Need Help with Speedlite for Canon 70D

[GForensic]

Hello All,

Just looking to get some advice on Speedlite flashes. I Recently purchased a Canon 70D camera and I am looking to get a Speedlite flash. In doing my research I came across a few and I am currently looking at the 430EX II which seems to be a good middle of the road flash at a good price (currently $100 off....price is $199). Can anyone here shed some light on the subject? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

 

[sarge]

You might find yourself quickly outgrowing that choice once you really start getting into flash photography. The 430EX II is an optical slave unit and does not have the killer RF feature that Canon recently integrated w/the 600 EX-RF. It's twice as expensive but 10x more useful than an optical unit which must 'see' the master strobe in order to fire.

If you don't think you're going to go beyond employing a single flash then go with the 430, but if you think you're eventually going to use multiple flash heads then I would opt for the 600.

PS - Even a single 600 can be used with the remote ($$) and fired from quite a distance from the camera - really opens up the creative possibilities.

 

[SirCarrington]

The 430EX II is a great way to get your feet wet without having to spend a tonne of cash. There are cheap and reliable RF flash transceivers that can be purchased later if you want that function.

 

[The Bad Guy]

Get the 600ex-rt. I've got four of them and that's all I use.

www.acampbellphoto.net

 

[GForensic]

Thanks for all of the replies! Not really sure how to proceed here. For me I am just starting out with general photography with the eventual goal of automotive photography to hopefully include racing and sporting events if i ever get decent enough but cars are definitely my passion. One of my goals is to visit motor valley in Italy in a couple of years and to be able to get some decent shots of the incredible cars I've seen online in the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums.

So with this in mind I have no problem buying the 430EX now and upgrading to the 600 EX RT if I get good enough but with what my eventual goals are would it be the smart choice or does it really not matter either way?

And "The Bad Guy" I've seen a lot of your work in the monthly Photo of the Day section and on your website and in my opinion you take a lot of killer shots! I can only dream of being that good along with a lot of other people on here. You guys and gals fuel my passion for taking great pictures. Keep em' coming!

 

[sarge]

So with this in mind I have no problem buying the 430EX now and upgrading to the 600 EX RT if I get good enough but with what my eventual goals are would it be the smart choice or does it really not matter either way?

I think you just answered your own question:

430EX = $199
430EX $199 + $199 Trigger Kit = $400
600EX = $469

To be fair you would still need the speedlight transmitter ($280) to use the EX off camera but you're asking for tradeoffs between convenience and price and only you can make that determination. If you can rent equipment it always helps in the cost savings analysis. I think a weekend charge for the speedlight rental is like $20.

 

[sarge]

Hey GForensic, just FYI it looks like the 430EX III ($299) now has RF capabilities, as per B&H:

Canon radio flash capabilities are trickling down from their flagship model with the integration of a 2.4 GHz wireless triggering system with master and slave capabilities in the mid-range Speedlite 430EX III-RT. Much like its predecessor, the E-TTL / E-TTL II unit has a guide number of 141' at ISO 100 and 105mm along with a zoom range of 24-105mm and a wide panel that extends coverage down to 14mm. Bounce has been expanded with the ability to rotate 150° right and 180° left as well as tilt upwards 90°. Enhancing operation are a dot-matrix LCD and a Multi Dial for smooth maneuvering of the menu settings.

 

[GForensic]

Hey GForensic, just FYI it looks like the 430EX III ($299) now has RF capabilities, as per B&H:

Canon radio flash capabilities are trickling down from their flagship model with the integration of a 2.4 GHz wireless triggering system with master and slave capabilities in the mid-range Speedlite 430EX III-RT. Much like its predecessor, the E-TTL / E-TTL II unit has a guide number of 141' at ISO 100 and 105mm along with a zoom range of 24-105mm and a wide panel that extends coverage down to 14mm. Bounce has been expanded with the ability to rotate 150° right and 180° left as well as tilt upwards 90°. Enhancing operation are a dot-matrix LCD and a Multi Dial for smooth maneuvering of the menu settings.

Sarge,

Thanks for the heads up! I'll check it out.....

 

[v3rlon]

Or, you could get a Yonguo 560-IV for $70. It compares nicely to the top end Canon for a fraction of the price. It has built in RF transmitter and receiver so that it can control or be controlled by other Yongnuo 560 III (receiver only) and IV units. You can get a master transmitter if you want.

Look at reviews online to see that these are quality products rivaling Canon and Nikon for output and consistency. Canon of course has integrated RF that will not work with them, but when you can get 5 instead of 1, it really opens up creative options.

 

[techgrunt]

Or, you could get a Yonguo 560-IV for $70. It compares nicely to the top end Canon for a fraction of the price. It has built in RF transmitter and receiver so that it can control or be controlled by other Yongnuo 560 III (receiver only) and IV units. You can get a master transmitter if you want.

Look at reviews online to see that these are quality products rivaling Canon and Nikon for output and consistency. Canon of course has integrated RF that will not work with them, but when you can get 5 instead of 1, it really opens up creative options.

I seconded this. I just got a Yonguo 560 and I'm happy with it so far. Also got the transmitter as well looking to get a few more soon.

 

[v3rlon]

I should point out you give up high speed sync like this, if that is something you are into. You can get it back with radio poppers.

But, if you are looking at a lot of high speed sync, you will have to get creative if you go with Yongnuo 560s