DIY Photography Gear Buying Guide
This short buying guide presents my recommended list of photography gear. Does it include everything you'll ever need? No. It does include a range of cameras that can get you started and what I think is a great start when it comes to "on location" lighting modifiers.
While this list is pretty much prefect for me (almost all the items on this list are owned and used by me on a regular basis, has a high spot on my wish list or is an equivalent of the "other" system), you may need to adjust or select from it to meet your needs.
You can always come back to this list by clicking the buying guide banner on the right.
Hot Shoe Flashes
This is my bread and butter. It is rare that I take big strobes to an indoor location, or use them in my studio. For small spaces they do extremely well and have more than enough modifiers to choose from.
1. Nikon SB900 - The king of flashes - the most powerful strobe I know, with a completely tillable and swivalbe 200mm zoom head. Also featuring easy access for CLS menu, thermal control and 200mm zoom.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
2. Canon 580EX II - Canon's biggest canon (sorry, could not resist). Featuring Canon's regular goodies + can control other flashes + has an external pc-sync outlet.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
3. LumoPro 160 - A good solid manual flash without all the bells & whistles of iTTL or CLS that the big names have. It will sync via pc-sync, 3.5mm jack and optical slave.
Available at MPEX.
4. Nikon SB600 - a small brother to the SB900. Not as big and powerful, yet great as a low cost strobe for manual/CLS work indoors.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
On The Go Lighting Gear
The lighting modifiers below are my go to modifiers when shooting at my home studio or on location. If you are a long time readers to DIYP you'll most likely remember them being used quite a lot.
1. Manfrotto 5001B 74-Inch Nano Stand - while in full length this stand provides good height to position a strobe for a portrait. It folds to a mere 48 centimeters pack to be carried without braking your assistant's back (If you are doubling as your assistant, you'll definitely appreciate this).
Available at B&H, Amazon.
2. Honl Speed Strap System - Probably the most versatile strobes modifiers system around. With a grid, 2 snoots, flags, small softbox and gel pack, it contains almost everything you'll need for an on location portrait session.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
3. Westcott 43" Collapsible White Umbrella - This umbrella acts both as a shoot through and a bounce umbrella and collapses to a size of a small salami. Perfect for travel and on location portraiture.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
4. Photex 46" Softlighter II - One of the most versatile modifiers I have used. Acts as a 46" shoot-through and bounce umbrella. It doubles as a 46" Octabank for great portraiture.
Available at B&H.
5. Strobist Gel Pack - This gel pack has every relevant gel you can think of. Correcting white balance for tungsten & florescent, creative effects and skin tone enhancements.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
6. Westcott Apollo 28 x 28" Softbox - I love this softbox for its portable design and quick setup/tear-down time. It give beautiful light, and is great for indoor use.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
Camera Bags
When going on location, I try to bring no more than one bag (not always possible, but I try), those are the two that fit smallish and biggish assignments.
Lowepro Fastpack 250 Backpack - My day to day travel bag for small assignments. Carries a SLR with 24-70 lens, and extra lens, 3 strobes 3 Pocket Wizards, a laptop and some more. And it has convenient side access.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
Think Tank Photo StreetWalker Hard Drive - The big gun when you have to haul more than just a lens and a strobe. Carries your biggest lens (70-200+hood) a few strobes, lenses, laptop and more and more.
Available at Amazon, ThinkTank.
Entry Level dSLR
While considered entry level those cameras pack some of the features we could only dream of in a dSLR just two years back. They will all work great for indoor studio usage, and they all include 1080p video if this is something you care about.
1. Nikon D3100 - 14.2MP, 1080p HD video, EXPEED 2 image processor.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
2. Canon EOS Rebel T2i - 18.0 MP, 1080p Video, DIGIC 4 Processor.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
3. Canon EOS Rebel T1i - 15.1 MP, 1080p video, DIGIC 4 Processor.
Available at B&H, Amazon.
