Buying a Flashgun (and some advice)

Eirebear

Sorry for the gear thread guys....

Ive been asked to do some club shots on saturday, but my battered old flash has given up the ghost.

I cant afford £400 (UK) for a 530Ex but was looking at the 430Ex at around200 quid in Jessops.

Problem is having never bought a flash before (my old one was donated to me) im unsure of what im looking for.

In the long run im wanting something that will work off camera if possible, and has a decent durability around the mid range prices.

My budget is around 250 quid.

Also, any advice on taking decent club shots will be more than welcome!

opti76

i have a nissin di622.. works fine for me quite happy with it

cot is 199 in cork so might be cheaper elewhere

CH3OH

edit; I missed the bit about Saturday!

I'd buy the 580exII.
If you wish to buy from a UK supplier the following link lists a few that deliver to Ireland. You may need to ring them to get a delivery pricehttp://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod330.html


There is a £ 40 rebate from canon on the 580exII
http://canonlensacc2008.onlinerebates.com/faq.aspx

There is also an ebay seller Kerso who has been recommended here ( I haven't bought from him) He currently has the 580 exII at £239 + £10 delivery

http://stores.ebay.ie/FLASH-CAMERA
Not sure if Kerso's product qualify for the rebate

5uspect

CH3OH wrote: »

Not sure if Kerso's product qualify for the rebate

They qualify alright. I'd spend the cash on the 580ex II also. The only problem is getting it on time. Could you rent/borrow a flash for saturday and then get the 580 also. Its worth it!:pac:

Eirebear

Cheers lads, ill look into it.

Ricky91t

Eirebear wrote: »

Sorry for the gear thread guys....

Ive been asked to do some club shots on saturday, but my battered old flash has given up the ghost.

I cant afford £400 (UK) for a 530Ex but was looking at the 430Ex at around200 quid in Jessops.

Problem is having never bought a flash before (my old one was donated to me) im unsure of what im looking for.

In the long run im wanting something that will work off camera if possible, and has a decent durability around the mid range prices.

My budget is around 250 quid.

Also, any advice on taking decent club shots will be more than welcome!

Doooooooooooooont go to jessops for it!
found them very pricy for things
Ebay is your friend

Eirebear

ricky91t wrote: »

Doooooooooooooont go to jessops for it!
found them very pricy for things
Ebay is your friend

I wouldnt normally dude, but i need it for Saturday!
And there seems to be a shortage of camera shops in glasgow these days.

rahtkennades

Not sure where in Scotland (s)he's based, but Kerso at Flash Camera on ebay is selling a 580ex for £239 (linky). Might be worth giving him/her a shout and seeing if you could get a quick delivery?

Alt, I understand the Sigma 530 DG Super is their equivalent of the 580EX, and it should be available a good bit cheaper.

Good luck anyway!

Ricky91t

Eirebear wrote: »

I wouldnt normally dude, but i need it for Saturday!
And there seems to be a shortage of camera shops in glasgow these days.

oh i see well atleast they have it:p

pmonneo

What kind of Camera do you have?

5uspect

actually you can pick it up from Kerso directly.

PaulieC

5uspect wrote: »

actually you cal pick it up from Kerso directly.

it depends on what you want whether you can pick it up immediately. He obviously doesn't carry a full stock of canon products and it sometimes takes a while for him to get the stock from wherever he gets it.

Still worth dropping him an e-mail to find out...

also, I'd be very surprised if his products do qualify for a Canon UK/Ireland rebate...

5uspect

cambo_gueno wrote: »

it depends on what you want whether you can pick it up immediately. He obviously doesn't carry a full stock of canon products and it sometimes takes a while for him to get the stock from wherever he gets it.

Good point, forgot about that.

cambo_gueno wrote: »

Still worth dropping him an e-mail to find out...

also, I'd be very surprised if his products do qualify for a Canon UK/Ireland rebate...

I got a rebate on my 580ex II. I've just been in contact with him about a 70-200 f2.8 IS and he said it also qualifies.

PaulieC

5uspect wrote: »

Good point, forgot about that.




I got a rebate on my 580ex II. I've just been in contact with him about a 70-200 f2.8 IS and he said it also qualifies.

really? that's interesting. Makes you wonder where he gets the stock. I always assumed he imported it from the states on an unofficial basis :cool:.

That sounds like I'll be getting my 2nd 'L' lens from him so!

5uspect

I wasn't sure either (until Canon sent me the cheque!) but it makes him a good alternative to the Hong Kong ebayers, especially if you need the gear in a hurry.

JMcL

cambo_gueno wrote: »

also, I'd be very surprised if his products do qualify for a Canon UK/Ireland rebate...

I got a rebate on my 100mm macro last year (actually got 2 thanks to the dumbass company that run the rebates ). I just bought a 580EX II from him a few weeks ago, which arrived with a european warranty card, so I don't foresee any problems on that front either (note to self, pull out finger and send it in)

PaulieC

JMcL wrote: »

I got a rebate on my 100mm macro last year (actually got 2 thanks to the dumbass company that run the rebates ). I just bought a 580EX II from him a few weeks ago, which arrived with a european warranty card, so I don't foresee any problems on that front either (note to self, pull out finger and send it in)

then i'd be a dumbass myself not to get a 17-40 now while the rebates are still going on!