In this final article on choosing a speedlight flash, we'll look at two flash modes that aren't used a great deal, but can come in very useful when looking for creative shots. And we'll also cover a mode that isn't used a great deal, and is unlikely to come in useful, but can be fun to play with, and is worth knowing about.
Often when people compare products, they look at just the features and price. But it's important to also consider build quality and compatibility. There's no point saving money on a flash if it turns out to be unreliable, or breaks down after a couple of months. Similarly, a bargain flash is no bargain if it won't work with your camera properly.
In this article we'll look at the issues of build quality and compatibility, and why you should definitely consider these when deciding which flashgun to buy.
While speedlight flash is great for on-camera use, giving you a more powerful flash with bounce capability, speedlights open up even more lighting possibilities when used off-camera. In this article we'll look at some of the different trigger methods speedlights may include that allow you to use them off-camera.
In recent years many photographers have decided to try and cut their kit down to a smaller and lighter selection of gear that doesn't give them a bad back after a full day shooting. This smaller and lighter mantra can extend to the choice of speedlight as well.
However, what you give up in terms of weight and size with a smaller speedlight, you are also likely to give up in terms of power and ease of use. But with good high ISO capabilities on modern cameras, a low power flash is not as big a problem as it used to be.
In this article we look at the size, weight, number of batteries a flash takes, and the usability of flash units, to help you decide which features are most important to you.
In the fourth part of this series on what to look for when choosing a speedlight flash, we'll cover color temperature, flash duration, and included accessories. We'll look at why these may be very important features you should carefully consider, or why they might not matter at all, depending on the type of photography you practice.
Continuing on from the previous two articles about what to look for when buying a Speedlight Flash, in this article we'll be looking at some more speedlight features. Some speedlights may include all the features discussed in this article, others may not include any of them. Hopefully by the end of this article you'll know whether these features will be important for your photography, and so be able to make an informed decision when deciding which model of speedlight to buy.
Continuing on from the first article on choosing a speedlight flash, in this article we'll look at the various exposure modes available on different speedlight models. Some speedlights will feature all of these modes, others just one.
By understanding the different exposure modes, you can see which one(s) will be most useful, or even essential, for your photography, and ensure that any speedlight you consider features that mode.
Just like buying a new camera or lens, buying a speedlight flash can be quite confusing given the large number of different models from different manufacturers, across a wide variety of price points. Why do some speedlights cost 10x more than other models? And are the extra benefits offered by more expensive speedlights actually worth the extra cost for your photography?
Over the next few articles, we'll look at the different features Speedlights can offer, and why those features may or may not matter to you. A feature that's very important to a wedding photographer may not be important at all to a product photographer, for example. This should then help you in determining what model of speedlight will give you the best value for money for the way you like to work.
In this first article we'll look at the power (maximum light output) and recycle time, and why they could be important features for your photography.
Almost all cameras sold today, whether a phone, compact, or ILC, feature a built-in flash. The few that don't (as well as many that do) often have a hot-shoe for adding a speedlight flash. And many photographers have one or more speedlight flashes they can use when the need arises.
But good use of flash isn't simply letting the camera pop up the flash whenever you're shooting in low light levels. In this article we'll look at seven mistakes people sometimes make regarding flash, and how avoiding these mistakes can help you get better photos.
A monopod is designed to be used as a way to help keep your camera steady. It takes most of the weight of your camera off your arms, while being easier to carry and move about with than a tripod. It's very good at what it's designed to do, but the humble monopod can also be pressed into a variety of other photographic uses.
