Flash Gun advice needed

[emily16]

Hi all,

I havent used a flash gun before and dont really know much about them when it comes to choosing one, but its something i would like to learn more about.
I would like to get a cheap one to start me off as i wont be using it very much, but there are times when my camera flash isnt enough which is why im looking into getting one.

Ive had a little look and found this:
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...7557/show.html

Is this any good for me to start with or is it a real 'no go' and not worth it? I have a canon so am i right in thinking this one is fully compatible as it has TTL?

Really i just want some advice on what to look for, what is a must, and what i can get for as little as possible as its not something im going to use loads so dont want to spend too much.

Thanks and sorry if i should have posted this in beginners!(wasnt sure where it suited better)

Emily

[chris-p]

Hi Emily

You're right, that flash is Canon eTTL compatible.

It's a bit of a mine field really. Personally, I would recommend the Nissin Di622. It's speaks fluent Canon and it's "only" £100 but it's better built and better specified than the Jessops model. You say you're not likely to use it very much but it's quite likely that as you get to know a little more about flash, you'll get into it.

With regards to features, both of these models have pretty much all the basics. The head rotates and tilts, they have AF assist features and they're capable of being used as slave units.

[kev145]

Hi, good advice from chris, if you can wait till early april the mk2 version of this flash is available for about the same price if you shop around. Have read reports on it, sounds good.
good luck with your choise.
kev

[swan lover]

I concure with both posts I've been looking at the Nissin and is good value for money, its on my shopping list of ''must get items' for this year, if you get one before me let me know what you think of it, I'd appreciate the feed back.

[chris-p]

I would think carefully about the NarkII Nissin - you only really gain more wireless group flash options. It's no more powerful and it's actually slower to recycle than the MarkI.

Emily, it really depends on whether you want TTL metering on it which means you can use it in auto mode. If you do, the Jessops one is probably the cheapest you'll get. The Nissin is a more powerful and competent flash but it is more expensive.

If you can live without TTL metering you could get a YN460 II which are made by Yongnuo. Sounds cheap, and it is at £45 and I know people on this forum who use them. Just no TTL action.

[MattUK]

Chris, when you say auto mode, what do you mean exactly? Auto mode on the flash gun? If you can't use it in 'auto mode', then what'd the downside? Do you need to plug a whole bunch of settings into it each time?

Thanks for the help

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by MattUK

Chris, when you say auto mode, what do you mean exactly? Auto mode on the flash gun? If you can't use it in 'auto mode', then what'd the downside? Do you need to plug a whole bunch of settings into it each time?

Thanks for the help

Yeah, an auto mode on the flash gun.

Basically, if you let the flash run in TTL mode, the camera tells it how to behave. You often have two TTL types, the first of which is "Full" TTL (Canon call it e-TTL and Nikon call it iTTL) where the camera knows the flash is attached and meters for the scene, adjusts the flash output to suit and fires the flash when you shoot. The camera tells the flash how much power to use.

The second type is sometimes called Aperture TTL or aTTL (or similar) which is when some, but not all, exposure information can be passed between camera and flash. In this instance the flash usually meters the scene as well but gets told the aperture of the lens so the flash itself adjusts it's output, not the camera.

If you don't have any auto functions on the flash you need to dial in the correct flash power yourself. Not a problem in itself but if you don't have a way of metering the scene or you don't have enough experience to be able to look at the scene and say "oh, I reckon thats about 1/50th at f/8 with about 1/64 flash at 4 metres" it's has to come down to guess work. Fine for still life photos but rubbish when you're trying to get something thats moving.

[MattUK]

Got ya, thanks a lot!