Are flashes like metz any good for canon?

311

I bought a 430EX a while back ,it's grand for standard lenses .
But if I use wide angle or wide lenses ,you can see the fall off pretty badly.
Are the likes of Metz flashes any good for standard low light shots ,I presume the canon flashes are expensive because of the speed of them ,to allow multiple shots in seconds.

magicbastarder

i suppose it depends on the metz flashgun you buy - i've used a hammerhead, which had a great recycle time. you can buy metz guns which will talk to canon digitals in full TTL mode.

digitalbeginner

Hi Brian,

most flashes have a wide angle diffuser that pops out to 'spread' the light wider so that you don't get fall off on wide angle shots. It kills the strength a bit, but that's the price you pay.

Metz flashes would handle this in the same way, so unless you're looking for more power I don't see that you need to get a new one.

Dave

rymus

how wide is wide Brian?

311

Nice one for the feedback.
The 10-20 lens is the worst ,if I plonk the yokeymebob down for wide light it's still dark at the edges.
If I'm taking portraits or candids ,I stick the flash up and twist it and it's fine with the 30mm 1.4.
But if I use the 30mm without bouncing it for larger depth ,it doesn't seem to have enough power .
Sometimes it looks the same as the built in flash.

digitalbeginner

Are these 135mm equivalents on the lenses? ie a Canon 18-55 is actually 28-82 (ish) in 135mm terms

311

digitalbeginner wrote:

Are these 135mm equivalents on the lenses? ie a Canon 18-55 is actually 28-82 (ish) in 135mm terms

Both are designed for digital (1.6 crop) ,30mm would be 50 ,10-20 would be 17-40.

digitalbeginner

_Brian_ wrote:

10-20 would be 17-40.

Well then the problem is in the diffuser not spreading the light enough. Most diffusers are designed to compensate for 28mm wide angle lenses with 24mm a possiblity, but 17 is very wide, obviously too wide for the flash. I'm not sure what the solution with the 430EX is but have a check of the manual to see what it says. Also if you are going to buy any other flash then this is a key spec to check
Dave

311

Thanks

rymus

if you bounced or diffused the flash (say with a lightsphere or the likes) it may cover the edges of a 10mm (17mm) frame nicely. I dont think any flash out there at the moment will provide sufficient lighting for use with a 10mm lens.

311

rymus wrote:

if you bounced or diffused the flash (say with a lightsphere or the likes) it may cover the edges of a 10mm (17mm) frame nicely. I dont think any flash out there at the moment will provide sufficient lighting for use with a 10mm lens.

Nice one rymus ,I'll have a gander for one .

Thanks

digitalbeginner

Just had a look at the Sigma EF 500 DG ST Spec. Here's a quote:

"Projection angle of the flashlight is set automatically to match the lens’ focal length ranging from 28mm wide-angle to 105mm medium-telephoto. It incorporates a wide panel that expands the angle of illumination that of a 17mm focal length lens."

Here's the link: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/flashes/flashes_flashes_details.asp?id=3256

Dave

311

Rymus ,I found the lightsphere site ,the sample images look great but the website is directly with paypal ,with no cc facilities.

Dave thanks for that link ,I found one on AC foto for 166 euro which is pretty damn cheap. Couldn't seem to find one on an irish site ,I'll have a look again and see.

Thanks
Brian.

Roen

If you don't mind looking like a clown with a salad bowl on your flash the Lightsphere is for you. I have one and I've used it indoors at home, but I'd be reluctant to run around a function with one.
They are good though, did you check Mr.Camp out? Great gadget!

311

thanks for the link roen ,i cant manage to see more than about a fifth of it ,my connection is shoddy at best.

The lightsphere defo makes the camera look like a smoothy maker.

PaulieC

according to the 430EX manual, the wide angle panel is for use right down to 14mm wide angle...any wider than that and I would think you'd be looking at a different solution, a flash wouldn't do it...