External Flash/Speedlight

[maryloveslucy]

External flash... I need one. I use Nikon but don't know if I need to stick with Nikon for that or if an off-brand is fine. I don't need a super fancy, expensive one... Just a good basic flash. Any suggestions? I would be grateful for any help. Waiting expectantly.

[Antonio Correia]

Nov 24, 2012 12:56:17 GMT maryloveslucy said:

External flash... I need one. I use Nikon but don't know if I need to stick with Nikon for that or if an off-brand is fine. I don't need a super fancy, expensive one... Just a good basic flash. Any suggestions? I would be grateful for any help. Waiting expectantly.

At the moment I think that a higher investment can compensate.
Using the flash(s) with care will make your photography better no doubt.
I myself think that a good use of flash is ... as it was not there or to make it clearly present taking advantage of it's power and light.
I have these days two series (of course, my series mania ) in progress in which I will be using flashes, umbrellas and some kind of reflective surfaces to disguise their use. But now I would buy - if I could afford or had some extra money - flash heads like this one for example.

It would give you more versatility as you would be able to use it outside, later on.

www.elinchrom.us/

[janis]

Hi Mary,

I have the Nikon SB-700 and am quite happy with it so far.

The Strobist likes the LumoPro as a low-cost alternative to a Speedlight (or did a few years ago):

strobist.blogspot.ca/2009/03/manual-flashes-two-debuts-and-adoption.html

[maryloveslucy]

Thanks, Antonio and Janis. I will take a peek. I don't use flash much, but it's sometimes nice to have some fill light.

[macromeister]

Mary

I'd stick with Nikon, as you will avoid any compatibility issues that may arise. If you just want basic functions, the SB-700 looks good. All Nikon flashes have a good reputation, and seem to be better value than Canon.

On AMAZON www.amazon.com/Nikon-SB-700-Speedlight-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0042X9L6A/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1353777591&sr=1-2&keywords=nikon+flash



It looks as if it's easy to use off-camera, which is where you can get more creative with it. Here's a shot I did with my Panasonic G3 with an off-camera flash (Nissin) in manual mode. It was in a darkish forest and I need both a good light and to give it some direction from the side. I can tell you, this shot would not have looked anything like this without flash!


leaf study in a dark forest by rob ashcroft @ www.macromeister.co.uk, on Flickr

[Stevewebb]

You can't beat YongNuo flashes for quality and alue for money Mary.

Obviously Nikon will be best but if you cannot justify the big bucks then I can highly recommend YongNuo.

If you don't want TTL then they are even cheaper.

[Antonio Correia]

Fantastic how China invaded our lives and is taking care of them !
Now Europeans recommend Chinese material !
Is this the end of Europe ?
Whose next ?

[macromeister]

Nov 25, 2012 0:45:37 GMT Antonio Correia said:

Fantastic how China invaded our lives and is taking care of them !
Now Europeans recommend Chinese material !
Is this the end of Europe ?
Whose next ?

Trojan horse, Antonio. We invited them in, with our desire for ever-cheaper labour rates.

Actually, I think Brazil is the one to worry about.

[Stevewebb]

I fear if we tried to stick to european made camera gear our choice would be fairly limited Antonio

[Antonio Correia]

I remember a couple of years ago we have been to Iguazu falls - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls - in Argentina coming from Brasil and there was already a large shop of local souvenirs made in China.

Portuguese as language, may have a large importance in the World when Brazil becomes also a superpower. Anyway Portugueses is the 7th or 8th most spoken language in the World...
Brazil belongs to the BRIC en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRIC as we know.

[macromeister]

Nov 25, 2012 8:15:30 GMT Stevewebb said:

I fear if we tried to stick to european made camera gear our choice would be fairly limited Antonio

There's always Leica? But the cheaper ones are made in Japan!

[Antonio Correia]

Too exquisite for my taste (€€€€€€€€) More to politicians guys...

But in Portugal - forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/33061037 - there is a Leica factory. And running !!!!!

In Portuguese - www.tvi24.iol.pt/sociedade/leica-fotografia-fabrica-famalicao-tvi24-ultimas-noticias/1335776-4071.html - news from 25 March 2012 !

Eight month old posts:
forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3170113

And the last but not the least, an article from Der Spiegel in German and English with the Chrome automatic translation (April 2012)
www.spiegel.de/karriere/ausland/leica-portugal-deutsche-arbeitskultur-in-der-kamera-fabrik-a-829826.html

The factory is here since 1973 !

[macromeister]

Nov 25, 2012 12:13:56 GMT Antonio Correia said:

But in Portugal - forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/33061037 - there is a Leica factory. And running !!!!!

It was set up in the 1970's, when labour rates in Portugal were no doubt quite low, and was probably quite appealing to Leica as they could have a 'made in Europe' badge on them. They are obviously doing well reading the reply to the DPreview post forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3170113 But the camera produced there are expensive to buy. At £4,000 for a body, you have to assume that some of that money is used to fund the higher wage rates of Europe (Portugal in this case) rather than China.

There is no reason at all why most EU countries couldn't produce all the goods we need. They would just be a lot more expensive because our wage rates/cost of living is so high.

[macromeister]

And another thing... Sorry, Mary! ;D

[maryloveslucy]

Nov 25, 2012 12:55:16 GMT @macromeister said:

And another thing... Sorry, Mary! ;D

I would feel left out if my post didn't go off in a different direction.