popup-flash - made a "pro feature"?

[LetTheRightLensIn]

The pop up flash is inherently a problem.

So something that can be of use is inherently a problem?
Many people don't run around external flashes all the time and as they say happens and when it does it's nice to have that flash always with you.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

photography quite literally translates to "writing with light". understanding quality of light and how to manipulate it is paramount for professional photography. a pop up flash is so far on the other side of desirable that its hard to put into words. put it this way...once one is introduced to lighting, lesson #1 is get the light off the camera.

sry, i just can't fathom anyone that is remotely serious about lighting defending a pop up flash on a professional level body.

Seriously? And pray tell how is no flash at all whatsoever better and more artistic "writing in light" when you come upon, by pure chance, a tree frog at night and don't have the bulky external flash with you? Pitch black is "writing with light" and pop-up flash is less so?

Pray tell what happens when you happen to get a random call that they need someone to quick shoot so and so with the Stanley Cup in the outdoor stadium with subjects backlit and there was no time to go get a flash or another camera or whatnot? It's better writing with light to have nasty backlit shots than a little fill from the pop up? There were two guys who got there in time, one with a 1 series and one with an xxD, neither had an external flash with them. Guess which guy's shot got published. Yeah, NOT the guy with the 1 series.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

Another user here that is firmly in the camp of don't put a pop-up flash on my camera. Even for fill there are better alternatives.

There is no alternative if you don't have one with you.
Why the heck does the darn little flash hurt you guys so much? It won't break if you don;t use it. The fact you are worried about breaking almost hints that they you think you might find a use for it at times. And how does it break more easily than an external flash? If it breaks and you didn't want it anyway, who cares?
And NO it doesn't make you look like a cool, real pro to have no pop-up.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

What if you don't want to lug a flash around all over but then you end up wanting a few snapshots with fill on some trip with friends, etc. etc. Why should the 5D users get WORSE results than the Rebel user??

 

[9VIII]

The pop up flash is inherently a problem.

So something that can be of use is inherently a problem?

You could also use explosives to exterminate pests from your house...

 

[mrsfotografie]

On this topic (an a little off it as well), please recommend a little external flash that I can use for fill-flash on a 5D series body when traveling. I currently have a Metz Mecablitz 48 AF-1 that's great but way too big for that purpose.

 

[9VIII]

I thought ring lights were for macro stuff where the subject is virtually pressed against the lens and just getting any light on it can be a challenge?

Have you ever looked at studio strobes? You get ringlights from all brands, and they aren't excactly useable for macro work.

I think you're talking about something that falls under the category of "off camera flash" much better than "on camera flash" which is the subject of this thread.

On-camera.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/abr800.php

Fantastic, have fun with that on your next vacation.

 

[mrsfotografie]

I thought ring lights were for macro stuff where the subject is virtually pressed against the lens and just getting any light on it can be a challenge?

Have you ever looked at studio strobes? You get ringlights from all brands, and they aren't excactly useable for macro work.

I think you're talking about something that falls under the category of "off camera flash" much better than "on camera flash" which is the subject of this thread.

On-camera.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/abr800.php

Fantastic, have fun with that on your next vacation.

What cracks me up is "It is extremely compact, lightweight ...." ;D ;D ;D

 

[RLPhoto]

Well my H3D II has a pop up flash. I guess that makes it an entry level camera.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

If I think I need some flash, even fill flash, I generally carry an external flash. If it is close to the camera I use cords and if further away, I like to use the optical control via pop-up flash. I have shot fill flash using the Pop-up flash and it is not bad. In my opinion, any situtation where I could use pop-up flash for fill flash, I could have gotten a better result using an external flash

but......

There have been times when I was glad my camera had a pop-up flash. One time, in particular, I was on a day trip. I packed my camera but no flashes. We happened to visit a museum. A bit dark, even bumping up the ISO. I was glad my camera had pop-up flash. Yeah, it was not the optimum light source, but that was all I had. It was either take a shot with a pop-up flash or not take the picture. Since I was not taking anything particulary artistic, the pop-up flash was better than nothing.

