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Cheap off camera flash for beginners?
I'm in the market for a cheap off camera flash! I've just been using natural light basically this whole time so I'm artificial lighting retarded. I've looked online everywhere but I'm having problems finding one that I can use in the field. I don't need anything fancy, just something simple, easy to use and cheap. Do you have any personal suggestions? I found the Yongnuo YN-560 Speedlight, but I'm not sure on it. Sep 19 12 05:07 pm Link I have been using the Yongnuo YN-460II. I have 2 of them and love them. They are completely manual, but since I use them off camera it works out great. I have only used them on 2 outings, so I can not speak to longevity, but another photographer on here uses the heck out of them. It is because of him that I bought mine. Sep 19 12 05:13 pm Link Hello, I have used the flash you are talking about and it does get the job done. I would say that using a flash trigger from the same maker would be a good option to go along with it. Using the slave option on the cheap flashes can be hit or miss. Good luck Cowboy studio has some good low price studio options for strobes as well... Sep 19 12 05:15 pm Link You haven't made your needs clear so I'll give you some general thoughts. (1) I use off camera flash with a radio (Paul Buff Cybersyncs) and have them on manual. (2) I use the flashes in E-TTTL mode with a coily-cord that I hand hold the flash at arms length when I use just one. My flashes are all around a GN of 58. I don't want to turn the day into night so I don't need much flash power, just enough to raise a models face about a half stop to a stop and to soften shadows, particularly on the nose. Sep 19 12 05:18 pm Link So I would need to absolutely need to buy the trigger also? Sep 19 12 05:19 pm Link Yongnuo YN460, YN460-II, YN560, YN560-II. Any of those, cheap, great flashes. 560 & 560-II have a much better build quality, little bit more power, and they're lower at minimum power if you're doing any closeup stuff, zoomable head and a socket for an external battery pack (the 460/460-II don't have any of that). YN560-II also has a MUCH faster recycle time, and stroboscopic flash mode. For the price difference, personally I'd go for the 560-II for the most versatility. I mostly use SB-900s when I use speedlights, but also have some YN560s that are equally as fantastic if I'm not being lazy or have an assistant to walk over to the flash and change the power for me.  Sep 19 12 05:19 pm Link Bethany Souza wrote: How far away is the flash from the camera? For this setup quite a bit http://cafe1956.com/creative/IMG_6361-600.jpg so I used the PCB Cybersyncs. For this one, http://cafe1956.com/creative/02790019-600.jpg it was a foot or so from the camera on a cord. Sep 19 12 05:32 pm Link Bethany Souza wrote: You could use them as regular optical slaves with either a speedlight on the hotshoe or using a popup, if the body you're using has one (set on minimum power, so that it triggers the slaves without actually contributing to the shot). Sep 19 12 05:34 pm Link I have 4 of the Yongnuo YN560-II which I use primarily for my water drop photography ... have had them for about 6 months now and am very happy with them. Sep 19 12 05:46 pm Link check out vivitar .. i've had one for a few years dropped it a good # of times .. still works like a charm Sep 19 12 06:00 pm Link I have a variety of Yongnuo flashes, love all of them. Most of my shooting is in VERY low light situations, too low to focus manually, and too low for my Canon 6d to autofucus reliably. So I put the YN 468II on the camera, for it's focusing assist light, and turn it away from the scene, towards a YN 560 set on slave. This has been very reliable for me, even when the slaved flash is inside a diffused umbrella. When I have to get my YN 462s involved, I use an optically slaved trigger for them. Sometimes, when I need a lot more power, I'll drag out the pair of Vivitar 285s, put an optical trigger on them, and go. If I'm not in a situation where I need the focusing light from the 468II, I just use YN 602 radio triggers. I've never had any reliability problems with them, but they're not easy to find now. I assume the 603 works as least as well, but they're not backwards compatible. When I run out of triggers, I fire any additional flashes I might need optically. All of this for the cost of two of the lowest priced Canon TTL flashes. I never use anything on auto, so why pay for all that? Sep 19 12 06:01 pm Link +1 on the Yongnuos. I do disagree with Kaouthia on one point though, power of 560 vs 460II - I've tested them a dozen different ways (seven 560s, and many many 460IIs) and once in a modifier, I have seen no power difference, bare with the zoom head out, yeah the zoom beefs it up, but in a softbox/umbrella/BD, no difference. They're faster (2 sec vs 2.5-3 at full, but I'm usually at 1/18 power or so, so they're both instant) I personally don't need anything the 560 gives (zoom, PC, external battery) so my kit right now is a dozen 460IIs and a 565ex. I've been using the YongNuo RF603 triggers lately. Used the 602 kit for years, no problems aside from dead batteries from leaving them on  And regarding reliability. Using this kit, I have had zero problems. No misfires except due to user error (wrong channel) and several flashes have fallen and tumbled dozens of feet down mountains. Several have been submerged in lakes, streams, etc for up to a minute (all still work) Very much worth it. Sep 19 12 07:01 pm Link -JAY- wrote: Depends on the modifier, but the very nature of a zoomable head gives the potential for more power in a focused area that isn't possible on the 460-II. -JAY- wrote: Totally agree with you on that one, and remembering to take the batteries