Best Automotive Flash

[Kevin DiOssi]

I currently have a 40D and a backup Rebel XTi (I've honestly thought of replacing it with another 40D). I have decided that I should probably get around to buying a flash in the near future but I don't know what the hell to get.

I have various uses for the flash, but I was curious to see what everyone uses theirs for, and which one they use.

Thanks everyone.

[John Waugh]

Canon 580 EXII.
Flash fill on bright days, cloudy days. Some dusk remote fill and remote (off camera) night pans.
In the pits at night.
John

[Bill Jurasz]

I have a small simple plastic diffuser on my 580, but I was wondering if anyone has used those larger soft-box-type diffusers that attach directly to the flash unit? They make them as big as 12x16. Would obviously be used on a stand and off the camera for static shots. Worth the money? For example, http://precision-camera.com/product/11730

[Kevin DiOssi]

It seems the consensus around the office has been the Canon 580 EXII as well. John, that sounds exactly like what I am need it for, so thank you for the advice. Now I just have to drop the coin! haha

As far as diffusers go, a photographer in our office loves to be excessive with his equipment. He uses a monstrous flash diffuser whenever he takes photos for office parties. It fills the entire room with a flash reminiscent of Men in Black. haha Are they worth the money? How often do you need it? I always feel if you use something a lot, it's always worth the money to get what you need.

Thanks.

[Jacob Leveton]

Asking what / how to use a flash for photos is like asking a photographer what lens to use for a shot. It entirely depends on what you're trying to do.

If you have never owned a flash, buy one and play with it. Read some literature on it, and on flash photography. Then slowly start to expand your camera bag as your skills catch up.

For people shots, I'd suggest a 580 or 580ex II, an omni bounce or other diffuser, and a stroboframe or other flash bracket to get the flash off the camera (or, if you want to go a slightly cheaper route, just buy the off-camera sync cable and hand-hold it).

For car shots, you're going to need 2 or 3 or more flashes along with stands and a way to sync the flashes. You'll also want to start to invest in softboxes, umbrellas, etc.

If you had a $5k/10k/20k budget, I think we could each give you a pretty specific list of equipment you should / could buy. And I'm very sure that 99% of the lists would be different, because every photographer has their own preferences on brands / adjustability / portability / power requirements / etc for everything they shoot. Just like some people like tight crops vs wider crops, slow pans with lots of blur vs faster pans with lots of sharpness, high saturation and contrast vs natural colors, etc etc etc.

Photography is an art form. There's no 1 right way to do it.

[Nick Zarnetske]

I will probably buy a 580 EX II in the near futre to complement my 430 Ex to use a slave (and then probably another cheap 430 Ex to round out the trifecta of awesomeness).

[E. John Thawley III]

http://www.fisherlight.com/img/level2/fisherlight/picture-block.jpg

[Kevin DiOssi]

I bought a 580 EXII. I got to use one when I was out in Vegas and loved it. Thanks everyone.