Canon 430EX MkII Speedlite Flash

[JonnyM]

I'm relatively new to flash photography in particular but not to lighting in general. I'm interested in this unit and was keen to hear other users' views. I use the Canon 60d and would like to use the flash primarily off-camera using the built-in flash as transmitter. Can I trigger this camera with the built-in flash not flashing but 'popped-up'?

I read a few of the other threads in particular from DigiDiva apropos flash for her 60d. Some advised on the Nissin di466 flash, never heard of this one before and I think I convinced myself to buy a Canon not a 3rd party on this occasion, but open to suggestions. I did have a quick look at the 430EX MkII this morning in a shop and the base seems extremely flimsy especially if I want to attach it to a lighting stand, mini tripod, clamps or a Manfrotto magic arm for example; is there a more durable base available?

The idea of purchasing a flash was borne out of last month's competition 'Water Drop' photography, but only if I can use the flash off-camera for more creative opportunities.

Many thanks.

Jonny.

[wavemachine]

The transmitter does only work when the pop up flash is popped up however you can set it to only use the off camera flash although the pop up flash does flash it is as if it hasn't flashed for the picture if you see what I mean. I am not sure if it is slightly off sync or such low power it doesn't make a difference but it works

[JonnyM]

So if you disable the flash firing it will not work as a transmitter either?

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by JonnyM

So if you disable the flash firing it will not work as a transmitter either?

Sorry probably didn't explain that well, if you disable the flash firing it still fires but has no effect on the exposure of the picture. In other words you will still get a flash as part of it's transmission but the only flash that will have any effect will be the slave/off camera flash. So with it disabled it does fire the external flash.

[hssutton]

Actually Dave you don't disable the flash, you just reduce the flash power in the flash menu. To recap the flash must be raised, but by reducing the power level the onboard flash will not infuence the outcome.

The Nissin is pretty good, but at £184 you may as well buy the Canon @ around £200.

I have two Canon flashguns, two Sigma, but the ones I use almost exclusively are the YonguoYN 565 EX plus Yonguo flash triggers.

The only downside for the Yonguo is no High speed flash so you limited to 1/250 max shutter speed. Although my other flashguns have HSS it's extremely rare that I use High Speed Sync.

When I first read about these guns I thought at this price £105 +P&P I can't go wrong After two weeks I was so impressed I bought a second one Plus a pair of triggers. These I bought off Ebay from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YN-565-E-T...item35b696b3d6
Delivery took approx three days.

You can read a review here http://www.diyphotographystuff.info/...-flash-review/

If you don't like Ebay you can buy them from Amazon for a few pounds more. Below is a watersplash photo taken using my two Yonguo flashguns.

Harry

[JonnyM]

Thanks for your replies. So Harry, that image was taken at 1/250th was it? If you wanted all the water 'frozen' a flash with a high synch speed is needed? Does the Canon 430EX possess HSS?

Sorry for my ignorance, I haven't even read a full review yet, just wanted to get forum members views.

[hssutton]

So Harry, that image was taken at 1/250th was it?

No it was taken at 1/6 of a sec.

High speed Sync (HSS) will not freeze the the split second action. This is achieved by reducing the flash power. For the above photo I used both my Yonguo 565s with one set at 1/64th power and the second flash at 1/32 power which effectively created a double exposure effect.

The following table will give you some idea of how reducing flash power increases the flash speed. I learned all about this by reading up on how to photograph hummingbirds, not that I've ever had the opportunity but using 1/6 power enabled me to photograph an hummingbird moth and freeze the wings.


1/1 power = 1/1000 second
1/2 power = 1/2000
1/4 power = 1/4000
1/8 power = 1/9000
1/16 power = 1/15000
1/32 power = 1/21000
1/64 power = 1/30000
1/128 power = 1/35000

So by reducing the flash power to say 1/32 you could have your camera shutter set top around 1/5 of a second or less.

Hope that makes sense to you.

As for the Canon 430EX yes it does have HSS, but under normal circumstances it's doubtful you'll ever need/use HSS.

Harry