Mid Range SLR
Those cameras have lots of the features like the high-end cameras, yet slightly less control. The image quality is great and they offer a very good balance between features and price. If it is video you are seeking note that the D300s only offers 720p.
1. Nikon D300(s) - This is the Camera that I use - 12.3 MP, HD Video, Self Cleaning Sensor, Dust and Weather Resistant
Available at B&H, Amazon.
2. Canon EOS 7D - 18.0 MP, 1080p Video, Dust & Weather Resistant, 100% Viewfinder
Available at B&H, Amazon.
3. Canon 60D - 18MP, 1080 Video, Flip-Out LCD, DIGIC 4 Processor
Available at B&H, Amazon.
Advanced Point and Shoot
There is only one camera here, and is my favorite as all the G series cameras Canon released. It has a hot shoe for strobes and is great as a travel camera.
1. Canon G12 - 10MP, DIGIC 4 Processor, 720p HD Video, Vari-Angled LCD
Available at B&H, Amazon.
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Comments
One Camera is Missing...
Great article. I think it's important to note the Nikon Coolpix P7000. It competes with (and in some aspects beats) the current king of the Adavnced P&S category.
10MP CCD sensor
720p HD video recording with mic jack for external microphone
ISO 100-3200
7x zoom (28-200mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.6
720p (1280x720) movie mode with AF and lens zoom during recording
3.0 inch 921k dot LCD screen
EXPEED C2 processor
Electronic virtual horizon
i-TTL compatibility with Speedlight SB-400/600/800/900 flashguns
Dual IR receivers (front and rear) for wireless remote control ML-L3.
I don't know about the P7000
I don't know about the P7000 but my P6000 can not do manual flash so I can't use my monolights or generic flash with it. If you like using brand flashlights TTL, etc. then it'll do, but some of us prefer to use full manual flash capabilites.
Regards
I always miss products made by Sony...
... in these gear buying guides. Why is that so that only Canon and Nikon get the chance of being recommended?
Why? Largely because Sony
Why? Largely because Sony makes all their stuff incompatible with EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER. Got a Vivitar 285? Won't fit on your Sony DSLR. Got a Pocket Wizard? Won't fit on your Sony DSLR. And why would I buy a camera from a company that sells them at a loss? I'd much rather buy a camera from a company that cares about making cameras and needs to make a profit on them to stay in business. It keeps them trying.
Now if you want to talk about amazing cameras that aren't Nikon or Canon, look at the new Panasonic Lumix cameras...
Sony
Don't know about the other gear guides. Greg (in the other comment) definitely shows some possible options.
Personally, I have not experienced with Sony at all, so other than reading specs (which everyone can do). I feel I provide no extra value by simply repeating the specs here.
Sony, Sony, Sony
I sell cameras for a living. I was a loyal Minolta shooter for years. I switched to Nikon when Minolta seemed to not have any plans to make a digital SLR. I nearly cried when Sony bought Konica-Minolta's camera division. Very sad day.
Sony makes SO many mistakes that make them very hard to take seriously. People are looking for a camera system that will grow with them, and be around for years and years to come. Nothing about Sony's offerings gives that feeling. Particularly not when they release more than twice as many models as any other manufacturer IN EVERY CATEGORY. Too many choices, very little differentiation, and, as has already been mentioned, little to no profit margin as a result. (Sony does this everywhere. They have dozens of different alarm clocks for crying out loud! Do you have any idea what it takes to design, manufacture, market, and distribute that many products? Their big sellers like televisions subsidize their other offerings.)
Combine that with the non-ISO flash shoe that makes most accessories incompatible (the shoe is actually a better design than the antiquated ISO specification, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea). Sony would be smart to switch to the industry standard ISO hotshoe, and include an adapter to take older Sony and late model Minolta flashes. Sony would be smart to not charge more for their 70-200 f/2.8 than Nikon & Canon do for theirs which include stabilization in the lens. Sony would be smart to offer exotic lenses and other items that would round out their lineup to tell people that they are serious about their cameras.
