External flash unit for Canon EOS 7D

[Fishing Photog]

HI guys,

Looking for a good quality external flash unit for use with my EOS 7d.

Main lens I use is the EFS 10-22 but may also use it with the kit lens 18-135.

A friend and fellow photog uses the NIssen one (Speedlite?) and seems to get some great shots with it, and has told me not to spend the extra coin on original Canon as the aftermarket flashes will work just as well.

Any advice would be great, as would good sites where to purchase.

Cheers

Stew

[Seabee]

I use the yongnuos on my 7d, love them and never had an issue!!

[Fishing Photog]

Thanks Cindy,

Im looking at the NIssen Speedlite Di622, as Ive seen my friends results with it and it works great!

Will be purchasing very shortly unless I hear a negative review or better option

[Seabee]

I can't imagine you will get a negative, these cheaper options have come a long way in the last few years! Enjoy yr purchase and look forward to seeing the results!

I find it easier when friends buy similar gear as it lessens the learning curve and we can get to the good stuff a lot quicker!

[agb]

Have a look at the Nissin 866II. I think it is the better of the Nissin units.
http://photo-tips-online.com/review/...di866-mark-ii/

[Bennymiata]

I have both a Canon 580EX and a Nissin flash.

While the Nissin I have is a smaller unit than the Canon, it works very well with the ETTL metering.

The other BIG advantage with the Nissin, is that it can also be used as an optical slave, so it will fire off-camera together with the built-in flash of the camera without having to worry about mucking about with settings on the camera.

[mikec]

The only thing I'll add is also consider the build quality of the cheaper flashes, I'm not sure it'd be to the same standard of the Canon's. I've had my 580EX II look like it was ready for the bin but after reassembling it and replacing a cheap part she is still good.

[Seabee]

The only thing I'll add is also consider the build quality of the cheaper flashes, I'm not sure it'd be to the same standard of the Canon's. I've had my 580EX II look like it was ready for the bin but after reassembling it and replacing a cheap part she is still good.

I have a Canon 580EX II as well and we can pretty much assume that the build quality wont be 'as' high as the original.
But I tell you what, in your hand they feel as sturdy and solid as the real deal and for the price that they go for and as an entry level to strobist activity I really dont think you can go far wrong!
It is a good point you make though

[Fishing Photog]

Thanks for your advice guys, I ended up getting the Nissin 866 II.

Cant wait for it to arrive now!

[agb]

Hope you will be happy with it.
Get yourself 4 good quality batteries, AA size and have them fully charged for when you get the flash. I use eneloops and seem to get a good life out of them.
You can bone up on the flash manual etc from here.
http://www.nissindigital.com/download.html

[Bennymiata]

Definitely recommend Eneloop batteries.

The best thing about them, especially for a flash, is that once charged, they stay that way for a long time.
Nothing worse than not having used your flash for a couple of weeks, then when you pick it up, the batteries are flat!

[Seabee]

Do you keep your batteries in yr devices?
I learnt a long time ago to take them out and do so after every use!! Maybe it's a bit overkill but I have so many things with batteries in them that it just ended up becoming good practice to avoid anymore possibilities of corrosion!!
I do it with cameras, flashes, triggers, torches and any other photo stuff I use!!

[agb]

I thought that problems with batteries only occur with the older non rechargeable batteries that go flat and then may/not leak. The eneloop batteries when charged keep their charge,, 6months still have 90% capacity,75% charge after 3 years they claim, so I doubt that there is a problem with them. I leave them in.