Flash for Nikon

OK kids,

I've been sort of contemplating a flash for my D3000.

Here's my question - IS THERE any such thing as a decent flash for less than $100 for my D3000.

I really don't want to spend a small fortune on a flash and being the eternal optimist, I'm guessing I ought to be able to get something that outperforms the pop-up flash.

Does such a critter exist or should I hold out until I'm ready to spend that small fortune?

Sunpak? Vivitar?

As always - thanks for any insight!

Blessings,
Bakeys

[jml79]

For very little you can get a Yongnou on ebay (less than $60 including shipping). I have not used one but many have reported that they are actually very good for the money, if a bit basic. Adorama has a few for between $100 & $200. The Metz 48 AF-1 is about the cheapest you are going to get that has full features and from a recognized name. It's $199 at Adorama.

Either way, make sure your get a version for Nikon and TTL (some of the Yongnou's are manual only flashes)

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Bakeys

OK kids,

I've been sort of contemplating a flash for my D3000.

Here's my question - IS THERE any such thing as a decent flash for less than $100 for my D3000.

Save yourself the trouble, spend $250 and get an SB600 while you still can

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Bakeys

IS THERE any such thing as a decent flash for less than $100 for my D3000.

Depends on your definition of "decent." You're unlikely to find something at that price point that does i-TTL or CLS worth a damn. And any non-Nikon flash is not necessarily going to be as future proof as a Nikon speedlight. If you just want to go fully manually and off-camera Strobist-style with cheap radio triggers, this might be a good path. But if you plan on using the flash on your camera hotshoe and having automatic power adjustments, you may really want to save the pennies and go for a Nikon speedlight at least for your first flash.

Sunpak? Vivitar?

Wouldn't recommend Vivitar. These days Vivitar just lends its name out to be stamped on them, and doesn't actually make 'em. The brands you probably want to look at are Sigma, Sunpak, Nissin, and Yongnuo.

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Bakeys

OK kids,

I've been sort of contemplating a flash for my D3000.

Here's my question - IS THERE any such thing as a decent flash for less than $100 for my D3000.

I really don't want to spend a small fortune on a flash and being the eternal optimist, I'm guessing I ought to be able to get something that outperforms the pop-up flash.

Does such a critter exist or should I hold out until I'm ready to spend that small fortune?

Sunpak? Vivitar?

As always - thanks for any insight!

Blessings,
Bakeys

Realizing that you posted this back in November, in the off-chance you haven't yet decided, I have a DF-383 Vivitar that I think is a great speed light. It works for me as well in my little studio as a 2nd or third light and it packs a lot of lumens and is adjustable and has TTL capability on-camera. They have a version for Nikon just over $100. FWIW.

Still haven't purchased a flash.
Not sure I'd know what to do with it.

I suspect there's a 50mm f1.4 lens before I do the flash thing.

Sometimes I wish money grew on trees and I owned an orchard!

[chicagojohn]

Originally Posted by Bakeys

Still haven't purchased a flash.
Not sure I'd know what to do with it.

I suspect there's a 50mm f1.4 lens before I do the flash thing.

Sometimes I wish money grew on trees and I owned an orchard!

I'm lucky enough, Bakeys, to have an both an f/1.4 50mm lens and the Vivitar DF-383 I told you about. In low-light conditions, the lens does allow you to capture images, but at a relatively low depth of field at that aperture. That can also be turned to advantage in photographing a flower in brigtht sunlight to turn the background into a nice, milky bokeh.

But the flash is 1/3 the price of the lens, and you can do so much more with it in controlling light. You can get a very inexpensive light stand and clamp made for speed lights that has an umbrella holder and an umbrella that you can use for reflection or shoot through, and you would have a very viable single light studio set up. Add a reflector that you can make from foil or a white card, and you have a fill light.

More importantly, you can take the unit with you and use it off-camera in the field to do things with light you would not be able to do with any lens.

From what I've seen of your work, you don't need any additional equipment. I wish I could take one picture that would be in the league of yours. But I also enjoy playing around with the technology, and my personal recommendation to you is that you would probably enjoy being able to control the light in addition to controlling the capture part. So I'd recommend the speed light and a cheap light stand, clamp, and multifunction umbrella. With that limited investment, and a home-made reflector, you'd be able to do a lot of exploration on the light side of the equation.

My two cents...

From what I've seen of your work, you don't need any additional equipment. I wish I could take one picture that would be in the league of yours.

Spare me!
I get so frustrated with my photos. I feel like a hack.

One would think that the hours I spent in flight/ground school I would know enough to go thru a check-list in my head. Check ISO setting. Check camera mode. Check flash setting. Check release mode. Check to see if polarizing filter removed from last venture. Check f-stop. On and on and on....

So thank you for the accolades CJ, but I think they're pretty much undeserved.

Adding a flash to the equation may simply add one more variable that I don't check thoroughly before I start pressing shutter releases.