introduction to speedlights/off-camera flash?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sort by date Sort by votes
wellfedCanuck

wellfedCanuck

Jul 23, 2011
248
1
6,781
north of CYYZ
#1
Hey guys- can you point me towards a thread or online resource that might encapsulate what's available and what I should be considering or perhaps even give me a fifty-cent summary here?

I'm a new 6D owner- first camera I've ever had that didn't include a built-in flash. Most of my photography is outdoors- landscape and aerial but I also take the usual family photos. The 320EX is in the price range I'd prefer but is there any compelling reason to consider something higher up the food chain such as a 430EX2 or 600EX-RT? Thanks!
 
#3
wellfedCanuck said:
... I also take the usual family photos. The 320EX is in the price range I'd prefer but is there any compelling reason to consider something higher up the food chain such as a 430EX2 or 600EX-RT? Thanks!
Click to expand...

The main reason would be more power. The 320 is plenty for direct flash - but that's about the most unflattering sort of lighting. The 320 will do well in an umbrella, and may be ok for bouncing off the ceiling (or not, depending on ceiling height). If you start using a softbox, the 430 (at least) is a better choice.
 
Upvote 0
#5
Thanks very much for the suggestions and links.

I realize that the following will be obvious to you, but it shows where I'm at on my learning curve:
My last camera was a Rebel XT and all my indoor photos were made using its popup flash. (I also often used the popup outside and in back-lit situations.) Other than that, I never really gave much thought to lighting and never considered the colour of indoor light.

Along comes the 6D, happily taking pictures without flash in very low light situations- producing useable photos at ISO 12,800. Useable, but who knew that the type of lighting would so dramatically affect the colour and tone of the results. D'oh!

The effect was pleasant with the LED lights of a Christmas tree early one morning, but I've developed a dislike for incandescent bulbs. Two of those mounted in wall sconces cast an orange-brown glow on a whole series of extended-family Christmas dinner shots, ruining the photos, although maybe I can fix that in photoshop.

The 6D has provided other surprises- it's pretty happy under fluorescent aircraft cabin lighting, at least during the day. Shots that ALWAYS required fill flash in the harsh contrasts of flight deck lighting are possible using the automatic HDR backlit setting. But- what I'm really looking forward to- door-off-aerial in a Cessna with my first full-frame- will have to wait, 'cause even for a canuck- it's way too friggin' cold to even think about that before April... :o
 

Attachments

  • goodsports.png
    goodsports.png
    1.2 MB · Views: 695
Upvote 0
#8
Cfunkexplosion said:
Also, I have found the Speedlighter's Handbook by Syl Arena to be helpful.

Two good sources for getting into flash photography.
Click to expand...

+1 :)
Syl Arena has a blog on pixsylated.com - there are links to his excellent books as well as his workshops.
I bought his "Speedliters Handbook" on Amazon for my Kindle - in hindsight, I would have better purchased it in hardcopy form - less technology required to enjoy it.

Cheers
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Off camera flash cords
Replies
15
Views
12K
RC
R
Top Bottom
Home
Forums
Media
Menu