Just bought a Rebel XT - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

06/08/2005 05:19:48 PM · #1

I just bought a Canon 350D Rebel XT and LOVE it! I bought the body and then bought a nicer lens than the one that the Kit comes with. This is the first time I've owned a "nice" camera and very happy with it so far.

What I really want to know is how important a flash is? It comes with a built in flash that seems to do pretty well while taking pictures of my daughter in our living room. My husband has an old flash from his 35mm and he says I could use it on there.

Should I invest in a flash now? Use the one he has? Just wait until I'll really need one?

My previous camera was a Powershot, so I'm very new to the idea of attachements on a camera (but very happy with the outcome)

djcoffey1604

Canon EOS-20D

06/08/2005 05:34:44 PM · #2

Congratulations new DSLR owner!

I got a Canon 20D about 6 weeks ago. I too upgraded my lens and am considering a flash.

But, before I go there, I've been reading a lot about "faster lenses" and the idea of flash-free indoor photography intrigues me. So I'm trying out a 50mm USM F1.4, which, by all accounts should be able to take hand-held photos without a flash in a reasonably well-lit room.

I guess, my thing about the flash is that it seems to be a lot to carry around in addition to lenses. In the short term, I'm going to stick with the 50mm and on-camera flash for those times I need it.

I'm sure some of the old-hands will provide us with many pearls of wisdom on this topic.

e301

06/08/2005 05:39:00 PM · #3

This was taken indoors, at night, with noraml-to-low room lighting, handheld, with the 350D, with the 50mm 1.8.

The 1.4 sees a lot more light than that fraction might make you think, and would be seriously useful.

e

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

06/08/2005 06:02:36 PM · #4

ok, so I'm VERY new to this whole DSLR concept... so what does 350D, with the 50mm 1.8 mean exactly?

I know that you're talking about the 350D as the camera. I'm assuming you took it with 50mm lens and does the 1.8 refer to the F-stop? So I'm guessing this pic was taken without a flash?

Awesome shot btw... ;)

yido

Canon EOS-5D

06/08/2005 06:16:12 PM · #5

wait till you feel that you need one unless you are itching to buy stuff.

e301

06/08/2005 06:27:52 PM · #6

Er, yeah - my point really was that you don't actually need a flash, if you get a decent lens with a wide max aperture like that. But bear in mind that I have an almost pathological hatred of most flash photography, so I'm perhaps not the most useful reference. It's just that people use it al over the place, and quite often seem to swamp good lighting situations with a blast of white light.

e

art-inept

Olympus C-5060WZ

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

06/08/2005 06:39:05 PM · #7

flash is good, but if you dont use it right you can kill your pictures, especially your portraits, a lot of times a flash unit is set off on the side of the subject by a transmitter or bounced off a white ceiling or diffused through a foam add-on, so in other words you can get creative with flash but you dont necessarily use it. the one on your camera is good for most practical uses such as as a fill flash.

DanSig

06/08/2005 06:47:28 PM · #8

if you take a lot of indoor pictures then a external flash would be a really good adition to your camera, the built in flash gives extreemly harsh lighting and dark shadows, but do not settle for just the flash, buy a diffuser too, I bought the "Gary Fong's Lightsphere" wich is a plastic thing shaped like a lightbulb and is attached to the flash, It's great, the lighting will be softer and there are no more shadows :)
this is a picture I took with my 20D and used my 580EX flash with the lightsphere.

06/08/2005 07:09:50 PM · #9

DanSig, thanx for the suggestion! I did notice that when I used the on-board flash that I got sometimes got hard shadows. My husband was suggesting that I use his 35mm flash and point it toward the ceiling... not exactly sure what the purpose of this is???

As I mentioned before... this is all very knew to me and my husband is really the "expert"!

art-inept

Olympus C-5060WZ

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

06/08/2005 07:12:41 PM · #10

pointing the flash to the ceiling will make the light a little bit softer

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/08/2005 07:14:37 PM · #11

BTW... I don't know off hand what lens we choose, but husband would, but I'll check when I get home from work and post back.

According to him it's a pretty decent lens! All I know is that we paid about $250 for the lens and it took some great outdoor shots over the weekend. I haven't uploaded them yet, so I can't really share at this time... I'll try when I get home!

lemondster

Canon EOS-20D

06/08/2005 07:17:51 PM · #12

//www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

i would check out that link to make sure that the trigger voltage doesnt harm your new beauty!

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/08/2005 07:25:44 PM · #13

lemondster,

Thanx for the tip! I'll definately check it out before I use it! My husband insists that it's fine, but I'm not so sure. At least I have a place to check it ;)

I think I may just stick with the on board flash until I know what it is I need and why I need it! Sounds like I should be just fine without a flash for now...

lemondster

Canon EOS-20D

06/08/2005 07:27:57 PM · #14

Originally posted by mpalitang:

i found that site after i used my fathers old flash on my camera :) just lucky i guess

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/08/2005 09:01:59 PM · #15

ok, so now I'm home and I'm looking at the box of the lens we bought.

We got an EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

Is this a good lens? Would I need a flash with this?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/08/2005 09:44:43 PM · #16

Originally posted by mpalitang:

Is this a good lens? Would I need a flash with this?

