Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I have read and been told by a local camera store that it is best to stay with brand of light that makes the camera. Also on the Canon it seems like the only two lights are recommend the 430 ex and the 580 ex. I would appreciate any thoughts on this and recommendation. I have read some reviews on other brands of lights but you do know who wrote them. Experience users are the best source I have found to be true. Thanks for any feed back.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Totally agree staying with the same maker... I have a Speedlite 300EZ that is probably at least 20 years old... Brought it on ebay for little or nothing compared to the prices they want for new ones.... Canon has kept the same hookup through out the years, so it makes NO difference what speedlite you get... The main things is that the new ones will tilt and swivel... But then again you can buy flash defussers for less than 5 bucks.............. I'm a firm believer that good used items beats the 'ell out of new expensive....

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

Thanks for the reply. If i understand what they are referring to in the two lights the will control slaves or other light and you can change the flash settings, is this right. The only flash I used previously were on cheaper camera where you could not set flash to match aperture settings. Am I on the right track?

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

I do believe so......

quagmire Loc: Greenwood,South Carolina

bought a light bar at Target yesterday for 30$
has a bracket that screws into tripod mount
can aim any way,has 10 led lights and two levels does a good job on close ups

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

[quote=donrent]Totally agree staying with the same maker... I have a Speedlite 300EZ that is probably at least 20 years old... Brought it on ebay for little or nothing compared to the prices they want for new ones.... Canon has kept the same hookup through out the years, so it makes NO difference what speedlite you get... The main things is that the new ones will tilt and swivel... But then again you can buy flash defussers for less than 5 bucks.............. I'm a firm believer that good used items beats the 'ell out of a new expensive one....
========================================
Wait !, Wait !!!!

I'm wrong...... The older EZ flash units WILL NOT work on the newer Canons.... The newer digitals cameras require the EX type flash units..... Sorry for the wrong info... Now, dammit, I have to buy a newer flash unit.... errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

The EZ flash will work but only on manual mode.They can also be used as a slave flash with radio control from the camera.[quote=donrent]

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

It's not necessarily true to "stick with brand" at all...it depends on what you are trying to accomplish, and what you will put up with.

I have a 430EXII, and 3 Yongnu flashes of varying levels of ability on what they will and won't do automatically with my Canon camera.

They are all useful in their own way depending on what I'm trying to get out of them.

If you just want to slap an external flash on top of your camera with a diffuser or maybe rotate the head to bounce of walls, then I'd say yes....the Canon 430EXII is a great buy...it's 250.00 at B&H right now.


If you want to remove the flash from the camera and get umbrellas or softboxes and don't mind walking over to them to change settings....then you can get by with something half as expensive or even down to 75.00 that is a fine flash that is solid but all manual in operation.

It all depends on your goals.

Dria Loc: Ohio

I have had off brand flashes. I finally broke down and bought the Canon 430 and SO VERY glad I did!

photoguy

I agree. If you are shooting ETTL then yes you need to be brand wise.
Shooting manual and remote the camera only knows pop the flash so any brand will work.

eglide02 Loc: Titletown USA

don't waste your money on an off brand unless you love frustration, been there fought w/that, finally bought a 430ex and now actually can use a flash as intended.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Not true. Other brands will work with Canon's ETTL just fine.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i have 2 580ex, 3 yongnuo yn-560, and 1 yongnuo yn-465

they are all GREAT!!

the yn-465 has ettl....and i have had it for almost 2 years and never a problem.

the yn-560's are manual flashes, but i do not use ttl mode anyway. they also have the same external battery pack ports as the 580's.

my 580's were $460 and the yn-560's were $65. i use 3 to 4 flashes when i do an on-location shoot...none have let me down...so i have nothing bad to say about yongnuo flashes.

also, the 580exii canons are great also...and i can fire them wirelessly from my 7d...the yn-560's work awesome as slave flashes and light every time. i can use 4 flashes with no external wireless triggers.

i am a happy camper for sure!!!

(i did a test the other day for a friend...1 snapped 180 flashes with a yn-560 and the batteries were still 80% charged (i use eneloops).

i normally don't like the chinese cheap stuff...but the yongnuo's have been great so far!!! i use them 5 days a week in my day job. so they are getting hard use and abuse.

jim

i know almost everything is made in china anyway...but they have their low line cheap stuff and made to spec higher quality stuff. so i am not knocking "made in china"

molsonice Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

There are other options, Nissin, Metz are good bets and will save you money.

I have the Nissin and 622MKll and it works great and can also be used as a slave flash off the camera, purchased at Amazon for $198.37. Metz is a little higher but have friends who use it and are not having problems either for what it is worth. Like lenses do you only use Canon for Canon or Nikon for Nikon, I don't think so. :P :P

Awagner Loc: St. Louis

Check out the Nissin brand of flash. I bought a Nissin Di866 mark II, which is comparable to the Canon 580ex II, but about half the price.($255 vs. $449) From my 6 months of use with it, I can tell you that it works great, and just as the 580ex II would work. It works in all modes, including TTL, it works as a "master" also to control other off camera flashes and works with Canon's wireless system if you use it off camera. As far as I can tell, it's a great substitute for the 580ex II. If there is something the 580ex II will do that this Nissin won't, I don't know about it.
Nissin also makes other models of flash guns that are less expensive and will work with Canon, or Nikon, or whatever you shoot.
Hope this helps.