canon 430 ex ii

[SteveGarner]

Originally Posted by inkista

This is just me, as I tend to prefer ramp-up learning, as opposed to jumping into the deep end learning, but I'd recommend starting out with neilvn.com's Tangents before the Strobist. The Strobist assumes you've already mastered single-flash on-camera bouncing and the like.

Walk before you fly. Learn all the tools in the arsenal, so that you can fit the method to the task at hand. What you'd need for a studio/location editorial shoot is not what you need for run'n'gun event shooting.

I'd say start with the black foamie thing. It's a very easy technique. Added gear to your 430EX II would cost you about $1. And it looks fantastic. And you won't be drowning in arguments/information overload about triggering systems AND lighting principals at the same time. Start with a single on-camera flash. When that's not enough, then go hit off-camera.

One more word of caution: before embarking on flash photography, I highly recommend being comfortable shooting in M mode on the camera and thoroughly sussing iso, aperture, and shutter speed. Because with flash, you're going to just be adding flash power and flash-to-subject distance, and flash/ambient balancing into the mix. This is a more complex way to think about the light than simply "where does the needle on my meter go?"

Excellent advice.

[alvarabe]

Which flash trigger to buy for Canon 430EX II slave flash?
I recently purchased a Canon 430EX II Flash and am looking into using it as a slave for off camera flash usage. Is there any affordable/cheaper options available other than the Canon brand? I know there are several out there but I'm not sure which ones work with my Canon 500D and which ones people recommend. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[ArmySoldier777]

Well, if you don't want to spend the money on Pocket Wizards "around $300", then the Cactus V5's are about the second best you can get, and they're only around $60-70

[inkista]

Most folks will choose cheap radio triggers, like the Cactus V5s or Yongnuo RF-603s for cost and performance. But if the price is in two figures, they're going to be manual only. No eTTL.

What this means is that you have to set the power-level on each remote flash. You cannot go above your x-sync shutter speed (typically 1/200s). You cannot remotely change the power level of the flash. You cannot control the flashes from your camera's menus. Most folks find it's an acceptable tradeoff for the increased range and freedom from line of sight requirements from Canon's remote flash system.

eTTL-capable radio triggers, like Radiopopper PXs and the TTL PocketWizards and the Phottix Odins also exist, but they are quite a bit more expensive, and that expense multiples with the number of lights you have in a set.

But. You can also trigger with eTTL capability by using Canon's light-based system. This won't work as well outdoors, but if you're planning on shooting mostly indoors in studio type environments, the system works pretty well, because there are walls and ceilings for the light signal to bounce off and still be seen by the sensor. The fact that you bought a 430EX II means you can use this system.

To trigger, you need a "master" unit. That means a 550EX, a 580EX, a 580EX II, or an ST-E2. The ST-E2 is about $230. The Yongnuo clone of the ST-E2 is about $110. The ST-E2 and 550EX are not as versatile a master as a 580EX: they only understand two groups (A:B), and only do ratios, not manual power-level settings. The main advantage the Canon ST-E2 has over the Yongnuo clone is that it also has a really good autofocus assist mode which essentially helps you to autofocus in the dark. The main advantages of the clone over the Canon unit is that the head swivels and the price is lower.

It's not an option most people go for, though. But I just thought you'd want to know what a few of the other choices were, other than the Cactus V5s, in case you might be shooting something that needs HSS or remote commanding.