Which Flash

mikehiow

mikehiow

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Hi, I'm looking for a flash to pair up with my 550D - it'll mostly be for indoor stuff, but I tend to do a lot of night time shooting as well.

If I'm honest, I've got absolutely no idea what I'm looking at when it comes to flashes, so I'm not sure what I should be getting.

I've got £90 worth of Jessops vouchers, so would like to get it from there as long as the price is reasonably close to what can be had elsewhere.

It seems the main contenders within budget are Jessops cheap £80 one, the Sigma EF610 and the Canon 430EX.

Can anyone tell me what each will offer me?
 
430 ex, its a damn good flash and one you wont have to think about upgrading at any point as it does everything you could want it too.
 
I use the 430exII and I do think its worth the price premium over the Jessops 360AFD, but with that said, the Jessops is amazing value for money. If I were on a budget had to get a flash I wouldn't hesitate to get it.

The fact that it can be triggered wirelessly in slave mode makes it a great off camera fill flash, so it won't necessarily be rendered useless when upgrading. I still use it even now in product shots to balance out light.
 
I see, so if I upgraded to say a 580 in the future, that could wirelessly trigger the Jessops cheap job?

Is there any device that can just let me use the flash as an off-camera flash anyway?
 
I havent got a Nissin but they work with the wireless of the canon too I am told and you can update the firmware.
 
mikehiow said:
I see, so if I upgraded to say a 580 in the future, that could wirelessly trigger the Jessops cheap job?

Is there any device that can just let me use the flash as an off-camera flash anyway?
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It would, but only if you are using it as a regular on camera flashgun. If you try to use the canon wireless trigger system as well as the optical trigger as used on the Jessops, the jessops will fire slightly too early due to the encoded flash pulse sent out by the 580EXII.
 
Jamtea said:
I use the 430exII and I do think its worth the price premium over the Jessops 360AFD, but with that said, the Jessops is amazing value for money. If I were on a budget had to get a flash I wouldn't hesitate to get it.

The fact that it can be triggered wirelessly in slave mode makes it a great off camera fill flash, so it won't necessarily be rendered useless when upgrading. I still use it even now in product shots to balance out light.
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Agreed the Jessops AFD360 is a supurb flash for the money. I use one as a master flash and a slave but it's more than good enough to use as a main unit.

Very, very good for the £80 they ask for it and for most users is all they'll need.
 
mikehiow said:
I see, so if I upgraded to say a 580 in the future, that could wirelessly trigger the Jessops cheap job?

Is there any device that can just let me use the flash as an off-camera flash anyway?
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You can get a Canon STE2 which will fire your flash off camera. Not cheap, but it does work well.
 
Photodiva said:
You can get a Canon STE2 which will fire your flash off camera. Not cheap, but it does work well.
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You can use the on board flash to fire the Jessops AFD 360 as a wireless slace though on iPhone I can't see what body you're using.
 
In summary just get a 430EX (used mk1 is fine) and not a 3rd party, the ETTL code thingy only talks to the camera if its a Canon model. I did a bit of research before buying mine, and had to go for the Canon, do not regret it even if it was 50% more, will last AGES too.
 
shabba said:
In summary just get a 430EX (used mk1 is fine) and not a 3rd party, the ETTL code thingy only talks to the camera if its a Canon model. I did a bit of research before buying mine, and had to go for the Canon, do not regret it even if it was 50% more, will last AGES too.
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Not so. The Jessops flash ETTL mode works perfectly with my 50d.
 
shabba said:
I thought 3rd party ones have to guess-work the code from the camera, where-as a Canon talks natively to it.
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I'm pretty sure it's full ETTL. As far as I'm aware it's only the manual aspects the Canon flashes have the advantage.
 
Has the 550 got an integrated speedlite transmitter like the 7d? I don't know. Anyway, I've got a 580exII, a couple of 430exII and a metz 43 AF1.
Both the 430II and the metz will work as slaves to the 580 or to an integrated controller. I wouldn't get bogged down with ettl too much, because when you're using the flash(es) off camera you'll be wanting to work in manual anyway. That said the metz does have the capacity for ettl.

I should also say that the 430s are cracking little devices.


mikehiow said:
Is there any device that can just let me use the flash as an off-camera flash anyway?
Click to expand...

Oh, and these aren't bad for the money..
 
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St-ephen said:
Has the 550 got an integrated speedlite transmitter like the 7d? I don't know. Anyway, I've got a 580exII, a couple of 430exII and a metz 43 AF1.
Both the 430II and the metz will work as slaves to the 580 or to an integrated controller. I wouldn't get bogged down with ettl too much, because when you're using the flash(es) off camera you'll be wanting to work in manual anyway. That said the metz does have the capacity for ettl.

I should also say that the 430s are cracking little devices.




Oh, and these aren't bad for the money..
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I have read that the 603 has a bit of an issue with the bulk of the foot blocking the switch, minor if you use the sync cord, but worth a consideration.
 
ukcyberboy said:
I have read that the 603 has a bit of an issue with the bulk of the foot blocking the switch, minor if you use the sync cord, but worth a consideration.
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I have that problem with the 602s with my Canon Flashes, minor irritant I just turn them on before fitting the flash

Steve
 
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