I have a Nikon D5100 and want to get an external flash for my camera.. I am totally clueless in regards to equipment. Any advice?? what about a macro ring flash???? what wattage is good?? should it have hoods?? I have looked online and there are so many of them. I hate to spend money and get something I can't use or won't be happy with.
Thank you!!!!
Cheryl
I think you should start with a speedlite, preferably one with ETTL capabilities. I am not a Nikon guy so I can't give you a precise reccomendation, but if you want bang for the buck, look at the yongnuo 565.
I just got a used Nikon sb-24 off ebay for ~$60 and am about to try it out. Will let you know how it works! @bradleynovak I believe the Yongnuo's are all manual aren't they? I looked that those too, but opted not to start with a totally manual flash.
External flashes on top of the camera tend to overflash the subject, unless you negatively compensate it, or if the flash has a tilt head you can bounce the light off a wall or ceiling (or umbrella or something). This latter effect has a nice soft feel and can be very useful in those times when you are taking "ordinary" photos at parties etc. Once you've got used to the flash, it's probably worth buying a lead so you can take the flash off the camera, this then gives you real opportunities for interesting lighting effects.
I'm a Canon user, so can't give you advice on Nikon stuff.
@jennverr Jenn no, the 565 and the 467 are fully functioning ETTL flashes.
@richharri Richard, on camera flash provides a flat, dull, non pleasing image that always usually like a snapshot and creates ugly shadows. With an external flash, your lighting options are now limitless. You can explore new angles, create pleasing shadows, and most importantly, use modifiers to provide soft beautiful light on your subject. There is a reason that most semi professional and professional camera models come without a pop up flash.
I have a Nikon D5000 and spent the money to buy a SB-900 Speedlight since I was doing more portrait sessions. I have also purchased a SC-28 sync cable so I can use the flash off camera. I just received the cable so I have not had a lot of time to play with it yet but this is my setup so far. I also agree with @sugarmuser. The popup flash is very harsh and does little to help any picture as far as I am concerned. The SB-900 has come down in price since the SB-910 has been released but I would recommend shopping around to see what you can find. I got my SC-28 on Amazon for about $20 less than retail. Good luck!
If you want to use off-camera flash the SB-700/900 are good. But if you want to keep it simple and have something more powerful than your built-in flash, which can bounce, just get the SB-400. It only has an on/off switch nothing else to worry about.
@agima on another subject.. I just purchased a vivitar lens tube extenders.. BUT.. when I put them on the camera my screen says lens not attached.. any clue? and I will research the sb-900 and the sc910.. I really appreciate all the help. This is an awesome site for learning.
@cheribug My first advice would be to take it back. :) Let me explain a bit more but first I must tell you I am not a big fan of extension tubes. i am a fan of the multipliers just not extension tubes.
For your camera to know that it has a lens attached it has some contacts on both the lens and the camera body. When you put the lens on these contract touch and the camera knows there is a lens on..
It also uses these to control the lens. Some tubes and to some extent some multipliers do not have the electronics to pass this electrical information from the camera to the lens and back. So in your case I would suggest that this is the issues.
Depending on your tube it may have the contract points but they may be covered with paint, so if you scrap off the paint on both ends then it may work. Of course once you do this you will not be able to return it.
@agima This is my problem... I like to take pictures of birds.. that's not the problem.. the problem is that sometimes they are too far away to get a good clear shot. I have a 300mm lens and it's not enough.. What is the difference between a extension tube and a multiplier?? and these babies are going back tomorrow.. LOL..
The multipliers actually perform magnification and have smarts in them where the extension tube just moves the lens away from the sensor and it is this action that gives you the extra magnification.
1) check that they will work with you camera as some things my not work. i.e. Auto focus
2) you lose some light. Typically you will lose the amount of F stops as you gain magnification. i,e 2x mag will give a lose of 2 F stops in light.
I've got two SB-600's and an SB-800 (wanted the 800 for a commander on my d40) Nikon School has a DVD titled Guide To Creative Lighting that will show you how to use Nikon CLS and some neat things you can do with it.
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I'm a Canon user, so can't give you advice on Nikon stuff.
@richharri Richard, on camera flash provides a flat, dull, non pleasing image that always usually like a snapshot and creates ugly shadows. With an external flash, your lighting options are now limitless. You can explore new angles, create pleasing shadows, and most importantly, use modifiers to provide soft beautiful light on your subject. There is a reason that most semi professional and professional camera models come without a pop up flash.
For your camera to know that it has a lens attached it has some contacts on both the lens and the camera body. When you put the lens on these contract touch and the camera knows there is a lens on..
It also uses these to control the lens. Some tubes and to some extent some multipliers do not have the electronics to pass this electrical information from the camera to the lens and back. So in your case I would suggest that this is the issues.
Depending on your tube it may have the contract points but they may be covered with paint, so if you scrap off the paint on both ends then it may work. Of course once you do this you will not be able to return it.
Have a read of this article as it may help you understand what the hell I am talking about.
http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/topic/help-needed-with-vivitar-auto-extension-tubes-24498
For me is the lose of control over the lens which is why I don't like extension tubes, however I also don't shoot macro either.
Does that help?
I don't really know much about the one you have but this is one of Nikons extension tubes.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37858-REG/Nikon_2653_PK_13_27_5mm_AI_Extension.html
Here is Nikons multiplier
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/672202-GREY/Nikon_2189_TC_20E_III_2x_Teleconverter.html
The only thing is that when you use these
1) check that they will work with you camera as some things my not work. i.e. Auto focus
2) you lose some light. Typically you will lose the amount of F stops as you gain magnification. i,e 2x mag will give a lose of 2 F stops in light.