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12/19/2003 04:30:03 AM · #1 |
What benefits will i get if I buy a decent flash? and what is teh difference between a good expensive one and a chepo from local camera store?
Does anyone know a link with exmpales of onboard flash Vs Bounch etc?
I have some pennys to spend over xmas, and either going to get a macro - wide angle or a flash. can't decide!
Cheers xmas dudes
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12/19/2003 07:50:29 AM · #2 |
JP,
Most of the difference is in the communication between the camera and the flash unit. All the cheaper third party units need to "reverse engineer" the protocol if they support it at all. The least common denominator for auto exposure is for the flash to have it's own sensor that operates independently of the camera. This is not desirable, and often results in significant exposure error.
You really want the flash to use the camera's exposure information, e.g. be compatible with e-ttl for Canon (don't know Nikon's equivalent). Some flash units can also "zoom", or control spread, based on camera info.
You definitely want a flash that can pan & tilt the head, and go off-camera. I shoot some sourt of bounce, whether ceiling or bounce card, in nearly ALL of my flash photography.
Bottom line, if you find a third party unit with advertised compatibility and a good feature set, test it to make sure it is really compatible, and return if not satisfied.
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12/19/2003 08:31:05 AM · #3 |
All features that you need in a flash to Nikon line is in SB-50DX and SB-80DX, TTL Zoom flashs. They can be use with remote adapter using Slow Sync with the internal + external flash.
Download from Nikon the data sheet of this flashs, go to shopping and see what you can find that are compatible, but with tis features. Really I dont know any compatible with this features.
Kirbic resumes very well the other part of your question. |
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12/19/2003 09:04:56 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by jonpink:
What benefits will i get if I buy a decent flash? and what is teh difference between a good expensive one and a chepo from local camera store?
Does anyone know a link with exmpales of onboard flash Vs Bounch etc?
I have some pennys to spend over xmas, and either going to get a macro - wide angle or a flash. can't decide!
Cheers xmas dudes |
Jon,
Not sure what kind of photos you mostly take, however if you take anything other than daylight outdoors, a "good" flash unit is invaluable. The distance illuminated is the single biggest difference between a P&S oncamera flash and a separate mounted unit via hot shoe attachment. Other benefits include bounce, diffusion, etc.
For your Nikon, if you have the "penny's" for a Nikon Flash, then by all means get it. They are manufactured to interact seamlessly with the electronics of your camera and will allow you the greatest lattitude in maximizing the potential. However, if funds are a little short, then Sigma makes a highly regarded flash for Nikon's and Promaster has one as well.
When shopping for a flash for my film SLR, I simply couldn't afford the Nikon flash I wanted. After much research, I settled on the Sigma and ended up purchasing the Promaster. Although the promaster handles my needs and can function as a wireless slave, I still think either the Sigma or Nikon would be better.
Good luck. Season's Best.
Flash
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12/19/2003 10:25:07 AM · #5 |
| I just purchased a 420EX for my Canon G5, and have been playing with it. I can tell you that bounce provides a much softer and more pleasing illumination on the subject. I have some shots I took of the same subject direct and bounce. If someone doesn't beat me to providing you with some examples, I will do so tonight when I get home from work. |
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12/19/2003 10:52:40 AM · #6 |
so you think that flash is better tha buying a lens? I have a standard Nikon 28-100 f.3.5-4 and a sigma 70-200EX 2.8 all the way through.
I was thinking of wide sigma - 18mm, or the sigma EX 105 MACRO, guess I can us my sigma for landscapes if I stand far enough back.
Mmmm wish I could just get them all!
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12/19/2003 11:35:26 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by jonpink:
so you think that flash is better tha buying a lens? I have a standard Nikon 28-100 f.3.5-4 and a sigma 70-200EX 2.8 all the way through.
I was thinking of wide sigma - 18mm, or the sigma EX 105 MACRO, guess I can us my sigma for landscapes if I stand far enough back.
Mmmm wish I could just get them all! |
Why not the 15mm sigma? I like wide angle lenses tho.
You should decide how you shoot, what your needs are and which purchase should take precedence. |
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12/19/2003 11:48:52 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by jonpink:
so you think that flash is better tha buying a lens? I have a standard Nikon 28-100 f.3.5-4 and a sigma 70-200EX 2.8 all the way through.
I was thinking of wide sigma - 18mm, or the sigma EX 105 MACRO, guess I can us my sigma for landscapes if I stand far enough back.
Mmmm wish I could just get them all! |
Jon,
You are correct in believing that you could benefit from a wider angle lense, however I truly believe that on a per picture basis, you will use the flash more than a lense that has to be exchanged just to get wider that your current 28mm.
Nikkor has a 17-55 or something close to those numbers. That lense coupled with a "good" flash is what I'm hoping to someday acquire. That would be my everyday, grab and go set up. With the 1.5 factor, it ends up being a 25-82 zoom. Perfect for candid and "street" shooting.
Even with your 28-100, you are almost at a 38-150. Certainly no slouch when it comes to versatility. I think the flash should weigh in as the most immediate need.
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12/19/2003 11:52:08 AM · #9 |
I think flash it is then flash ;)
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12/19/2003 11:57:37 AM · #10 |
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