Reddit mentions of Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Bulk Packaging (White Box, New)

I use a backdrop kit that includes stands and muslin backdrops. I replaced the muslin with 9-ft. rolls of seamless paper after viewing this tutorial. Total cost: $300

For lighting, I use speedlites--a 430EX II and two YN-560s. The 430EX II is connected to my camera via a 24-ft. E-TTL cable from FlashZebra. The YN-560s are triggered remotely by the 430EX II. Total cost: $375

For light modifiers, I have a 24-inch soft box, 37-inch umbrellas, and 16-inch beauty dish. Total cost: $150

You can see what some of this looks like at http://clintonblackburn.com/headshots-and-insights-from-peter-hurley/.

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.

I have the T2i and its great. If you feel like spending a couple hundred more, you could look at the T3i. Its basically the same as the T2i with an updated movie mode and an adjustable screen.

Shopping list.

Canon T3i

Canon T2i - You can get used on Amazon for under $600.

Nifty Fifty

Canon Speedlite 430EX II

24-105 mm is a great all around lense. Well worth the money if you ask me. it would also replace 2 of your lenses so there is less for you to carry. I also really like the 70-200. If you plan on taking alot of landscape style photos try a 17-40 mm.

If I were you and had $3000 to spend, I 'd pick up a 6d with 24-105 mm lense combo

6d combo

a nice manfrotto or ravelli tripod

A nice flash

430 flash

and a nice back pack.

That's my two cents.

I really want/need this one for my 60D. I don't have an external flash and they really make all the difference, and this seems like a great middle of the road one.

Even better would be this beast.

Your lenses are slow, but I wouldn't bother buying new lenses. Buy the 430EX, and learn how to bounce it, sync it, adjust it, etc. You're going to need an off camera flash eventually.

Don't bother with that package, just buy the straight flash from Amazon for cheaper and pick up batteries locally.

Eventually, I'd pick up the 50 1.8 lens. It's a very sharp, decently fast lens for $100. I have $1400 lenses and I still love this lens.

Please don't go buy $300 lenses right now. Your situation will be best served by getting a flash and learning to use it.

While everyone suggests a 35 or 50mm f/1.8 lens, let me suggest a flash that isn't on top of your camera. I'd get at least the 430EX flash (http://amzn.com/B001CCAISE) so you can swivel and tilt the head of it. Pair that up with a good diffuser (http://amzn.com/B000CLNHXY) and you can take some great portraits. Flashes are great to have even in bright sunlight to soften shadows and add catch-lights to eyes, and are invaluable in other types of photography and situations.

Also, a RapidStrap is nice to have (http://amzn.com/B002WR7VSS), as it will get your camera off your neck and onto your shoulder. It's a hell of a lot more comfortable to carry it around during hikes like this.

my fiance maintains a blog for her cooking and baking. she uses my old canon rebel and a couple of these lowel ego lights for her photographs, but they can be a pain to set up in our tiny nyc apartment with ridiculously limited counter space. i was wondering if this speedlite 430EX would be a good gift, something that could replace those ego lights. it's probably important to note that we don't have space for a proper light box, she takes all her photos right on the counter. thanks!

I have a Yanguno YN-560II and a Canon 430EXII that I shoot with Yanguno C-603 wireless triggers. As others here have said, the 560II is manual only, but I find myself using manual modes exclusively on my 430EXII. I should mention that I usually don't use flash from the camera shoe, and the C-603 triggers don't transmit ETTL. The most rounded option imo, is the YN-565EX you linked. Since it has ETTL, it would likely come out to be more useful to you in general.

I'd look into the Yanguno wireless triggers that I linked as well. They become highly useful if you want to get a little more creative with your flash placement, or if you want to quickly adjust angle. I found that the marginal cost increase of the wireless triggers like the 603C's is worth every penny.

Are you asking about other speedlites (small flash guns)? Or are you looking to upgrade to monolights?

