Inexpensive Flash

[TimVanDyke]

Hello all,
This is my first time posting so I hope I am doing this correct. I am an amateur photographer that has been doing it as a hobby. I am making the transition to a business. I love to shoot in natural light but I am finding the need for a shoe mount flash.

That being said. I do not have the revenue to buy the top end flash that would be ideal. What i am looking for is an inexpensive flash that will get the job done till I am able to afford the good stuff. I am a Canon shooter also.

What are your thoughts on this flash or can you recommend any others?

Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash
Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash 3806B002 B&H Photo Video

Canon Speedlite 270EX II
Canon Speedlite 270EX II 5247B002 B&H Photo Video

All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[gazsus]

I can't tell you anything about the Canon flash you mention because I've never used one. But, when I was looking for a manual flash recently I opted for the Yongnuo 560 and I'm very happy with it. Worth a look especially considering the price
Electronic Speedlight Speedlite flash flashgun for: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
It's the same size and power as a Canon 580, diffusers for the 580 fit it too. Just remember it's a manual flash.

I should point out I bought mine from the maker via ebay....for £45.

[inkista]

This is just me, but I wouldn't go for a 270EX (mark I or II) unless tiny size is of huge importance to you for portability and convenience. It's only a stop more powerful than the built-in flash, it tilts, but doesn't swivel, and you have no way to control its power-level if used off-camera with manual triggering devices.

And if you're on a budget, off-camera eTTL is not likely.

Just me, but look for a used 430EX (Mark I), or go through the usual candidates on the speedlights.net list. A Nissin Di-622, YN-468, or Sigma 530 DG Super are all candidates that will give you more for your buck than a 270EX, except perhaps in terms of future compatibility and build quality . Features-wise, you're typically going to want something with eTTL, if you plan to use the flash on the camera hotshoe and bounce the light.

eTTL is the communication protocol between a Canon dSLR body and a flash that lets the camera tell the flash to send out a "preflash" burst of a known brightness, meter it, and then adjust the flash's power output to get into the "good exposure" range. It's basically an automatic way to see the flash's power output. You want this if you're working in a run'n'gun situation with variable light (e.g., event shooting).

But you also want Manual control over the flash's power output for the same reasons that you want M mode on your camera: control and consistency. If you ever do studio set-ups off-camera with your flash, Strobist-style, having Manual mode on a flash becomes very very important, as controlling a flash's power is much like controlling a lens's aperture or the sensor's ISO sensitivity.

If you're on a miniscule budget and really pressed, I'd say look at the YN-465 or YN-468.

[zona5101]

You'll want a flash that bounces and swivels. If the Canon 430 is too much $ look at the Nissin 622
Nissin Di622 Mark II Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash ND622MKII-N

[DocC]

Hi Tim,

I fear you will be disappointed. The 270 is expensive and both underpowered and feature bereft. For about the same money you could get a Metz 44-AF1 that will maintain full camera automation including eTTL, be more powerful, and offer bounce and swivel.

If you have more detailed questions, you should be able to direct message me somehow through the forums, although since I am a noob to the site, I don't know how to do that.

Best,

Doc

[ccting]

I would say.. nissin Di622 mark II.. It comes with off-TTL code and optical sensor that save you a lot of money for off-camera flash. Furthermore it has great GN (more powerful than SB900 ), and 2 years warantty.

If you buy YN465, and then you buy off-TTL code and wireless trigger, the total cost may more than having the better Nissin Di622 mark 2. Therefore, buying Nissin Di622 Mark 2 is a better choice. I bought YN465 2 weeks ago, and work unexpectedly, sometimes totally BLACK (underexpose), sometimes ok, sometimes totally white (overexpose), and now shows very slow response when you adjust the power manually .... Most of the camera shops sell only Nissin di622 mark 2 in my country .. YN very rare to find in the market...even though they are much cheaper.

Yn465 is more powerful than YN468, but ensure you buy the model 2011 with metal foot. I rate the reliability of this speedlight as 70%. Sometimes it just fail to work ...YN is good for learning on-camera flash but not for professional usage.