Itchin' to buy a flash

[eAddict]

I have Canon Digital Rebel XT and love it (10K photos in a year so far!). Now to buy more than just lenses - a flash or two. What features should I look for in a flash? Remote capabilities? Able to aim the flash? Built in diffuser? Canon or other name brand?

Thanks!
Vince

[Saralonde]

I also have an XT and I got the Canon 430 speedlight and have been very happy with it. It cost around $240 and can be used as a slave unit if I decide to do that later on. I bought my son a Sigma 500 for his XT for Christmas. I haven't tried it myself, but it got favorable comparisons to the Canon 580 and was only $200. Both have built-in diffusers, both have the ability to change the angle.

[clickdeath]

I've got a Sigma EF-500 DG Super and I love it, got all the features I could ever need, and very reasonably priced too. I'd recommend one.

[smc1377]

I may be in the minority here, or I could be in the majority and others are just too embarrassed to speak up, but I went cheap with my flash.

I haven't found much need for a hot-shoe mounted flash being that the built-in flash on the Canon 10D has been decent and I have a couple Novatron umbrella strobes. But I just purchased the Bower SFD35C flash off of eBay for about $80 USD shipped.

This flash certainly follows the old saying, you get what you pay for. It's a full tilt and swivel flash with a manual zoom head. It also has the red focus assist beam, but this is nowhere near as effective as the beam that comes with the Canon or even mid-level off-brands like the Sigmas or even the Quantarays that Wolf and Ritz Camera sells. The front clear cover on the flash is a flimsy piece of plastic that with mild pressure, will pop out or in into the strobe.

But with all the negatives aside, it is quite an effective flash. The price can't be beat for the features (tilt, swivel and zoom head). Other than the flimsy plastic piece that the flash fires through, the rest of it is pretty solidly built. It is also a E-TTL II flash, which is nice.

From the limited shots I've taken, I've been quite happy with the results. Especially after reading a link that another member here provided to building a "better bounce card".

If you're looking for a flash that you use occasionally and don't want to spend a lot of money on, look at this Bower flash. That's what I was looking for and have been really happy with my choice (bang for my buck).

[trelaflip]

I picked up a Sunpack 280a flash when I had my Fuji S9000 and I tried using it the other day on my 400D, off the camera. Works pretty good. Has bouce and a few settings I can adjust.

I wish it was a 580ex but for $60 canadian, I can't complain.

[RainPacket]

I have a 580ex, which I found for $340, which is still probably too much for a flash, but I /love/ this thing. :)

[chrisgarrett]

While I have a 580ex I use flashes in manual, off camera, ala strobist.com. The cheap Nikon flashes I bought get far more use. If you are going to use your flash on camera or auto go with a Canon or a compatible Sigma, otherwise, especially for portraits with the flashes on stands with lightboxes/umbrellas triggered remotely, save your money and buy old used Nikon SB.