Flash recommendation - 30D

[IanOrm]

Hi. Using a 30D with in built flash to date. Now have a need for a more flexible unit. Will be used for portrait and close-up shots, but predominately portrait. Feel it ought to have 'flexible' head - i.e. can rotate up or even sideways.

I'm not looking for professional model, but one that will be useful for a range of topics.

Any help much appreciated.


Ian

[Malcolm_Stewart]

Canon's 550EX is compatible with your 30D, and being an older model is now available s/h at a more reasonable price. It does what you want and can act as a Master or Slave in a multi-flash set-up. In terms of power for studio work (i.e. into a brolly or similar, I expect it's comparable in power to the later ones despite the change in GN which I think applies to them when zoomed to the max.

You really will need the Instruction Manual and this should be downloadable from the Canon USA website. (I've got a copy on my HDD if you run into trouble.)

You may run into problems in close-up work with the 550EX. For close-up work I had my best results using the old Minolta flashes, 280PX & 360PX, on a Minolta X700 where the (wired) system was capable of reacting very quickly and gave me excellent exposures at very close range. I never achieved this with my later Canon system, and I now wonder if the additional filtering required for EMC purposes has slowed the response speed such that it can no longer shut the flash off fast enough. I now use a low powered ring flash and this works OK.

HTH

[IanOrm]

Thanks for your advice Malcolm, I'll look at the units suggested and dig round for the user manual.

You don't mention which ring-flash units you use by name though...



Ian

[Malcolm_Stewart]

My ring flash is an old Elicar 8. Bought at a Camera Fair, and very unsophisticated; but doesn't matter as much on digital with its instant review and correct facility, as on film where you'd have to wait to check your exposures etc.