Mario’s note: In this article, Iaio explains how to select a good flash, with all the elements that should influence your decision. For the lazy, we have prepared for you at the end of the article, below, a selection of recommended flashes that will meet all the requirements while having a good price.
If there is an accessory that fascinates all photography lovers who are beginning to take their first steps, it is the flash, and I’m pretty sure that if you don’t have yours yet, this accessory is surely on your wish list.
- As you gain experience as a photographer.
- The external flash will no longer be an accessory and will become a fundamental ally to defeat your worst enemy: the dark.
- In all those situations where you need it.
- Shed some light on the scene.
Once the need for an external flash arises, you will be faced with a new challenge: finding the perfect flash for you without dying to try. Choosing a flash can also be or more complicated than choosing a good camera.
That is why in today’s article I put together the definitive guide to buying a flash so that you can orient yourself in this world of models, brands, specifications and features. hard to understand.
It’s time to unravel the mystery: how to buy an external flash!
The flash is an accessory or device that will allow you to add artificial light in a scene where it is rare, but in a controlled way, that is, thanks to the flash you can shape the light in the scene as you see fit. .
But that’s not all, there are endless uses and tricks that you can use to make a leap of quality to all your photos, here are some of the main reasons why you should get hold of an external flash for your camera:
But that’s not all, because like all the rest of this wonderful art, you set the limit. By becoming an expert in its use, you’ll find a lot of extremely useful features to take your photos to a new level.
As I mentioned earlier, getting an external flash can be almost as complicated as choosing a new camera. This is due to the large number of features and specifications you need to pay attention to in order to find the flash that allows you to achieve the photos you are looking for.
Below I have prepared a list of the main features that you should not overlook if you want to find the perfect flash for you.
1- Types of commands (modes): Like cameras, flashes also have modes that may or may not facilitate your photographic work, the ideal is to always work manually since you are the photographer and not just the subject who presses the camera shutter.
2- Guide number: this number is just an indicator of the power of a specific flash model, this aspect is really important to consider when comparing two flashes because the higher the guide number, the higher the flash power and therefore, the more light you can add to the scene.
Depending on the type of photos you plan to take with the flash, you will need a high power flash or not, this is a standard that is calculated based on the following calculation:
NG – Distance to subject x aperture (value f /) x ISO / 100
Keep in mind that manufacturers tend to exaggerate a little in terms of the performance of their products, so don’t trust 100% of these values; However, to make comparisons between one flash and another, the numerical guide, if it is really useful.
3- Mobile head: one of the most interesting functions that allow external flashes is: bounce the light. To be able to do this in a simpler way, ideally, the flash you’re considering buying has a swivel head. This allows you to steer it or make it bounce more easily when placed on top of the camera. This head should rotate up, down, and sideways to maximize chances when shaped by shape your light.
4- Zoom head: The flashes supplied with zoom head will allow you to adjust the angle of the flash and orient it to properly illuminate the scene according to the focal length you are working with. If you are working with short focal lengths, such as a wide angle, the angle of the flash should be wider, but if you are working with a telephoto lens, the flash should aim more, that is, at a larger angle. Closed. The guide number I told you about earlier will vary depending on the focal length because the subjects or objects on the camera are closer or farther away.
5- Recycling speed: this parameter will allow you to know the time necessary for the flash to recharge to be able to emit a flash again. Depending on the type of photograph you plan to take, this value may or may not be more relevant. Either way, try not to buy a flash that has a very slow recycle time. Depending on the quality of the batteries and the power of the flash, this duration can be several seconds, so if you need to take pictures quickly, you should buy a flash with a shorter recycling time.
6- Maximum sync speed: Another speed you should pay attention to when getting a flash is the speed at which the flash syncs with the camera, this speed will depend on which camera you mount it on or work with. To give you an idea, a Nikon D3100 allows you to sync with the flash at a maximum shutter speed of 1/200, not bad for an amateur camera. If you’re thinking of jumping to become a pro, this speed may not be enough for you and it’s convenient to get a flash that allows high-speed sync or HSS.
7- Connection method: you can connect your eternal flash to the camera in various ways, not just directly on it. There are basically 3 ways to do it:
The key at this point is to evaluate the compatibility between your camera and the flash so that you can use it effectively, either attached directly to the camera or via a cable or via the camera’s wireless control. (some modern cameras incorporate it), by means of a pair of wireless radios or, activating them when the flash built in your camera fires. But keep in mind that:
If you are about to purchase, make sure none of these features are missing:
Now that you have a more complete idea of what external flashes are, what they are used for and what their most important features are, it’s time for you to think about what, for me, are the three most important decision variables. Important when it comes to catching an external flash: the budget, the use you plan to give it and the brand of your camera.
Not everyone has the time and patience to research, analyze and compare options before buying. For the most “lazy” readers? here we have briefly prepared a list with the best flashes. Any of these will be fine for amateur use or even to take your first steps as a professional photographer:
That’s all for today. I hope this article has been useful to you, I would appreciate if you would recommend it to me on Facebook, Twitter or Google, so that we can work on more free content of equal or greater use. Thanks in advance?