New Flash

[stevebedder]

I'm thinking of finally getting a new flash for my Canon EOS 50D. I've currently got a Speedlite 380EX which is quite old, takes an age to recycle and only twists one way.

Any suggestions of what I should go for? Canon or third-party? Anyone any experience with the Nissin, Sigma, Metz, Sunpak kit? The only thing I need to have is a head that twists both ways so I can shoot landscape or portrait. I've already got a remote flash trigger so no need for the new flash to have that feature.

Would welcome any suggestions or experiences 

thanks

Steve

[bones615]

I have a sigma 500dg ? and 2 yongnuo flashes never had Canon to compare, I cant pretend I understand the Sigma and use it on manual occasionally with a wireless trigger for hair light or outside pointing at the bird table. The yongnuo's are great for the price and I use them on a bracket with wireless triggers for macro shots. I could live without or learn to use the Sigma but the cheapies are great for my needs. Horses for courses i suppose.

Simon

[skellum]

I have a Sigma 500 DG Super and a 530 DG Super.  Never had a problem with either of them except for a broken hotshoe which was my fault. As ever it all comes down to money which is why I went down the Sigma road in the first place instead of Canon. I would not use anything cheaper than Sigma though. I have seen a Chinese wannabe which was not very impressive.

[Hinfrance]

I'm not a Canon owner, but I didn't feel like coughing up the higher price for a proprietary flash, so I went for a Metz 58AF.

It's been really good, and I especially like the secondary reflector which can be used to get a catch light in a subject's eyes when the main head is being bounced elsewhere, or otherwise defused.

I also have a Yongnuo as a secondary portable light - it's a 460 so it is a manual not dedicated unit, but it has an optical slave trigger and it was a cheap as can be. That has also worked flawlessly.

[picsfor]

if the 380exII has been fine up to now, i wouldn't go above a 430exII.

That said, the yongnuo canon-a-likes are extremely good value and you can get a 580 equivelant for much less than the price of the genuine article.
A lot of strobists use them - surely they can't all be wrong?

[stevebedder]

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions, they are very useful.

I've just had a chat with a friend who has set himself up as a photographer and he has a couple of the Nissin speedlites and couldn't recommend them enough! Having a quick look at them you get a lot for your money - they seem much better value that the Canons and seem to have more features than the Sunpak etc.

This was the one I was looking at, it's got an extra forward facing spot flash which kicks in when your bouncing off the ceiling 

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nissin-di866-professional-flashgun-canon-fit/p1031356

My only decision now is do I go with Warehouse Express or do I go for the Hong Kong based eBay store that sells the same unit for £70 less??!?

On a completely seperate note - isn't the weather rubbish today!!! 

Steve

[Oldboy]

On a completely seperate note - isn't the weather rubbish today!!! 

Steve

No. Here it's blue sky with lots of sunshine at present. 

[Mick]

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nissin-di866-professional-flashgun-canon-fit/p1031356

My only decision now is do I go with Warehouse Express or do I go for the Hong Kong based eBay store that sells the same unit for £70 less??!?

It's about £40 cheaper on amazon than it is on Warehouse Express, grabbed this link from the CC amazon shop, http://astore.amazon.co.uk/camercrani-21/search?node=1&keywords=Nissin 

[stevebedder]

Interesting......How does that work then Mick, is it your shop or is it an affiliate type scheme?

Thanks for the link

[Mick]

Interesting......How does that work then Mick, is it your shop or is it an affiliate type scheme?

Thanks for the link

Steve, yes it's a affiliate program supplied by Amazon.  https://affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/  I've added a few banners and adds throughout the site, and a link to the aStore in the quick links on the front page.  All products come through Amazon as normal.

[Simple]

I know quite a few people that went the Nissin route, and they all love them. Stay away from the cheaper Nissin models I have been told.

[stevebedder]

Done quite a bit of looking round the t'interweb today and there's a lot of positive noise about the Di866.

At £250 on warehouse express I was thinking twice, but at £190 on the CC Amazon store it's on my shopping list

[picsfor]

Interesting......How does that work then Mick, is it your shop or is it an affiliate type scheme?

Thanks for the link

Steve, yes it's a affiliate program supplied by Amazon.  https://affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/  I've added a few banners and adds throughout the site, and a link to the aStore in the quick links on the front page.  All products come through Amazon as normal.

Mick you need to be making your shop more well known. Funding is always difficult - but don't set it up and keep it a secret. C'mon - you do a great job with this site and are entitled to blow your own trumpet a bit. Even garner a bit of sponsorship...

[Mick]

Andrew thanks.,

edited your post above to bring your reply out of the quote.

Re: the shop links.  I'm now wondering if you guys can see them, they should be visible at the top of the forum index page, and down the left hand side of the home page,  via a vertical banner, and from the Quick links menu. Plus a couple more dotted about in various places.

[Oldboy]

I can see them.