Is a flash a good thing to just "have"?

[pennylane]

I'm just curious. I'm not too much into portraits right now.

But I'm just wondering if I should consider getting a flash to "have" it. I've never felt like I really needed one, but that could just be because I don't have one so I don't know what I'm missing. Would it be a good thing to have and eventually grow into using? Or is it something I should postpone until I feel like I need it?

I have a Nikon D50, so it seems like a Nikon SB-600 or 800 would be best. (I hear the 800 is better for the D50 because the D50 lacks a "commander" mode, and the 800 would just give more versatility for expanding later.)

I have the funds for it, though if I bought a flash I'd postpone buying a wide-angle zoom lens (which may be more essential). However, the 2 that I'm interested in (Tokina 12-24mm and Sigma 10-20mm) seem to have quality control issues. Anyway, would I be better off getting a wide-angle zoom lens first?

 

[jpeyton]

What lenses do you have right now?

And what do you normally shoot?

I have an SB-600 and I use it mostly for portraits and indoor event photography.

If you're shooting landscapes or architecture, you would be better served with a wide-angle lens.

 

[soydios]

Photography is all about capturing light, so wouldn't it help to be able to make it creatively?

I have an SB-800 with my D50, but I would buy an SB-600 first. The SB-800 is slightly more powerful than the SB-600 (2/3 of a stop), but the commander mode is pointless unless you have an SB-600 already. So, buy the SB-600 first, and if you want to do wireless flash later, buy the SB-800 then.
Don't even consider the SB-400, as it cannot do lateral bounce flash. The SB-600 is more powerful, can be used as a remote wireless slave, and offers bounce flash and AF assist like the SB-800. When buying the SB-600, be sure to buy a Stofen diffusion dome as well; it comes in handy for some shots where you want diffused light.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: soydios
Photography is all about capturing light, so wouldn't it help to be able to make it creatively?

I have an SB-800 with my D50, but I would buy an SB-600 first. The SB-800 is slightly more powerful than the SB-600 (2/3 of a stop), but the commander mode is pointless unless you have an SB-600 already. So, buy the SB-600 first, and if you want to do wireless flash later, buy the SB-800 then.
Don't even consider the SB-400, as it cannot do lateral bounce flash. The SB-600 is more powerful, can be used as a remote wireless slave, and offers bounce flash and AF assist like the SB-800. When buying the SB-600, be sure to buy a Stofen diffusion dome as well; it comes in handy for some shots where you want diffused light.

Agreed. The SB-600 would be a better way to start your speedlight collection. To determine if you need a speedlight at this point, consider how much you use the built-in speedlight on the D50. If you're in situations where you use it frequently, then buying an SB-600 will probably be beneficial. However, if that's not the case, you'll get much more use out of the wide angle lens. Personally, I use my Tokina 12-24 much more frequently than my speedlight. If you're continuously looking at scenes where you're thinking, "I could really use a wider angle right about now", then you should invest in the lens.

 

[virtuamike]

Sometimes I feel lost without my lights. It really depends on what and how you shoot. Get the flash when you feel the need for one.

 

[pennylane]

Thanks for the advice. After thinking about it, I decided to go with the SB-600 for now. A wide-angle lens would definitely be nice, but I need to do more research there before I buy one (between brands and QC issues). By the time I figure that out, I'll probably have the funds for it.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Mos Def!

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
Thanks for the advice. After thinking about it, I decided to go with the SB-600 for now. A wide-angle lens would definitely be nice, but I need to do more research there before I buy one (between brands and QC issues). By the time I figure that out, I'll probably have the funds for it.

Great, enjoy the SB-600! Bounce flash is your friend to make light come from natural angles (off walls, the ceiling, etc.). And if you need full power, you just point the flash head straight forward. Also, did you buy a Stofen diffusion dome? Those are handy for making soft diffused bounce light.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: fanerman91
Thanks for the advice. After thinking about it, I decided to go with the SB-600 for now. A wide-angle lens would definitely be nice, but I need to do more research there before I buy one (between brands and QC issues). By the time I figure that out, I'll probably have the funds for it.

Great, enjoy the SB-600! Bounce flash is your friend to make light come from natural angles (off walls, the ceiling, etc.). And if you need full power, you just point the flash head straight forward. Also, did you buy a Stofen diffusion dome? Those are handy for making soft diffused bounce light.

Eh, I think you can do a lot better than a Stofen.

Google ABBC (A Better Bounce Card) and make one of the foamy versions for yourself. Makes the light source a little bigger due to the surface area and softens the light as a result. Allows for light to be bounced off of a surface and off of the bounce card at the same time. Also only costs about $5, if that.

Oh yeah, and get batteries too.