Something like a sigma 17-70mm or longer?

Any help would be great and sorry to go on.

Cheers,
 
Hi Peter

Welcome here, but watch your wallet, asking for advice on what to buy could become costly :suspect: :D

I was sort of in the same situation as you, I was looking to buy a 580EX, I opted for a 430EXII and a 50mm f/1.8, couldn't have been happier.

f/1.8 is fun to play with and gives fantastic results for the price, and a flash will only improve your shots, light matters.
 
utangvegas said:
Hi,

I am pretty new to photography but love learning next skills and taking pictures with my DSLR. I have a Canon 550D with a EFS 18-135mm lens and love using it. At the moment I take pictures of everything from landscapes right through to high speed action in lots of different light and situations as well as shoot video (both interview and action). I enjoy shooting at the moment and have not really settled on one thing which I like the best except I do enjoy playing with light at night.

Anyway, I want to keep moving forward and would like to get a couple of new bits of kit. First a flash and then a new lens.

Question 1 (ish). Should I look at a flash unit like the canon 430 new or is it worth spending on the 580? Is it worth getting a canon unit or are the Metz ones just as good? Any recommendations?

Questions 2. What lens would compliment my set-up? I like the look of a 50mm 1.8 mkII but should I think about something else instead? Something like a sigma 17-70mm or longer?

Any help would be great and sorry to go on.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

I use Metz flashes and they work very well indeed. You do need to get the hang of the button driven UI, but the metering and output is as good as any OEM flash and you get more power for the money.

With kit you have I would look at a 35mm prime or a longer tele zoom.
 
Last edited:
I use a Metz and can thoroughly recommend it.

for a lens - the 50mm is a great lens and forces you to be a lot more creative.
 
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