Flashes

ksully

I'm debating on buying a flash for my Canon 50D, I'm looking for suggestions on what kind to buy and where is the best place to get one. It will be used for portraits and or weddings.

pwp

ksully wrote:

I'm debating on buying a flash for my Canon 50D, I'm looking for suggestions on what kind to buy and where is the best place to get one. It will be used for portraits and or weddings.

If you're doing weddings, you absolutely need a flash, and to get it off camera if at all possible!

bloomphotog

Actually you can shoot weddings with natural light no problem, just pick up a $100 50mm f/1.8 and your good.

Flashes ARE nice though, and can really make your job easier. I am a fan of compact flashes. For on-camera use I would get:

Canon 270EX...only $150
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/616667-USA/Canon_3806B002_Speedlite_270EX_Flash.html

Be sure to get an off-camera cord, and if you do use the flash on camera - bounce it!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/498744-REG/Canon_1950B001_OC_E3_Off_Camera_Shoe.html

Save your 580EX money and put it toward an Elinchrome D-Lite & 2 pocket wizards.

Nikolai

bloomphotog wrote:

Actually you can shoot weddings with natural light no problem, just pick up a $100 50mm f/1.8 and your good.

Not al weddings happen outdoors or in a well lit venues. Quite often it's the opposite: venues are dark. Very dark. Or very bright (beach), and you may need to overpower the sun itself.

OTOH, 50/1.8, while being a good lens (especially for its price) is not versatile enough for the dynamic wedding environment, and, at least in Canon's world, it's AF mechanism is painfully slow. Also often enough the house rules may prevent you from being close enough for the "nifty-fifty" to work.

Back to OP question... What's your budget? Keep in mind, in lighting, as in many other areas of photogrpahy, you'll get what you paid for...

There are different approaches, different shooting styles and differnet circumstances. I may use gelled sunpacks for the beach ceremony, a set of AlienBees for the following indoor reception and 580EXII with ST-E2 for the candids/table shots - all in one event..

bloomphotog

Nikolai wrote:

Not al weddings happen outdoors or in a well lit venues. Quite often it's the opposite: venues are dark. Very dark. Or very bright (beach), and you may need to overpower the sun itself.

OTOH, 50/1.8, while being a good lens (especially for its price) is not versatile enough for the dynamic wedding environment, and, at least in Canon's world, it's AF mechanism is painfully slow. Also often enough the house rules may prevent you from being close enough for the "nifty-fifty" to work.

A lot of venues also have a no flash policy. Your legs are more versatile than any zoom out there. From personal experience I know a 50mm can cover an entire wedding quite nicely: Example 1 Example 2

Ksully, the above links are examples of what the flash combo I suggested can offer. I used a SB-400(Nikon version of the 270EX) on a TTL cord. This is a great combo that I simply handhold off camera. Makes me very flexible and able to set up new shots within seconds.

Nikolai

bloomphotog wrote:

Your legs are more versatile than any zoom out there. From personal experience I know a 50mm can cover an entire wedding quite nicely: Example 1 Example 2

Josh, I saw your two weddings... Yes, sometimes you can get away with a single prime lens and a "foot zoom". But, believe me, there are circumstances when you need something wider or longer, and your feet cannot help. One time the ceremony was in a private house built in such a way that me and my partner we just a few feet away from the couple and the officiant. Even my 10-22 struggled to get a "context" shot. Another time, another place I wanted to shoot the B&G across a beautiful pond 200 ft wide and get thier reflection and a reflection of the bridge they were standing on. I had to use my 100-400. Sure, you could possibly do it with 50 - that is, if you can walk on water, yet still the perspective would be different (and not the one I wanted).

pwp

I cannot begin to count the number of times I have encountered churches where the photographer is not allowed to use flash or move about. So yes, a low light lens is essential, but I wouldn't go with a prime. I rent lenses all the time for this situation. The 70-200 f/2.8 with my 5D2 takes care of the problem QUITE nicely.

Even darker (typically) are receptions. Nightime. Mixed lighting sources from ambient light and DJ setups, candles, etc. I would never dream of shooting without one, and if I were a bride who hired a photog without a flash, I think I'd be quite upset.

ziggy53

I believe that Josh (bloomphotog) is shooting Nikon and the Nikkor 50mm, f1.8D is a whole different animal from the Canon EF 50mm, f1.8. The Nikon lens, especially on a D700 body, is very capable indeed.

The Canon EF 50mm, f1.8 lacks both AF speed and AF accuracy and I would not recommend it for wedding applications. The EF 50mm, f1.4 USM is a more competent entry but may not be suitable alone for many wedding venues.

The Canon EF 17-55mm, f2.8 IS USM is a more versatile lens, but much more expensive. The Tamron 17-50mm, F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical is a pretty good compromise.

I am a proponent of the Sigma flashes and I own 4 of the beauties. The Sigma EF 530 DG Super is very competent, with features like the Canon 580EX and priced more like the 430EX.

http://www.photo4less.com/pd-productid-2289-k-sigma_169101_sigma_ef_530_dg_super_e_ttl_shoe_mount_flash_for_canon_eos_with_e_ttl_ii_operation.htm

bloomphotog

I think my whole point got a little OOF here. Basically, I just wanted to put in my 2-cents for natural light & faster glass over some $500 camera flash. Thats all. Fast glass is always useful for portraits and weddings, flash use can be limited by venue or bounce options.

So to get back on track....

Ziggy, how do the Sigma flashes with TTL?

Swartzy

To answer your question directly......buy a 580 EXII....then learn how to use it....The concept of on camera versus off camera..each has it's place but no matter what you want a flash that can give you versatility. Don't go cheap here. ETTL is everybit essential as manual, 2nd curtain, 1st curtain, gelled or otherwise. You can also use remote triggers with the 580 or use it as the flash master for other Canon flashes (line of sight). I use mine constantly and would not be without it...indoors, outdoors. Event shooting keeps you on the move and a dependable flash system is paramount. When you switch bodies, you'll still have your flash and a nice one at that. Photography is all about the light and often we need to make our own.