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Author Topic: External flash?? Is it worth it??  (Read 3388 times)

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CntrOfAttn

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External flash?? Is it worth it??
« on: August 21, 2005, 01:56:46 AM »
Hi again!

Thaks for all the great feedback on picking a lens... as a result (and with much research) I wound up with the KM 75-300mm & 50mm macro.  And now I'm wondering about whether or not buying an external flash is really worth it??  (I'm definitely a novice and any thoughts would be appreciated.)
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Offline ISO3200

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External flash?? Is it worth it??
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2005, 03:52:26 AM »
Just before I fall into bed...

Hope the lenses you brought serve you well.

I brought the 3600hsD flash years ago for the film dynax 7, works fine on the 7D, right up to 1/4000th second. I rarely use flashes, but even I wouldn't be without one. They're hardly expensive and it's easier to learn how to use one with effectively the advent of digital. :o
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SB-400, 28-200/3.5-5.6 AF G, 50/1.8 AF D, 60/2.8 AF D Micro-Nikkor, 105/2.8 AF-S VR G Micro-Nikkor, 70-180/4.5-5.6 AF D Micro-Nikkor, 200/4 AF D Micro-Nikkor, 70-300/4.5-5.6 AF-S VR G, Nikon PB-6... Yes I quite like macro.

Offline Akshay Jamwal

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External flash?? Is it worth it??
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2005, 02:36:34 AM »
Whenever I go shooting, I always have the flash mounted. I have a 5600 HSD.. while more expensive, it's really useful for nature/wildlife and the like.

You might not necessarily need KMs flagship flash, although I can't imagine going anywhere without any kind of flash. This is just me though. I like to stick to 100-200 ISO and use fill-in flash rather than boosting up the ISO to 400 or 800.

My advice? If you don't think you need a flash for now, don't buy one. Experiment with the equipment you have for a while. If you then decide that you really do require a flash, go for it.

One can easily spend a small fortune on photographic equipment even as a hobbyist.

If you think you can afford it without the cost leaving a dent in your wallet for a while, then the question doesn't even arise... I'd say buy it.
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Offline winjeel

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Re: External flash?? Is it worth it??
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2006, 03:26:38 AM »
Quote from: Akshay Jamwal on August 23, 2005, 02:36:34 AM
Whenever I go shooting, I always have the flash mounted. I have a 5600 HSD.. while more expensive, it's really useful for nature/wildlife and the like.

You might not necessarily need KMs flagship flash, although I can't imagine going anywhere without any kind of flash. This is just me though. I like to stick to 100-200 ISO and use fill-in flash rather than boosting up the ISO to 400 or 800.

My advice? If you don't think you need a flash for now, don't buy one. Experiment with the equipment you have for a while. If you then decide that you really do require a flash, go for it.

One can easily spend a small fortune on photographic equipment even as a hobbyist.

If you think you can afford it without the cost leaving a dent in your wallet for a while, then the question doesn't even arise... I'd say buy it.

Agreed. I spent a lot of time working on getting light and shadow right, and to get a 'natural' look. The best wedding photographer I've met never uses a flash. However, a newspaper photographer I knew always did. Horses for courses.
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Ronin

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Re: External flash?? Is it worth it??
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2006, 12:52:50 PM »
I always have a 5600hsd with me once you learn a little about HSS, Rear and Fill flash you will never leave home with out one :)
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Offline winjeel

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Re: External flash?? Is it worth it??
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2006, 04:29:51 AM »
Here's a style that I'm working on... no flash! I'm not a flasher (sorry for the pun), but I hope it looks flashy all the same (sorry again).

This is in Cambodia, and for this trip I didn't have my tripod, so I had to hunt and find a cheap little one that did the trick. The other great thing about long exposures with tripods, is that tripods don't cost a penny in batteries!

This photo is using only the natural ambient light. I hope it appears at least half decent in other people's opinions

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JapanesePhotos.Asia; Some basic photographic how to's.
Sony the200, Minolta 28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 70-300mm Gregarious, 100mm 2.8 macro.

Offline jimmo

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Re: External flash?? Is it worth it??
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2006, 08:44:47 AM »
I have a 5600 HS(D) and a 4000af for a backup for my 7D. The 4000af uses an on camera  FS-1100. Old style shoe on top and new shoe on the bottom, for the 7D;  and it auto zooms, but you need to use it in manual mode. It can also use the off camera cable OC-1100  with a flash bracket. I have these cables as well.  It cost me $42 here in the states on ebay.co.uk plus shipping from England. It has ratio control also for portraits. It  would be pretty cheap if you can find a FS-1100. I paid over $400 for my 5600 HS(d). It is mainly for static setups, but not something to carry around on the camera. I use a flash meter so I can get the exposure set quickly. You would not have the ADI function which is a valuable feature on  the 7D. Sony, who bought KM photo stuff, is going to use the same cables, and sell them, for their A100 DSLR. They will have a 5600 style flash, maybe it is the  same one as Minolta.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydslra100/page3.asp

Jim
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Offline ukshots

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Re: External flash?? Is it worth it??
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2006, 09:57:41 AM »
Whilst a little off topic, main advice for flash, is always use it wireless whenever possible, the effect will ensure you get a more interesting image, and it will not necessarily look like you used flash.
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