When it comes to pop-up flash: I would rather have it and not need it; than to need it and not have it.

Was there not some famous photographer guy who once said that "the best flash is the one you have with you?" ;D

 

[eli72]

On this topic (an a little off it as well), please recommend a little external flash that I can use for fill-flash on a 5D series body when traveling. I currently have a Metz Mecablitz 48 AF-1 that's great but way too big for that purpose.

The 270EX II is relatively small, sits low on top of the camera, and has some bounce capability as well. Uses 2AA batteries. Obviously, it suffers from the same issues as a pop-up flash - not very powerful and close enough to the lens that redeye can be a problem. But if you don't want to pack a 600EX-RT, it's small enough to carry easily when you might just need a little light.

 

[jdramirez]

Another user here that is firmly in the camp of don't put a pop-up flash on my camera. Even for fill there are better alternatives.

There is no alternative if you don't have one with you.
Why the heck does the darn little flash hurt you guys so much? It won't break if you don;t use it. The fact you are worried about breaking almost hints that they you think you might find a use for it at times. And how does it break more easily than an external flash? If it breaks and you didn't want it anyway, who cares?
And NO it doesn't make you look like a cool, real pro to have no pop-up.

I didn't use the built in flash on my 60d and when I went to sell the body the flash wouldn't open.

It was an easy enough fix... I had to bend a hot shoe metal piece back...

But it did break... despite not using it.

 

[eli72]

Was there not some famous photographer guy who once said that "the best flash is the one you have with you?" ;D

Or, as Wayne Gretzky once pointed out in a different context, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

 

[mrsfotografie]

On this topic (an a little off it as well), please recommend a little external flash that I can use for fill-flash on a 5D series body when traveling. I currently have a Metz Mecablitz 48 AF-1 that's great but way too big for that purpose.

The 270EX II is relatively small, sits low on top of the camera, and has some bounce capability as well. Uses 2AA batteries. Obviously, it suffers from the same issues as a pop-up flash - not very powerful and close enough to the lens that redeye can be a problem. But if you don't want to pack a 600EX-RT, it's small enough to carry easily when you might just need a little light.

Cool, I was looking at the Metz 24 AF-1, but it doesn't have high speed sync which is a deal breaker for me. How about the 270EX II, does it have HSS?

 

[eli72]

On this topic (an a little off it as well), please recommend a little external flash that I can use for fill-flash on a 5D series body when traveling. I currently have a Metz Mecablitz 48 AF-1 that's great but way too big for that purpose.

The 270EX II is relatively small, sits low on top of the camera, and has some bounce capability as well. Uses 2AA batteries. Obviously, it suffers from the same issues as a pop-up flash - not very powerful and close enough to the lens that redeye can be a problem. But if you don't want to pack a 600EX-RT, it's small enough to carry easily when you might just need a little light.

Cool, I was looking at the Metz 24 AF-1, but it doesn't have high speed sync which is a deal breaker for me. How about the 270EX II, does it have HSS?

If you have a camera that has external flash control (e.g., 1Dx, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II), you can set HSS on the 270EXII through the camera menu. Of course, depending on how high you set the shutter speed, you will cut down on the range significantly.

 

[mrsfotografie]

On this topic (an a little off it as well), please recommend a little external flash that I can use for fill-flash on a 5D series body when traveling. I currently have a Metz Mecablitz 48 AF-1 that's great but way too big for that purpose.

The 270EX II is relatively small, sits low on top of the camera, and has some bounce capability as well. Uses 2AA batteries. Obviously, it suffers from the same issues as a pop-up flash - not very powerful and close enough to the lens that redeye can be a problem. But if you don't want to pack a 600EX-RT, it's small enough to carry easily when you might just need a little light.

Cool, I was looking at the Metz 24 AF-1, but it doesn't have high speed sync which is a deal breaker for me. How about the 270EX II, does it have HSS?

