Is a flash really necessary

BIGEYE

BIGEYE

Messages
1,205
Name
Jim
Edit My Images
Yes
Being new to DSLR cameras/photography and enjoy taking photos of everything, including night shots, I have come to the point of asking myself - do I really need a hot-shoe flash?

I very rarely use the pop up flash on the camera as I haven't had a need for it (yet), but have been looking at HS flash for some time. After reading an article in a magazine dedicated to Canon cameras, I comparison was made between HS flash, including Canon's own 580 EX II. The magazine had the Nissin Di-866 Pro come out on top.

In my books it certainly comes out top on price at under £200. Anyone got any opinions on the Nissin flash as compared to others?

Also is it worth spending the money on this flash to compliment my 500D as it may be something I will hardly use?
 
It really depends on what you shoot and when - lighting conditions etc. Personally for me getting a flash for my 400D (now 40D) was one of the best purchases that I made - and like you I never used the pop-up flash.

Also - get a set of cheap remote triggers (like the ones Flash In The Pan) sells on here and it will allow you to position the flash off-camera and opens up a whole new set of possibilities.
 
One of my early purchases was a Sigma 500DG Super flash. I mainly use it for macro and that was my intention when I bought it.
But having the flash in my kit bag has made a big difference to a few shots. Family pictures, outdoor fill flash and I would say that for just those few shots that I have used it on would justify the cost.
Very rarely used on the hotshoe though, more often on a ttl lead or remote.
 
I used my external flash pretty much for the first time during a shoot at the Glasgow meet and it did serve well, really well. The remote triggers are very handy too and not expensive to buy. Having a camera without a pop-up flash does make having one more of a necessity though.

You could try a diffuser for the pop-up flash and get a nice effect, sure its still on camera but it removes the DMV effect from your shots.

I'm now having a dilema on whether to buy a 580EX II or a 50mm 1.4 though.

I'm thinking a 50mm 1.4 for the nice bokeh, low light abilities and speed then adding a used 580EX would be a better choice for me as the lens would get significantly more use than the flash... :shrug:
 
I don't use my 580EX very often, but when I do (usually when I'm doing indoors people photography, but it's helpful for the occasional fill for long exposures at night) it's essential.
 
Buying an SB-600 for use with my D60 has certainly improved my close up shots / macro type efforts but I have not used it for anything other than this - mainly because I don't really know what I'm doing!

I am confident that it would improve my indoor shots of family etc if I could work up the confidence to use it though.
 
If you don't shoot anything that needs a flash, why do you want one?

If you're going to use it, I'd say get one, but if not I'd say keep the £ and use it for something else.

Could you borrow a flash for a short while and see if you use it? Just a thought.

I use mine for macro and portraits.
 
Last edited:
If you shoot people - almost anywhere - indoors - outdoors - in sunlight - on dull days - then a flash - carefully used will improve the pictures. Lowering contrast on sunny days - adding sparkle on dull days - enabling smaller apertures indoors - nice soft bounce effects - lots of ways to use it. I have one on my camera 99% of the time when shooting people. Learn how to do this properly before you start worrying about off camera flash - flash triggers and all that stuff - one step at a time.
 
awp said:
If you shoot people - almost anywhere - indoors - outdoors - in sunlight - on dull days - then a flash - carefully used will improve the pictures. Lowering contrast on sunny days - adding sparkle on dull days - enabling smaller apertures indoors - nice soft bounce effects - lots of ways to use it. I have one on my camera 99% of the time when shooting people. Learn how to do this properly before you start worrying about off camera flash - flash triggers and all that stuff - one step at a time.
Click to expand...


Same here I have a flash on my camera almost all the time. It really can make your people shots and macro sparkle in all light conditions. I would also say get one that does high speed sync and ttl and if the Canon ones do one with the option to automatically balance the background light and flash as per the nikon ones ( called BL on the nikons) it really is worth it, When I got my first flash I did question the cost but now I think they are worth every penny.
 
Agree with AWP and Dave. I would be lost without my flash and would never dream of portraits without one. As important (or maybe more important) than glass!
 
If I had to use a speedlight I wouldn't take the shot :) Awful things. Should be limited to the press and wedding togs only :lol:
 
woof woof said:
If I had to use a speedlight I wouldn't take the shot :) Awful things. Should be limited to the press and wedding togs only :lol:
Click to expand...

...and what's wrong with the press?? If I didn't use flash I wouldn't get paid as much! It's all about how you use it. Statements like the above are just non-sensical. You do whatever you have to do to get the shot!
 
awp said:
...and what's wrong with the press?? If I didn't use flash I wouldn't get paid as much! It's all about how you use it. Statements like the above are just non-sensical. You do whatever you have to do to get the shot!
Click to expand...

Yet again, I totally agree with Andrew, Woofwoof, it would be interesting to see what difference a speedlight would make to some of your photos, I really struggled with the thought of using a flash in daylight originally, but this is now the time I always use it. It is the 2nd most used item in my camera bag, the only thing used more is the camera body, and then it is a very close run thing.
 
Not necessary, sometimes nice. What is more necessary is a rock steady shooting stance and a time-stopping stopwatch.
 
awp, and Dave...

"...and what's wrong with the press??"

There's nothing at all wrong with the press, they need a speedlight just as wedding togs do. I don't. That was the point of my post, and also a little humour... :o)
 
Last edited:
Try shooting a commissioned portrait without one these days...
I think multi OCF has changed the way we look at social portraiture in particular and while a good 'natural light' portrait is a wonderful thing to behold, if you know what you're doing you can recreate that light using speedlights nowadays...

I just has a flash portrait I shot last night compared to a Vermeer...which I'm still quite chuffed about (sorry Johannes - yours is better...lol)...
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys for all the helpful advice. Looks like at some stage I am going to need a decent flash. Went for the Nissin Di866 Pro as the reviews are vg and the price was so tempting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top