i have never bought a flash, just usually use available light but the time has come to break out of my mold... i have tried to do research and so am now am of course totally confused...i have a rebel xt, read a flash article on shoot smarter and it kept using ttl auto and manual ...i thought i have ettl 11? so would that be ttl? they recommended promaster 7500 for ttl, lower level canon. i was considering the 430ex ( read the 580 not good with entry level cameras) but can't seem to find if it has the things i want, sigma 500 super ( or 550 what ever it's called, have to look up the numbers again) a metz 54 if they are cheap enough or the promaster...any suggestions . i know i want to be able to:bounce , have high synch, fill flash, second curtain synch( do most have that?). the promaster has modleing but not sure what that would be for i think i am just going to have to get something and play around with it but don't really want to buy the wrong thing. any help would be very much appreciated but i'm just saying up front i need short easy words cause i am lost. ??? ??? ??? i would like to stay in the $200 or so range. and since it's my first flash i know i need basic stuff but wouldn't mind being able to use it for a while so if i can get something easy to use but good that might allow some growth. no doubt you are thinking anything else she want thanks ok here's where i stand ...i like the metz best...due to having all the things i want plus 2nd light, strob( just might be fun), modeling light but it's at least $100-150 more, gag. the promaster has everything the metz has but nervous about it due to it being promaster.. i had a bad promaster lens ( well actually still have it) but now have a phoenix/ promaster 100mm macro prime i love so maybe they are not all junk... the 430 has none of the fun features and not sure if it has high synch or not..the sigma i've heard more problems via compatablitly and doesn't have the additional light strob or modeling( i don't think..it's hard to find straight forward lists of what any of these have , even on their websites.) so any one have any of these? and love or hate them?
Jann, Metz just released the 58 MZ. I don't know whether it's better than the 54 MZi, it's on its way to my camera bag from B&H.
hi Kelly i was hoping you'd read this asked on dis and the consensus there seems like the 430 is good enough but i really want the bells and whistles ;D i am going to be getting a either 200mmf2.8 or 70-200 f4 as soon as i can find one used so maybe i will wait and see how much i have to spend on them and then if i can get a cheap enough lens......i was trying to keep the budget for both around 800...hm how long ago did i not want to spend 200 on a lens...and i recall you saying something about"if you ever decide to spend more for a lens' and me thinking "never" ;D ;D ;D ( hope you are doing good btw!)
I also own a 430. Yes it's good enough. The problem is sometimes "good enough" is just not good enough. I ended up using the 430 just as my walkaround flash. For more serious uses I utilize the 580 or 54 MZi (soon to be replaced with the 58 MZ). PS: not feeling to good right now, I got hit by a car exactly 2 weeks ago at a pedestrian crossing. :-\
Just have more time to browse the net. Thanks guys. I feel much better now. Still some bruising here and there but other than that I'm okay.
