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hef
10-25-2005, 05:02 PM
I have a CANON 20d & 5d with 24-70 F2.8 USM MACRO and KIT LENS EFS 17-85. Also, the 70-300 f4 do is usm.

What would be the best FLASH unit to buy? Anybody have any comparisons with the 580 and 430. Primary usage for flash with be partys, portraits and weddings.

tks, hef

p.s just a note that i was at a wedding about a month ago and the photographers did not use any flash the whole wedding until the reception. I'm assuming it was primarily 1ds Canon boxes with f2.8 glass @ 1600 iso. I have a problem with that especially coming with 30 years of taking photos and can't get over that 1600 iso will be NOT GRAINY.... Help me understand this!
TheObiJuan
10-25-2005, 06:18 PM
Why not consider the 420EX, it's a great flash and powerfull enough for most shooters. It is considerably cheaper than the others, too.
hef
10-25-2005, 06:48 PM
Just the comment i was looking for... Seems like several of these babies would be a good wireless solution too!.

Thanks, hef
ReF
10-26-2005, 02:32 AM
dug this up:

http://dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12307&page=4

read the second to the last post on that page. it doesn't look too good for the 420. seems like you might want a 550 or 580. at least a sigma 500 super.
Alnath
10-26-2005, 01:21 PM
I just bought a 430ex speedlite, if you got a 420ex voucher with your camera it is valid for the 430ex, in the UK that means another £35 off the price. (if you need a voucher look on ebay) I ended up paying £124.

You can see some test shots i took with it here >>> http://alnath.fotopic.net/c740196.html (please not they are not supposed to be good photos, they were just a test with the flash)
hef
10-26-2005, 04:34 PM
I just bought a 430ex speedlite, if you got a 420ex voucher with your camera it is valid for the 430ex, in the UK that means another £35 off the price. (if you need a voucher look on ebay) I ended up paying £124.

You can see some test shots i took with it here >>> http://alnath.fotopic.net/c740196.html (please not they are not supposed to be good photos, they were just a test with the flash)


Alnath, what camera and glass where you using? The pictures are very sharp a clear.

ciao, hef
cdifoto
10-26-2005, 06:37 PM
I have the Sigma EF-500 DG Super and find it more than adequate. I can't say anything bad about any of the Canons due to my lack of experience with them, but I can post some flash samples with my Sigma:

Bounced off ceiling:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/nftn/2470L/20051025-001.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/nftn/2470L/20051022-022.jpg

Direct:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/nftn/path/20051016-015.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/nftn/20051010-140.jpg

I have a CANON 20d & 5d with 24-70 F2.8 USM MACRO and KIT LENS EFS 17-85. Also, the 70-300 f4 do is usm.

What would be the best FLASH unit to buy? Anybody have any comparisons with the 580 and 430. Primary usage for flash with be partys, portraits and weddings.

tks, hef

p.s just a note that i was at a wedding about a month ago and the photographers did not use any flash the whole wedding until the reception. I'm assuming it was primarily 1ds Canon boxes with f2.8 glass @ 1600 iso. I have a problem with that especially coming with 30 years of taking photos and can't get over that 1600 iso will be NOT GRAINY.... Help me understand this!
Rex914
10-26-2005, 07:11 PM
Seeing that you own both a 20D and a 5D, I would be inclined to pay the extra $100 for the 580 unless you don't intend to use your flash very much.
hef
10-26-2005, 07:32 PM
Seeing that you own both a 20D and a 5D, I would be inclined to pay the extra $100 for the 580 unless you don't intend to use your flash very much.

I would agree with that on the 580. Seems like a lot of pros are shooting w/out flash units. But i must have a flash. Is it old school thinking to want to shoot at low ISO? With a flash?
caio, hef
cdifoto
10-26-2005, 07:35 PM
I would agree with that on the 580. Seems like a lot of pros are shooting w/out flash units. But i must have a flash. Is it old school thinking to want to shoot at low ISO? With a flash?
caio, hef

The Canon XT is excellent at high ISO, and the 5D & 20D are both even better. You can shoot at high ISOs without poor results these days. Try it. You own the cameras.

That's not to say flashes don't have their place.
TheObiJuan
10-26-2005, 10:57 PM
Honestly, unless your going into wedding photography, or shoot sports proffesionally, the 420EX is good enough. If you need more juice, turn the FEC up. Many people get the best and greatest, the 580EX, and waste their money when they only use 40% of the 580EX's potential.

The 420EX is dogged as a poor flash just because it's left behind in specs compared to the 580EX.
The 70-200 f/4 and 70-200 f/2.8L IS are comprable examples.
The f/4 is slower, smaller, and provides less utility, but it isn't a bad lens.

The only down side to the 420EX is the recycle time, I was shooting a wedding with regular double A's. I should have been using rechargeable batteries. They make it much faster!

A properly exposed ISO 1600 image from one of canon's top performers will have little noise. If the image is underexposed and you increase exposure, you are essentially bumping up the ISO after the fact.
This is why when shooting in low light, it is essential to shoot the histogram to the right and maximize highlights.
cwphoto
10-26-2005, 11:18 PM
Ip.s just a note that i was at a wedding about a month ago and the photographers did not use any flash the whole wedding until the reception. I'm assuming it was primarily 1ds Canon boxes with f2.8 glass @ 1600 iso. I have a problem with that especially coming with 30 years of taking photos and can't get over that 1600 iso will be NOT GRAINY.... Help me understand this!

I'm the same with weddings, no flash (or very little) until the reception. A combination of moderate ISO, fast lenses, and a tripod give you a lot of flexibility without resorting to mood-killing flash...
TheObiJuan
10-27-2005, 12:17 AM
I'm the same with weddings, no flash (or very little) until the reception. A combination of moderate ISO, fast lenses, and a tripod give you a lot of flexibility without resorting to mood-killing flash...

that method almost always yields the best photographs.
Alnath
10-27-2005, 04:03 AM
Alnath, what camera and glass where you using? The pictures are very sharp a clear.

ciao, hef

350D with a Sigma 18 -125mm DC, they are untouched apart from the resize. I am looking forwards to getting a Sto-fen deffuser for it when they release it. The 430ex can keep up with the camera in burst mode with ease so a faster camera wouldnt cause a problem and if you give it full power for a shot a full recharge takes just over 2 seconds using 2500mAh Ni-Mh rechargables.
hef
10-27-2005, 06:53 PM
awesome answers. thanks.
Vich
10-28-2005, 06:41 PM
As an earlier poster commented. If you're a pro or semi-pro, and you've got the bucks for both 5D and 20D, why not pick up the 580EX instead?

Here's a thread with a lot of input on this exact subject.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=98562
Alnath
10-30-2005, 01:06 PM
If it was just a case of having the bucks we would all be full blooded camera queens.