First flash unit advice?

[Rienzphotoz]

The flash is worth it's weight in gold.

And that's how much they charge for it... 

I hear a lot of comments that it is overpriced etc but when you look at its competition, it is not overpriced at all ... Nikon SB 910 (which has no built in Wireless Radio) costs $547, Canon 600 EX-RT (with a built-in Wireless Radio) costs $559. If Nikon were to make a built wireless radio, in their SB 910, for just $12 more than everybody would have gone ga ga over it ... well, the 600 EX-RT has already done that.

[smithy]

The flash is worth it's weight in gold.

And that's how much they charge for it... 

I hear a lot of comments that it is overpriced etc but when you look at its competition, it is not overpriced at all ... Nikon SB 910 (which has no built in Wireless Radio) costs $547, Canon 600 EX-RT (with a built-in Wireless Radio) costs $559. If Nikon were to make a built wireless radio, in their SB 910, for just $12 more than everybody would have gone ga ga over it ... well, the 600 EX-RT has already done that.

I'm still not convinced that it's not overpriced - mostly because outside the US, the 600ex-rt generally sells for US$760 - except for the UK where its RRP is US$1000.  How much would you be prepared to pay for it?  My view is:  $559, fair value... $760, hmmm not really... $1000, hell no!

[AdamJ]

I do wish people would give prior warning when posting close-up spider pictures. It would save us arachnophobes the trouble of cleaning up the coffee we involuntarily threw across the room.

[rpt]

I do wish people would give prior warning when posting close-up spider pictures. It would save us arachnophobes the trouble of cleaning up the coffee we involuntarily threw across the room.

Sorry about that. There will be warning the next time.

Edit: apparently you may not be referring to my spider shot which is in the macro section but point noted.

[simonbratt99]

Thanks for all the replies.

Yes things are more expensive in the UK right now, but thats an economic issue.
I dont do grey imports, with anything of any value (or needing warranty!)

I havent decided on a Hotshoe flash or a macro ring flash yet. I nede to workout what will be more useful as i dont want to blow money on both.

I looked at the canon ring flash MR-14 EX, and surprise suprise, thats not cheap either lol.

Do you know what sort of useful range the canon macro flash has? I do a fair bit of smallish studio work, and a fill flash for that would be useful, and the macro ring might be adequate for that, so dual purpose for me.

[simonbratt99]

thanks for the advise, but it will be mostly for outdoor fill. will the 100m canon macro lens on the 5dmk2 get too much in the way for macro? or is the flash high enough?

Shouldn't you be looking for a macro flash in that case? Or a ring flash?

no... only if you like the ring flash look.
many macro shooter don´t like the look of a macro ring light.

i shot with a 430 EX II in a small softbox on a flash bracket.


my setup looks like his.. just not so much DIY.

An Introduction to High-Magnification Macro Photography

Amazing!! and beautiful, good job.
How do you manage to get an even light, with one sided flash, (even in a mini softbox)
i think the 430 looks fine and solves the problem.
Thanks again

[simonbratt99]

How crazy expensive is the Canon bracket?
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-canon-sb-e2-speedlite-l-bracket/p1018262
What a rip off.

[Rienzphotoz]

How crazy expensive is the Canon bracket?
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-canon-sb-e2-speedlite-l-bracket/p1018262
What a rip off.

It better have at least a gold nut

[Rienzphotoz]

It doesn't have a gold nut, but it does have the silly metric sized screw that goes into the side of many Canon flashes that makes it very securely fitted and does not rely on the hotshoe mount for weight bearing.

I am surprsed nobody else makes a bracket that can use that screw mount too.

Now I know why it is so expensive ... Canon must've spent a lot of money to patent that metric sized screw, so they are recovering the money spent on that patent

[simonbratt99]

Funny,
i dont see a screw hole on the side of the 430 EX II
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-canon-speedlite-430ex-ii-flashgun/p1027434

[simonbratt99]

Ah thanks for sharing.

[rpt]

I believe the 430EX-II has it under the black plastic cover. The 580EX-II and the 600EX-RT, at the very least, also have it.

Though unless you get the SB-E2 it is practically useless.

Thanks. The rubber cover that is over it hid it and I had not bothered to uncover it...

[Jel_55]

I can only comment on what I have.  I bought my first DSLR (not my first SLR, I have been using a Nikon F601 for years), a 5D Mark III with 24-105 f/4 L and a Speedlite 600ex-rt.  The system never ceases to amaze me, kudos to Canon.

The flash is worth it's weight in gold.  Very easy to use, more than enough power, fast recharge and more features than I will possibly use.

If you have the budget, I would not hesitate in recommending you buy it.

Cheers,
Paul

Ive the same set up and completely agree. You get what you pay for. You won't regret the investment and you'll have a future proof system as Canon inevitably continues to upgrade its flash range.

[simonbratt99]

i like these extenders for the mt-24ex
http://www.photomed.net/macro_flashes.htm

[tolya99]

can someone recommend a cheap small flash unit to essentially function as on-camera flash for my 5d3? something small and light, that can be tossed in camera bag for that rare occasion i need some fill-in light and would not feel sorry to lose or break? ability to bounce would be a plus but not a necessity. Thanks!