Any serious photographer needs to have at least one high quality flash in their collection. It’s usually possible to attach several different types of camera flash to a particular camera body although it’s important to check that they are compatible before you buy. Some of the most popular manufacturers of camera flashes include Canon, Nikon and Opteka. There are also different types of flashes including hot-shoe, slave and studio. It’s vital to think about your photographic requirements before buying a flash in order to ensure that you get the right one.
Most modern cameras come with a built in flash. These are convenient and are usually better than nothing but generally aren’t that powerful. If you’re looking to freeze a particular motion then a built-in flash works well because they light up the area quickly. For medium to long range photographs they can’t be used though and often provide a flat lighting. The other disadvantage to a built in flash is that they can’t be rotated away from the subject in order to bounce the light off another object.
External Camera Flash Units
External flash units provide much greater control over the picture. An external flashgun power is measured in guide number – the higher the number the brighter a flash will be. This will in turn affect the maximum range the flash can be used at. For this reason it’s important to know the kind of distances that you’ll be using the camera flash at before you make a decision.
If you decide to go for an external flash unit then make sure you get a dedicated version. Non-dedicated external flash units often have to be operated manually and hence even though they are cheaper are generally not worth buying. This will largely come down to your budget though as high quality camera flashes for sale aren’t often cheap. The better quality lens you can get though the more likely it will be able to cope with your demands.
Ring Flashes
A ring flash is specifically used for macro photos when it’s important to use a smaller aperture. Ring flashes are also used for fashion photography because they provide a “halo” effect which can be seen on a number of model photos.
Slave Camera Flash Units
These are commonly used for cameras which don’t have a hot shoe. A slave senses when a camera’s built in flash fires and fires at the same time in order to provide lighting.
Studio Strobe Flashes
A camera hot shoe flash is great for many purposes buy studio strobe flash units provide the most control. There are several different types including moonlight and power pack. If you’re looking to buy cheap studio flashes then searching for second hand models is often a good way of doing so. There are some high quality second hand flashes available if you’re willing to spend the time looking for them.