Reddit mentions of YONGNUO YN-468 II E-TTL Speedlite with LCD Display, for Canon 50D 40D T1I XSI XS

You will need a flash, and most likely your on camera flash will not be enough.

You will need an E-TTL flash so that you can take pictures on the fly without having to adjust the power of your flash. You can buy a 3rd party one or a Canon version, or rent one if you want.

You will also want something to diffuse the light. There are simple caps, on-flash soft boxes, and another that seems to be popular is the Gary Fong Lightsphere. I personally use an on-camera softbox as it offers the largest light source, though the lightsphere seems to work pretty well too and isn't as bulky and fragile. These things also should be used in close range, over about 10ft the diffusion quality diminishes and they require too much power to light the subject.

Just do a search?

https://www.amazon.com/YONGNUO-YN-468-II-Speedlite-Display/dp/B00660H6KU/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=yn+468+ii&qid=1557892423&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spell

https://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN-565-Speedlite-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00844N5OC/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=yn+565&qid=1557892447&s=gateway&sr=8-3-spell

https://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN-568EX-YN568EX-powerful-speedlite/dp/B00DA8459G/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=yn+565&qid=1557892447&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spell-spons&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN568EX-YN-568EX-Speed-Speedlite/dp/B0094O6GNI/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=yn+568&qid=1557892461&s=gateway&sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN-568EX-YN568EX-powerful-speedlite/dp/B00DA8459G/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=yn+568&qid=1557892461&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

I wrote that FAQ entry and I think they're all good buys. Why would we bother listing something that isn't?

Godox also makes good third party flashes and are more popular recently, but I'm less familiar with their model numbers.

I have a couple of YN-560 II's and they've worked great for over a year. I use them with Cactus V5 triggers and they've performed well.

If you're going to do any shooting with a flash on the camera, you'll want to get a YN-468 such as this one because it has TTL metering while the 560 does not. If you're wanting two lights, I suggest one 560 and one 468 just so you have TTL capability if you ever need it.

Eneloop batteries are a great addition with the flashes. They last forever.

The Yongnuo YN-468 II for $87 has E-TTL support, and as a Nikon shooter is definitely on par with the Nikon flashes, and about 1/4 the price (looks to be 1/5 the price of the 580EX II.

If you're not aware, TTL = Through The Lens, and means that it is able to automatically meter the light and adjust the power of the flash in tandem with the camera to get a decent exposure.

If you've not done any flash photography before, then I'd definitely recommend a TTL Flash.

Otherwise, you can spend even less, and get the Yonguo YN-560 II for $71, which is a manual flash (I bought two to accompany my older YN-467 TTL flash to use as off-camera flashes). I believe the YN-560 II has a longer range (more powerful flash), but I don't think it will impact you in your situation.

You might also try looking at the Yongnuo 568EX or the Yonguo 565 EX which are intended to be direct competitors to the 580 EX2 recommended by /u/arachnophilia but I have no experience with either.

Note there a bunch of Amazon pages for all of these flashes, so hunt around a little and read lots of reviews. I love my Yongnuo flashes :)

We have a weekly thread about this stuff, which is why people are downvoting this post.

But you should check out - YongNuo YN-468 II E-TTL

Late to the party today!
Ok, I have a pair of the Yongnuo wireless transmitters RF-603 II C3 and the YN-468 II E-TTL speedlight. I'm wanting to add 1-2 of the YN560 IV flashes. The YN560-TX transmitter looks like a great value, but I'm wondering what my options are to keep my older flash in the mix.
Set it to slave mode and hope for the best? Doesn't LOOK to me like the two setups can talk to each other.

I have this flash and love it!
It is full manual however and if you are looking for TTL capabilities there are some options for that:

http://www.amazon.com/YongNuo-YN-468-E-TTL-Speedlite-Display/dp/B00660H6KU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1369074530&sr=8-4&keywords=yongnuo+flash+ttl+canon

http://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN-565-Flash-Speedlite-Canon/dp/B005KQ2NP4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369074530&sr=8-2&keywords=yongnuo+flash+ttl+canon

+1

YongNuo YN-468II - cheap, ok-good light output, supports E-TTL and optical slave modes.

Get some Eneloop XX batteries (and charger) to go with it

I think I'm pretty much "done" building a basic camera kit and just wanted to run this item by you guys. I have a Canon 60D (that I bought used for a great deal, I am the definition of a crappy weekend shooter), EF 50Mmm, EF-S 18-135mm w/ Hood, and some generic other stuff (wireless shutter release, crappy tripod, etc...) I was looking for an entry-level E-TTL-equipped hot shoe flash, and found these two items:

http://www.amazon.com/YongNuo-YN-468-E-TTL-Speedlite-Display/dp/B00660H6KU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415663362&sr=8-2&keywords=E-ttl

http://www.amazon.com/Neewer%C2%AE-Speedlite-Camera-High-Speed-Cameras/dp/B00E3K94T6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415663362&sr=8-1&keywords=E-ttl

These appear to be the two main beginner-level (and cheap) E-TTL capable hot-shoe flashes for my 60D, anyone have any experience with either, or suggestions as to which might be better? Thank you!

Here's the amazon link.

...and here's a shot I took the other day by simply firing it upwards and behind me for some bounce.

I don't know anything about using flashes, do you think it would be better for me to get something that has TTL? I have been looking at this: http://www.amazon.com/YongNuo-YN-468-E-TTL-Speedlite-Display/dp/B00660H6KU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Because it has manual, TTL, zoom, and can swivel around. However, I don't think it has high speed sync...is that important?

That's because it has been discontinued. Some vendors like to jump prices when that happens. In case it becomes a precious collectible, I guess. Barely anyone sells it anymore.

There's a link to the new one.