If you're sticking with small flashes, it might depend on your camera system. Probability suggests you're either shooting Canon or Nikon.

With Canon people really like the 430EX

With Nikon, the SB800 gets a lot of love.

These are not the top of the line flash for either system, but they appear to have a balance of cost and features that people like. Buying on-brand flashes also means you benefit from the full functionality the system. e.g. I have a bunch of YongNuo flashes and a Nikon D610, which means I can't use the camera menu to group and control the flashes. As for the power you're looking for - these are as powerful as you might ever need a small flash to be.

Both of these will work on rechargeable batteries, and your request that your power lasts "all day" really depends on what you're shooting. Just buy and carry a few few extra cases of batteries. (I have 48 Eneloops the last time I counted)

If you're thinking the solution to your power problem involves an upgrade to a monolight, and money isn't really an issue, then you should look at something like the Profoto B1 500 AirTTL

These are fast becoming the go-to flash for professional photographers on the move. They're powered by battery packs that slide right into the body, so there are no cables to deal with. The consistent quality of the light and the feature set in general are hard to beat when you the portability in account.

Just to compare, here is a selection from the Canon side of things with Amazon used prices:
Canon 7d - $990
Tamron 17-50 2.8 - $340
These two are a great basis to work off off and get you to $1330.

If you want to spend some more you could add the following:
Canon 50mm f/1.8 - 100
Canon Speedlite 430EX - 235

But to be honest, if your wife is just starting out and money is a bit tight, don't go out spending $900 or more on a body. As most people will tell you, picture quality is mostly due to lenses. Canon t3i, Canon t4i or 60D as well as Nikon 3200 and 5100 are all excellent bodies and have more than enough features to keep her happy. If you get either of those bodies and a decent 17-50mm lens as well as a 50mm prime she will have great tools to learn on with space to grow.

Just like daegon I would recommend to buy used. Most Photographers look out for their things quite well and most of these lenses and bodies are made at quite good quality levels. I hope this helps.

That camera has a 1/2.5" small noisy sensor. It is pretty much useless over ISO 200. The optics are also nothing spectacular. It hasn't happened to mine, but that camera seems to be pretty prone to lens error faults that render the camera unfixable and unusable.

For what it is, it is fine, an 8mp superzoom advanced point and shoot from 2007-2008.

Adding a tube to put a UV filter over the lens is not going to really be worth the effort. Any optics that you add are going to be adding to the distortion the built in optics already have, so I'd say that's not worth it either.

Here's one thing you could do. Get yourself a canon external flash and a off camera flash cord. That camera has the standard canon hot shoe and having a flash that can be taken off the camera is going to do a lot more for any pictures you take than any crazy lens tube adapters.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Speedlite-II-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001CCAISE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292870603&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Off-Camera-Cameras-Speedlite-Equivalent/dp/B002B8ZYPK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292870658&sr=1-1

Something like those will actually be useful when you get rid of the S5 and move to something else in the future.

The great thing about photography is that things like SLR lenses and flashes can outlive camera bodies and be useful for a long time.

I am looking for some input on a cheap umbrella lighting kit versus a decent add-on flash for my DSLR. I was looking at getting a lighting kit like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WLY24O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3BEPADCNG466L&coliid=I3QAC42G79T1CA&psc=1

However, I saw some comments saying I would be happier with the more versatile add-on flash that costs a fair amount more.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CCAISE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3BEPADCNG466L&coliid=I2T75QSPRHX8UX

get a speed light, and maybe a shoot through umbrella and flash stand
yongnuo canon Nikon

Thanks for the pointers. I meant to ask earlier, how can I tell if the flash is TTL? I assume the Canon 430EX is but I don't see TTL anywhere in the product name or description.

Thanks for the pointers - I'm already having a lot of fun!!

Thanks so much...
I was looking at this flash . I assume this is an on-camera flash, why did you suggest an off camera flash. Thanks