out of the Tx so that they don't get half-pressed rumbling around in your bag and draining. Always carry a pack of 8 CR2 and a couple of dozen AAA batteries around with me on shoots, just to be safe. Sep 19 12 07:12 pm Link Kaouthia wrote: I know they've made changes within series throughout (metal foot on the 560, button upgrade on the 460II, etc) Sep 19 12 07:21 pm Link -JAY- wrote: Kaouthia wrote: Another reason I love the 603s. It's all AAA. I've actually been using dollar store batteries (8 for $1) and they've been going strong for several months. I've got several backups for all of them, for just a couple bucks, too. Sep 19 12 07:24 pm Link I also use Yongnuo flashes.... in combination with my Nikon SB flashes. I would reccommend them for a beginner but would HIGHLY suggest a TTL model like the Yongnuo 465 or 468. Someone who is completely inexperienced with off camera lighting might find a manual flash to be frustrating. Sep 19 12 07:24 pm Link ImageX wrote: But once you hit that learning curve... the whole world opens up Sep 19 12 07:26 pm Link So what would you suggest buying as a starting kit then? Sep 19 12 07:44 pm Link Bethany Souza wrote: 3 YN460II flashes - $135 Sep 19 12 07:56 pm Link I'm not looking for more than 1 or 2 flashes right now. I'm going to start off with just 1. Sep 19 12 07:58 pm Link You guys are being so helpful! Last time I tried making a thread like this people were just smartasses telling me to google everything. Sep 19 12 07:58 pm Link Bethany Souza wrote: yn460II - RF603 - heavy duty stand - umbrella bracket - decent modifier. Sep 19 12 07:59 pm Link Photographers are giving you recommendations for lighting according to their taste. I suggest that you check out the work of the photographers below. Then decide what suits your style. Books and DVDs by Joe McNally http://portfolio.joemcnally.com/ David Hobby http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/ Neil van Niekerk and his books http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photog … echniques/ Frankly, I don't remember how much of his info is outdoors. Edit: Bethany Souza wrote: I hope you don't think that I am a smart ass. Sep 19 12 08:18 pm Link -JAY- wrote: Agreed. I just think a TTL flash would be easier for a beginner to get good exposures. Then, once they start learning the science of light, they could flip it into Manual mode and start experimenting. I think everyone.... including Pros... should have at least one TTL speedlite. Sep 19 12 08:21 pm Link Personally, I am perfectly happy with a $ Sep 19 12 08:25 pm Link I love my trio of YN-560 but I wish I had gotten the RF-602 instead of RF-603. I also recommend Dean Collins' 4-set DVD. Sep 19 12 08:54 pm Link ImageX wrote: I think there is a risk with TTL flash in that many folks won't bother to learn more than how to do some flash exposure compensation. Having flash that can only be used manually forces the user to learn. Sep 20 12 12:41 am Link They released YN-568EX, has some improvements there, and the price is still reasonable [~$178], for that price with the features or specifications listed there i can go with 2 or even 3 of this flash, just few more bucks over YN-560/YN-565, give it a look or give it a try, and i will say, give it a buy!!! Sep 20 12 04:15 am Link -JAY- wrote: If I didn't need the PC sync socket from the original RF602Tx (for Nikkormats, Mamiya, and laser/sound triggers), I'd switch to 603s without hesitation. Sep 20 12 06:50 am Link ImageX wrote: Personally, I think TTL flash would be more frustrating, because when you don't know what you're doing with it, it can be highly inconsistent and you have no idea why. At least with manual flash, if it's too dark, you can just brighten it up, if it's too bright, you just knock it down. Sep 20 12 06:52 am Link I would not do cheap, I recently upgraded the 580 to the 600EX RT and WOW! Sep 20 12 07:20 am Link Kaouthia wrote: They have PC. Sep 20 12 07:24 am Link Same here, +1 on the Yongnuo's. I use them with CactusV4 transmitters. I also have a LumePro and although it was more expensive than the Yongnuo, it misses once in a while. Sep 20 12 09:46 am Link -JAY- wrote: Wish I'd said nothing. Somebody always says this when I mention the sync socket the RF-602 has that the RF-603 doesn't. Sep 20 12 10:10 am Link After buying two Vivitar 285s, and five manual YNs, I thought that I should have a TTL flash. I can't remember why I thought that. So I got a YN 468II to add to the kit. Now, I use that one mostly for the focusing light, turning the flash head sideways or backwards to fire slaved flashes. I tried the TTL mode, and wasn't impressed. I felt that I had lost some control of the situation. Learn to use your camera and flash in manual mode. It's not that difficult, and your photos will show the extra care. Dec 09 12 10:39 am Link I like the YN-560 II a lot. Lots of power with the ability to go down to 1/128th power, zoom head, PC port, and nice build quality and display. I have a YN-460 II also and much prefer the 560 II. I also have a collection of Sunpak 383, 522 and 622 flashes, but if I was starting out now with speedlights, I'd probably build my kit around the 560 II's. Dec 09 12 11:38 am Link ImageX wrote: I think there is something to this... If you wanted to shoot events etc. a TTL flash, cord, bracket and diffuser make things EASY. 100 more for the TTL version, 20 for the cord 20 for the bracket 10? for the diffuser if you get it on amazon. You'd make that back in one job. Dec 09 12 03:20 pm Link Bethany Souza wrote: we know you know how to google 'smartass' so what was the point this time? Dec 09 12 04:57 pm Link Metz makes nice flashes low cost Dec 09 12 04:59 pm Link Northern Lights Images wrote: same price/performance as YongNuo? we are all interested. Dec 09 12 05:05 pm Link |
