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03/06/2008 09:20:31 AM · #1 |
For a beginner, how important is it for an external flash, like one of the Canon speedlites?
I have the option to buy one for pretty cheap but it's an older one, the Canon 380EX.
Just looking for opinions if this would be money well spent ($90 bucks). |
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03/06/2008 09:22:33 AM · #2 |
| Can't tell you specifically about the Cannon stuff... but you really do want and external flash. something that you can point away from directly at your subject.... you'll find the difference is as night and day. |
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03/06/2008 09:31:29 AM · #3 |
| Pointing it away will do what exactly ? |
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03/06/2008 09:51:18 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by kswanson:
Pointing it away will do what exactly ? |
Lots of things:
1. Eliminate redeye.
2. Let you move the subject's shadow away from being directly behind them.
3. Get you away from dull, flat, frontal lighting and let you give some depth to your subject.
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03/06/2008 11:32:01 AM · #5 |
| Do I need a diffuser and if so what type? |
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03/06/2008 11:32:27 AM · #6 |
photography is all about light, hence the term.
Light is the most important thing. If you can control it you'll see a difference you would never have thought possible. Look at the old paintings by Rembrandt, Caravaggio etc- the light makes the painting (and a shedload of talent), it's the same with photography. |
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03/06/2008 11:33:55 AM · #7 |
A diffuser is nice but not critical. It just gives you more latitude of what you can do. I recommend the shoot through umbrellas for general purpose stuff, or if you wanna go more portable, check out the Stofen Omnibounce. I just got one and i'm very suprised by how good it is for portraits... not so much group stuff, but for singles it's ace.
Umbrellas are your best bet- cheap, straight forward and portable. |
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03/06/2008 01:19:21 PM · #8 |
A flash always come in handy. If only when you want to do simple family & friends shots in low light situations. And then, as you grow more comfortable, you can use it in more effective ways, including offshoe.
Now DON'T buy the 380EX. It lacks 2 key features: 1/ the head does not rotate. A rotating head is very useful (I can elaborate on that if you want) 2/ it is not compatible with canon wireless system (the 580ex flash or the ST-E2 transmitters). SO starting it off shore is going to be complex, and even when you have bought all the necessary stuff to do so, you'll have lost E-TTL.
Message edited by author 2008-03-06 13:20:07. |
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