[rustynail925]

Do you use an external flash?
if so, in what situation and will you use it and what technique?
and what flash?
if not, do what are your ways in dealing w/ low light?

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Last edited by rustynail925; 01-28-2010 at 10:06 AM.

[Ramitt]

i use flash for indoor photography. I can;t afford fast auto focus glass, and my ability to quickly focus with vintage glass is lacking and I tired of so many missed and blurred shots. I use a vivitar df-383 on a k100ds and a da 18-55 mostly on occasion the 55-200. Considering the price I am happy with the results, but I am still learning.

The vivitar flash seems to work fine and has all the features i though important, but it does lack in build quality. the Battery door is flimsy and i take a lot of care with it, and the shoe seems fairly fragile, so i worry about it breaking, but for the price i feel it was worthwhile.

next step progress from flash diffusers and bouncing to some off camera flash on a budget.

I have not used any other flash units, so take that for what it is worth.

[mithrandir]

Was using a Sigma 530 Super for indoor shots. Now I mostly use my Pentax 50mm f1.4 or Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 and available light. Sometimes the available light includes a strategically placed SIMA sl-20 (LED) for a little extra available light.

[Mike Cash]

Since this poll is in the Accessories section it is quite naturally going to skew heavily toward "Yes". Folks who don't use them are less likely to poke their heads in here.

I use them:

1. Off camera
2. Bounced
3. Or not at all

[Andrew Lang]

I use external, wireless, and i usually bounce it or difuse it, indoors usually and for portraits

[PentaJP]

I use an AF540 (or an AF360) on camera with a Sto-fen omnibounce diffuser.

1. Bounce flash for indoor portraits
2. Fill flash for outdoor portraits when my object is darker than the background or has casted shadows on his/her face
3. Slow sync flash for indoor/outdoor portraits for dim backgrounds

2 and 3 could be taken care of just by using camera's onboard flash, though.

All of my flshes are older models. Vivitar 285HV, AF400T, AF500FTZ and a few others. On, off camera. 1 at a time, 2 and 3 at a time all with radio triggers always manual (obviously)

[rustynail925]

I really dont have any experience when it comes to external flashes and lighting. i only have the built in flash and i dont really like the results of my photos when using it. How can i get
started with off camera flashes and lighting / umbrellas / softboxes / etc

[GerryL]

I use one or two flashes, usually diffused and for macro shots.

[aleonx3]

All the time... indoors and outdoors, more often than not.

[GeneV]

I use external, wireless, and i usually bounce it or difuse it, indoors usually and for portraits

That is my usual method as well.

[Mike Cash]

I really dont have any experience when it comes to external flashes and lighting. i only have the built in flash and i dont really like the results of my photos when using it. How can i get
started with off camera flashes and lighting / umbrellas / softboxes / etc

Just get some old flash that allows manual power settings (or which has an auto mode). It doesn't need to be some expensive new model. And then you'll need something to trigger it. There are lots of options, ranging from very cheap to incredibly expensive, with the operating range and the reliability generally related to the cost.

That's all you need to get started and decide if you like it or not before you spend a lot of money on it. I have a Low Budget Flash set on Flickr; the most expensive flash used on any photo there cost me $32, and a great many of them were done with a $10 flash.

[alohadave]

I really dont have any experience when it comes to external flashes and lighting. i only have the built in flash and i dont really like the results of my photos when using it. How can i get
started with off camera flashes and lighting / umbrellas / softboxes / etc

Strobist

Strobist: Lighting 101

Strobist: Lighting 102: Introduction

[p0opstlnksal0t]

Strobist

Strobist: Lighting 101

Strobist: Lighting 102: Introduction

thanks for the links

[rustynail925]

thx for the link