What flash for Canon 7D?

[SeagullSteve]

Looking for a flashgun to complement my Canon 7D. The 580EXII seems a lot of money so I've been looking at the alternatives. I've been looking at the Nissin Di866 which I can get new for less than £200. Seen a few reviews and it looks good.

Or I was thinking about a pair of Nissin Di622's which will be around £175 for the pair. But can I use one of them as a master to drive the other, or will I still need to get the larger Di866. Also with the master slave set up will that retain the ETTL or will it be manual?

Thoughts anyone.

 

[magicaxeman]

430 ex2..

 

[bl0at3r]

It is definitely worth paying the extra for the 580ex2, if you can't afford new then go for a 2nd hand one.

It is an amazing flash and will light up a dark room as if it were daylight - plus the head tilts and swivels both left and right which i don't think the lower models do.

If I go with canon again for my dslr then I will be buying another one of these without a doubt.

 

[Jelster]

I have the 430 EXII which is great, and I intend to pick up either another one or a 580 as well.

If you can, stick with a Canon unit as you can utilise the wireless flash facility with the 7D. My 430 hasn't sat on my hot shoe since I got into the wireless idea.

Steve

 

[Peter M]

I got the 430ex II to go with my 400D then got the 580ex II when I upgraded to my 7D. The two flashes work really well together with the 7D remote trigger. But if I'm only using the one then it's the 580ex II all the time. 7D + 17-55 + 580EX II = one hell of a chunk of camera

 

[markseventphotos]

go for a second hand580exII, defiantly worth the money,i covered a diner dance last weekend,no problems getting nice even light on tables of 12 people

 

[magicaxeman]

The 430 ex and ex2 both swivel and tilt.

I have the earlier models ie the 580 ex and the 430ex, I wouldn't bother with the 580 ex again as I just don't need that level of power and don't need the command feature on it, and nor do you as the 7D acts as a flash command unit as well.

So in short if you need the power, yes, if not no.

I don't use any flash on the camera at all now, all guns are off camera using the ettl, the 580 as main, the 430 grouped with it (both set to slave) so I can vary the output to each ie adjust the ratio between them, the Di 622 is used to light the background.

You could set up the two Di 622's but would have to adjust the output of each manually, set them to slave and trigger them optically in order to retain the ratio between them you have set.

Much as I love the Di622, I much prefer the 430ex.

 

[SeagullSteve]

Well as much as everyone has said Canon - I saw a mint 2nd hand Nissin Di866 for £130. Way too much of a bargain so have ordered it. Cheaper than 580EX let alone a 580 EXII or even a 430EXII second hand. Hopefully it will be here tomorrow and I can have a play whilst recovering from my op on Friday.