Do you really need a flash?

[imvane]

Just got myself a 580EXII. Like what many others have been saying, it is probably one of the other first investments that should be made at the start. Not cheap for a box of light but well worth it.

 

[JPLim]

wishxtreme,

You DONT need a flash in shooting indoor events. But make sure you have a fast lens like a f2.8.
If you want to totally stop motion blur, just up the ISO.

Think about it, why buy a flash when you can buy a lens for the same amount of cash.

I am not that agree with your statement.
Even at F1.8, sometime it is still not that enough and it becomes worse when you need to have deeper DOF.
By the way, I think 430EXII flash will cost lesser than F2.8 lens while it can deliver quite decent result for the indoor shot already.

 

[cannotshoot]

FLASH: 580EX - $720 JO, $749 CP, $760 MS, $690 TCW

LENS (Canon mount): Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD : CP $695 / TK $660 / MS $688 (inc. GST) / AP-F $670 / AP-S $645 / JO $680

 

[cannotshoot]

If you need more DOF, just use shorter focal length and crop the photo in pp.

 

[cannotshoot]

Also, if your subject is too far from the camera, flash is useless.

 

[fotoacs]

if you want cheaper and good flash.. pm me for more info..

 

[aungzawwin]

thread title was "do you really need a flash?"
yes. i really need it in many occasions

 

[OldFlower]

This is a VERY good question, but I think the Keyword here is 'REALLY'.
As for 'need', this can be subjective.

(.. long grandfather story coming..)

Way back ago when I still was terrified of Flash Photography, I felt I don't REALLY need one - those intimidating looking largish hotshoe flash guns. But, I still NEED to have that little built-in puny pop-up or pull-up microbic flash. But then as the years went by and I begun to grasp the techniques of Flash Photography, I regarded the puny built-in flash with disdain - however, it still cannot be totally discounted from use in adhoc shots.

With more finesses garnered through practice, reading, watching, and lecturing from Masters, the Dedicated Flash or Strobe, became an INDISPENSIBLE 'need' to me, but I rarely or ever at all used one without a diffuser - DIY or Gary Fong-ish contraptions. Recently I actually forked out S$88 for a Gary Fong LightSphere Universal - and my goodness why I wasn't surprised; it provided similar lighting quality to my DIY food containers I slap on habitually. Only difference is, this one doesn't pop off or drop and clatter embarrassingly onto the floor in front of all my subjects. :embrass:

So therefore, in my opinion a Dedicated Flash/Strobe is good, using it direct is BAD. :nono:
But going forwards in Photography without a Dedicated Flash/Strobe (either by choice or economic reasons), can potentially stunt your growth in this Art Form - unless you have decided to be a Dedicated Night or Ambient/Low Light Photographer, this can be an exception then.

 

[tks]

This question is like asking: Do you really need a car? or Do you really need HD? or Do you really need to know the meaning of life?

It depends on who you are, what you are doing and how much money you have?

If you have very little of all three of the above, I say you don't really need it. If you have 2 of the above, I say your probably need it but don't really need it. If you have all 3 of the above, I say go for it. What are you waiting for?

 

[opboy]

Hi, if i m in a tunnel with very dim light ...Can i just use the internal flash of my Canon camera? How do i gauge in the metering...newbie here...

thank you.

 

[darkroom]

You REALLY need a flash if you are into covering events or enjoy taking photo of your friends/relatives/etc while on trips.

With regards to the trip part... i recently went HK with my wife.. and there were countless occassions where I wished I had a flash with me. Especially in the evening where I'm taking photos of my wife with the sky as a backdrop. It was either the beautiful evening sky or my wife... couldn't get an exposure where both can be captured nicely..... or it could just be me.

 

[antacid]

yes..i wish my 5D came with a flash.

 

[Prince]

I dunno for you guys, but I tend to be more reliant on a flash ever since i got my 580. I am trying to remind myself what feel am i want to create before i decide to able or disable my flash. More often than not, I tend to use my flash.

 

[riotvan]

after getting a flash, i can't imagine not having it anymore o.o

 

[ShyanL]

Questions..
430EXII vs 580EXII

430EXII the choice if you are not intending to do strobing?

 

[Raied]

if budget allows, why not a 580ex got master and stroboscopic mode and its stronger when u need the power

then again, the 430 is no slacker either

great buy either way. i started off with a cheap 420, but it served me well and with the right technique and settings, its no problem at all

 

[unseen]

FLASH: 580EX - $720 JO, $749 CP, $760 MS, $690 TCW

LENS (Canon mount): Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD : CP $695 / TK $660 / MS $688 (inc. GST) / AP-F $670 / AP-S $645 / JO $680

When they say flash, they didn't say the best.
LENS (Canon mount): Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD : CP $695 / TK $660 / MS $688 (inc. GST) / AP-F $670 / AP-S $645 / JO $680

Flash:
430EX II - $499 Canon Singapore Website, JO $445 18/08/08, MS $420 (equote 24/8/08,cash,inc.gst), TK$430 (Card),TCW(290908) 390 1 year shop warranty, AP $425 (1 Oct 08, inc. gst)
430EX - $459 CP, $440 CP-M, $460 JO, $499 AP, $435 TK,$390 TCW 18/08/08
420EX - $345 MS

 

[ShyanL]

I am now a proud owner of 580EXIi =)

and I am loving it
;p

 

[issic]

I definitely need one and am glad that I got one.
Need it to take my 13 month old daughter under low light condition (cos usually indoor) as she is now very active and started running about. Else will not be able to achieve the right shutter speed to freeze her motion.

 

[DestinyAthrun]

i am planning to get one as soon as i have money saved up for it, but right now saving for a good lense !