Canon Flash - Which one?

trotter_inc

Hey guys,

I'm interested in buying a flash for my wife's Canon DSLR 450D. She has a 50 mm lens, an 18-55 mm lens and a 55 - 250 mm lens but no flash. She is happy with her outdoor photography but complains a lot about having problems taking indoor photos such as taking family photos and photos inside the church at weddings, etc She said on numerous occasions that she'd like to buy a flash to help her with indoor photos.

Now, this is where I need the help I've been looking online (mainly pixmania) and there is quite a large price range. Does the flash need to complement one of her lenses? I presume that for indoor she'll be using the 55 - 250 mm lens, so I need to find a flash which covers this range, right?

This one on adverts caught my eye... http://www.adverts.ie/camera-accessories/yongnuo-flash-speedlite-yn462-for-canon-nikon-olympus/1576411 I am tempted to meet the guy and have a look, though I'm a little concerned about the low price. Any idea what this type/brand of lens would be like?

Thanks for the help guys!

trotter_inc

I'm also looking at this one, the seller is getting a lot of interest:

http://www.adverts.ie/camera-accessories/suntax-132af-auto-focus-ttl-flash-with-swivel-bounce-and-zoom-new-in-box/333830

sepd123

I would avoid the first one (seems expensive to me) you can get a much newer model cheaper on ebay.
I'd also look at one which has more control over power out put
Maybe look at the yougnuo 560II
If she is going to be using on top of the camera you really need to be upping your budget and getting a canon flash like the Canon 430 ex and higher.

trotter_inc

sepd123 wrote: »

If she is going to be using on top of the camera you really need to be upping your budget and getting a canon flash like the Canon 430 ex and higher.

Excuse my ignorance but don't the 2 lens I linked to up above connect on top of the camera?

trotter_inc

sepd123 wrote: »

Maybe look at the yougnuo 560II

Found that same one on adverts for €100

http://www.adverts.ie/camera-accessories/yongnuo-yn560-ii-flash-speedlite-w-lcd-screen/2269962

This connects on top of the camera, right?

sepd123

yes
but all the above yongnuo ones are what they call dumb flashes where you have to manually pick the power setting where as most canon and some yongnuo have what they call "ettl" where the flash and camera talk to each other and adjust the power settings accordingly automatically.
the above will fire from the top of the camera but you have to adjust it yourself depending on your settings and distance to subject.

sepd123

the advantage of the 560 over the first ones is it has finer control over the power and is a good flash for the price

trotter_inc

sepd123 wrote: »

the advantage of the 560 over the first ones is it has finer control over the power and is a good flash for the price

Thanks a million for the replies, I honestly really appreciate it!

I did a lot of reading up last night and most of the 560 II flashes on eBay are being listed as TTL, such as this one:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Yongnuo-YN560-II-Flash-Speedlite-w-LCD-Screen-Canon-5D-Mark-/150756067951?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item2319c30a6f

However, this one on adverts.ie isn't, even though it is the same model:

http://www.adverts.ie/camera-accessories/yongnuo-yn560-ii-flash-speedlite-w-lcd-screen/2269962

The one on Boards is the same model, right? It would have TTL?

I read up on the difference between TTL and ETTL and I believe that most of the Canon flashes have ETTL like you already said above. How necessary would it be to have ETTL over TTL? Is it a major obstacle for a novice to be manually setting the flash with TTL? The reason I ask is that when I search for "canon flash" I reckon about 80% of the results are non Canon flashes which just have TTL.

I'm not trying to be cheap, I just want to get one for a reasonable price which has all the functions she'll need but more importantly use.

sepd123

as far as i know she will still manually have to pick the power.
it kind of depends on the type of photography she does

if shes running around a party taking photos ettl is almost a must have IMO but ya know in the olden days people got on fine without

If shes doing portraiture and has the time she will be fine

the yongnuo would probably teach her more in the long run and is an ideal off camera flash for portraiture and lighting backgrounds and such.

photography is expensive and the yongnuos are great for the price point
if you can get a used "canon 430 ex" then i'd go with that there are 2 on adverts for between 100 and 130.