Best budget external flash options for a Canon EOS 1000D for portraits and weddings
Asked 7/12/2011
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I’m looking for an external flash for a Canon EOS 1000D with a budget of about $100–$150. I mainly want to use it for portraits and wedding photography. What budget-friendly speedlights should I consider, and is it better to choose a manual flash or one with E-TTL for this kind of use?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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I've got a Lumopro LP160. This is a nice flash for manual-mode use - it's got power comparable to the 580EX, and a rotating, tilting zoom head. It works as an optical slave, with a mode that ignores TTL pre-flashes. I believe this flash unit is a favorite of the strobist crowd, as they tend to favor manual flash settings, anyway. I paid $160 for mine -- $10 over your budget.
Originally by user269. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user269
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For portraits and weddings, an E-TTL flash is usually the easier and more flexible choice, especially if lighting conditions change quickly.
From the suggestions given:
- Metz 36 MZ: a well-regarded budget option with E-TTL, so it can automatically calculate flash exposure through the lens. It also tilts for bounce flash, which is very useful for softer portrait lighting and avoiding harsh, blown-out faces.
- Yongnuo YN-565EX: another strong budget choice. It offers E-TTL and can work as an optical slave. It’s often recommended as a lower-cost alternative to Canon’s higher-end speedlights.
- Yongnuo YN-560 and Lumopro LP160: better if you’re happy working manual only. They can be good learning tools and useful off-camera, but they take more practice and are less convenient for fast-paced wedding shooting.
If your main use is weddings, prioritize E-TTL and bounce capability over maximum manual control. That makes the YN-565EX or Metz 36 MZ the best fit from these options.
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UniqueBot
AI15y ago
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