If you have a camera that has external flash control (e.g., 1Dx, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II), you can set HSS on the 270EXII through the camera menu. Of course, depending on how high you set the shutter speed, you will cut down on the range significantly.

Thanks for your help. As you can see in my signature, my Canon bodies do have that ability so the 270EXII has now made it to my shopping list

 

[eli72]

On this topic (an a little off it as well), please recommend a little external flash that I can use for fill-flash on a 5D series body when traveling. I currently have a Metz Mecablitz 48 AF-1 that's great but way too big for that purpose.

The 270EX II is relatively small, sits low on top of the camera, and has some bounce capability as well. Uses 2AA batteries. Obviously, it suffers from the same issues as a pop-up flash - not very powerful and close enough to the lens that redeye can be a problem. But if you don't want to pack a 600EX-RT, it's small enough to carry easily when you might just need a little light.

Cool, I was looking at the Metz 24 AF-1, but it doesn't have high speed sync which is a deal breaker for me. How about the 270EX II, does it have HSS?

If you have a camera that has external flash control (e.g., 1Dx, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II), you can set HSS on the 270EXII through the camera menu. Of course, depending on how high you set the shutter speed, you will cut down on the range significantly.

Thanks for your help. As you can see in my signature, my Canon bodies do have that ability so the 270EXII has now made it to my shopping list

Stofen also makes a flash diffuser for the 270EXII in case you want to use it with the bounce feature. http://www.adorama.com/SFOMEV.html

 

[mrsfotografie]

On this topic (an a little off it as well), please recommend a little external flash that I can use for fill-flash on a 5D series body when traveling. I currently have a Metz Mecablitz 48 AF-1 that's great but way too big for that purpose.

The 270EX II is relatively small, sits low on top of the camera, and has some bounce capability as well. Uses 2AA batteries. Obviously, it suffers from the same issues as a pop-up flash - not very powerful and close enough to the lens that redeye can be a problem. But if you don't want to pack a 600EX-RT, it's small enough to carry easily when you might just need a little light.

Cool, I was looking at the Metz 24 AF-1, but it doesn't have high speed sync which is a deal breaker for me. How about the 270EX II, does it have HSS?

If you have a camera that has external flash control (e.g., 1Dx, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II), you can set HSS on the 270EXII through the camera menu. Of course, depending on how high you set the shutter speed, you will cut down on the range significantly.

Thanks for your help. As you can see in my signature, my Canon bodies do have that ability so the 270EXII has now made it to my shopping list

Stofen also makes a flash diffuser for the 270EXII in case you want to use it with the bounce feature. http://www.adorama.com/SFOMEV.html

Thank you, yes I will probably want that (I have Stofen diffuser for my Metz, too).

 

[benperrin]

Another user here that is firmly in the camp of don't put a pop-up flash on my camera. Even for fill there are better alternatives.

There is no alternative if you don't have one with you.
Why the heck does the darn little flash hurt you guys so much? It won't break if you don;t use it. The fact you are worried about breaking almost hints that they you think you might find a use for it at times. And how does it break more easily than an external flash? If it breaks and you didn't want it anyway, who cares?
And NO it doesn't make you look like a cool, real pro to have no pop-up.

I don't know why you're having a go at me over expressing my opinion. I really don't care about a popup flash breaking as I'd never ever use it. It's something I don't ever want to have popup in the middle of a shoot or to ever worry about and as far as I'm concerned that space could be used for something more beneficial that I would actually need. I understand it's use on entry level bodies but once I discovered off camera lighting (including reflectors) or even bounce flash I really couldn't see a reason why something so harsh and direct should ever be included in a pro body.

P.S. This is just my opinion and I have no problems with people finding a valid use for the popup flash. If you think it is absolutely critical to your work then I'll respect your point of view on the matter.

 

[Sporgon]

P.S. This is just my opinion and I have no problems with people finding a valid use for the popup flash. If you think it is absolutely critical to your work then I'll respect your point of view on the matter.

Fortunately it is the same opinion as many others - including Canon

I'm putting money on the 7DII not having one.