Yes, and yes. I would suggest you also get the 50mm f/1.8. It will provide good shots in MUCH dimmer light, and it's only $70.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/09/2005 01:12:12 PM · #17

Here's a link to a shot I took indoors with the on-board flash with my current lens (posted earlier).

Thoughts?

Prof_Fate

06/09/2005 01:21:41 PM · #18

You will want a seperate flash, but you can live without it till fall when darkness descends...

Your hubby's old flash may be worth using, or not, or possibly will destroy your camera. I am 99% sure on the 350XT the max flash voltage is 250. On the 10D/300 it is 6v. Esceeding this can short out the camera's internal circuitry. How to test: turn on the flahs with fresh batteries and let it get good and ready to fire. then using a volt meter, measure th voltage on the center contact and side rail.

Assuming it is a safe voltage, the next question is: Is it ettl? Perhaps it is a good flash with a good auto mode? Last choice is to use it in manual mode.

If you want to buy a new flash...
Budget: Sigma EF500DG Super or perhaps Canon 420EX
Mid range: Canon 550EX, or for a few bucks more Metz 54 MZ4
Mo Money: canon 580EX or one of the Quantum flashes.

Each has it's plusses and minues. The canon flashes, particularly on non-ettl2 cameras, are not good in for wedding photogs. ettl2 is supposed to be better. The Metz in auto mode or one of the quantums are preferred for that. If you want to play wirelessly, then the 550 or sigma are the ones to get.

Your onboard flash is rated at what, GN wise? 14 maybe? (in meters, meaing at iso 100 it can provide light for 14 meters out). The 420EX is 42, the 550 55, the Metz 54 is GN 54 - in meters. That means (supposedly anyway) that they can provide enough illumination for a subject 170 feet away. That is a HUGE power difference, especially when you bounce or use a diffuser to reduce shadows.

Message edited by author 2005-06-09 13:28:37.

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/09/2005 03:19:39 PM · #19

Spoiled princess that I am, I own a Canon 580EX.
However, I still don't like flash photography and avoid it whenever possible - in fact, I find I rarely need a flash.
I would suggest that you wait, learn to use natural light and other options.
In the meantime, use your onboard flash, gruesome as it is. The flash compensation feature helps whent it gets too glary.
Another thing I found VERY useful is my homemade flash diffuser - cost me a grandtotal of ONE dollar plus tax:

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

06/09/2005 11:09:42 PM · #20

Do you intend on doing a lot of indoor portraits?
If so, you might want to invest in a flash. A good starting point maybe the Canon 420EX (I have one) or a Sigma DG 500 Super. Both are about $200 and have heads that tilt to bounce flash. Basically instead of shining a bright light at a face, which will create harsh shadows, aim the head toward the ceiling at 45 degrees to illuminate the ceiling for a more natural look to the lighting. Another way is to use a diffuser (Sto Fen makes a good one) that spreads the light out.
Another way to get by without a flash is to get a lens with a low f value (a wide aperature) it can gather more light and hence decrease the shutter speed required, resulting in less motion blur. The XT is very good at high ISO's such as 800 so that you might be able to use the 28-105mm lens at the widest aperature. You lens is a bit slow for indoor work and the 50mm f1.8 maybe better but you will lost the ability to zoom, a great aid in composing your shots.
No one answer but many different factors to consider and manipulate. I guess that's why SLR's are popular with serious photographers.
Another quick cheap thing you might want to consider is putting a strip of non clear scotch tape over the lens of you built in flash, as a poor man's diffuser to make the light less harsh. Experiment around a bit and get a flash/lens if you feel that you need it.
Good luck and most importantly have fun with your camera.
BTW, saw the picture, nice but consider zooming in closer as well.

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon

06/10/2005 07:38:02 PM · #21

I'm really low on cash, so I won't be able to buy a flash any time soon, but I will keep all this info handy for when I do have the money ;)

Rooster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

06/10/2005 07:39:23 PM · #22

i'm in the market for a new snazzy cam if someone wants to buy me one.
(signed) seething with jeaously!
:P

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

06/10/2005 09:04:06 PM · #23

Originally posted by mpalitang:

Yido, thanx for your suggestions! Especially on the zooming in. I tend to do cropping afterward, but was posting the unedited version!

Here's one of my favorites from my new camera so far! It takes GREAT outdoor shots! This one is also unedited!

I'm really low on cash, so I won't be able to buy a flash any time soon, but I will keep all this info handy for when I do have the money ;)

You should try the Scotch tape one first, virtually free.

dpakoh

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/10/2005 11:46:36 PM · #24

Originally posted by djcoffey1604:

I've been reading a lot about "faster lenses" and the idea of flash-free indoor photography intrigues me. So I'm trying out a 50mm USM F1.4, which, by all accounts should be able to take hand-held photos without a flash in a reasonably well-lit room.

yeah should do very well. I'd hope to get one of those too soon. I had the 50mm 1.8 and it was pretty decent, a comparison site showed the different between the 1.4 and 1.8 and though the price is hefty difference, it seems worth it for the future use of my photography hobby/career.