Which speedlight / speedlite / flashgun should I buy?
One of the questions I most often have to help out with, is
which flashgun / speedlight is the best choice?
And my straight-forward recommendation for a new or better flashgun is:
you want bigger, better, faster, more!
I believe many photographers hesitate in spending money on a full-featured flashgun, thinking it is better to start off with a smaller and less expensive flashgun until they “get more into it”, or understand flash photography better. Yet, this conservative approach to getting a full-featured powerful flashgun works against them being able to achieve the results they would like.
The top-of-the-range speedlights offer features and abilities that will enable you as a photographer, whether it is because of the extra power, or the way the flashhead swivels and rotates, or some of the other features. All of these combine in making the more expensive flashguns the better choice, since they do make it easier to bounce the light from your flash .. and it is in bouncing your flash when indoors that you get the best results from a speedlight when it is mounted on the camera.
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This thinking goes along the lines of my usual justification: save the cash and wait until you can afford the better equipment- it will last longer, do more for your, and you’ll spend less money than you would in the “upgrade” process.
I can attest to Neil’s scenario- every time I’ve bought a middling piece of equipment, even when I’m not all that ‘up’ on the benefits and differences between it’s higher quality cousin, I end up mastering it fairly quickly and finding its limits. That always leaves me wishing I spent the greater amount up front to have spent less in the end total.
Granted, it takes a lot more research to try and figure what you need and make the bigger initial *investment,* but when you have to wait longer, you’ve got the time, right? Not to mention, often a new, better release comes out in the meantime.
Comment by Daniel — May 28, 2009 @ 11:51 am
Agreed 100%. You’re only going to have to go through the hassle of selling the inferior flash (probably at a loss) and then upgrade anyway. Buy the best right from the git go and don’t look back. You will save time and money in the long run.
BTW Neil….what are your thoughts on Metz Flashes such as this: Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1
Or how about the Qflash Trio: http://www.qtm.com/?page=3210&qmode=c
Comment by Tom K. — May 28, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
Comment by Neil — May 28, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
Hey Neil,
I missed your recent workshop in Cork, I will definately make it a priority to attend the next one! Please make it as soon as possible! I’ll keep bugging Liam. I was in his home studio while the workshop was on…
Just a couple of quick questions on the SB900…
First; Are you affected by the overheating auto shut off feature? It has got me once or twice and is annoying me a little but I’m too afraid to turn it off for fear of burning out the flash. How do you suggest overcoming this small hurdle?
Secondly; I would like to be able to understand my SB900 a bit more, I have to admit that I mainly use it on ttl and use gels, angles and full and half snoots (your black foamie thing is brilliant) to control the light. This works most of the time but I was hoping you could assist me in my goal to fully understand all the features and uses of my brilliant flash unit and help me get more value from it. I do a lot of location beauty and fashion and sometimes I use my elinchrom dlite 4s but now I have my two SB900s and would much prefer to use them for outdoor and location work instead.
What are your views?
Regards,
Alexander
Comment by Alexander — August 30, 2009 @ 6:01 am
Comment by Neil — December 8, 2009 @ 1:39 am