But mostly they would be smart to just offer half as many cameras and do a better job with each one. But this is Sony we're talking about. That's never going to happen, because Sony has never listened to consumers. Their interfaces are far from intuitive, their software is absolute crap, and nearly all of their cameras feel like toys. (Plastic bodies are fine, but make them out of decent plastic!) And the way they've gone with the menu system in the NEX and new A33/A55 cameras is not a good sign for the future of Sony as a serious camera manufacturer.
The imaging quality is fine. Their lens quality is generally fine, though their kit lenses are really lacking relative to Canon and especially Nikon.
Olympus, Sigma, Panasonic, Ricoh, Samsung, and many others also make cameras. But that doesn't mean they're good recommendations for this list.
no sony because
sony is proprietary about so many things that its tough to include them, take for example the inability to use any standard flash, or even a pocketwizard without a special adapter since sony is the only company in the world to use an inverted hot shoe mount. it can be done and the aloha series is great for photo enthusiasts, but if you want a easily scalable system that will work out of the box with standard equipment its hard to take sony seriously, I have used them and its also worth mentioning that the kit lenses on most sony cameras are incredibly soft, not taking full advantage of the resolution of the cameras, if you use canon you can easily use nikon glass as well as canon glass and vice versa, but in sony land using the glass of your choice gets much more difficult. like I said, I have used sony, and in the end they are just irritating at least to me.
Yikes. My wife bought me a
Yikes. My wife bought me a Sony a350 for fathers day. I love it and hate it at the same time. The hotshoe issues is the biggest problem. And it seems like all the accessories are hard to find (unless you shop online) and a little more expensive. I will say I love the color it produces hands down. With some of the lenses I bought I am able to capture some really good images. But next year...I'm switching to Canon. Thanks Sony for a great camera to learn on, but it's over.
Sony
I personally decided to shoot Sony because I like the challenge of making things cross-compatible and pissing off Nikon/Canon fanboys/fangirls who have the audacity to turn up their nose and ask, "why do you shoot with a Sony?"
I bought a hotshoe flash mount
I buy lens AF Confirm adapters
I can use any Sony/Minolta lens from 1985 onward without adapters (I'm currently constructing a Minolta Vectis adapter for Sony/Minolta mount)
I can't say that I'm dedicated to Sony/Minolta and I dislike the hatred towards their products since Sony refuses to let smalltime shops sell their product but, I will never own a small camera shop and the opportunity to own a less hyped/cheaper DSLR presented itself.
About Shops
I recieved a A350 and some lenses as a gift a few years ago. I'm very pleased with the quality of pictures, but I was going out of my skull trying to find a store that sold more than the basic 28-55 kit lens. I moved to Thailand and planned on dumping my equipment and going Canon when I made a wonderful discovery, there are Sony lens and camera retailers EVERYWHERE. My favorite store actually has a stockpile of older Minolta lenses that they sell side by side with lenses listed on the Sony webpage. I fell in love with my Apha all over again.
About Shops
Where in Thailand?
Possibly the dumbest thing ever?
"I personally decided to shoot Sony because I like the challenge of making things cross-compatible and pissing off Nikon/Canon fanboys/fangirls who have the audacity to turn up their nose and ask, "why do you shoot with a Sony?""
So, you're entire career is determined by the fact that you want to show off to people who you dislike?
That is idiotic.
While I agree that the notion
While I agree that the notion of irritating others is a dumb reason to do something, I don't think that quite constitutes "you're [sic] entire career". Becoming overly dramatic has a tendency to weaken your point.
compatibility
In the first place, why on earth are the postings on this site not in date order? I find it very difficult to follow a string when it jumps around?
For example, the post I am replying to right now is dated 4 Sep 2011, the next posting on the page is dated 2 November 2010 and continues after that, my earlier posts are even further down the page!
Absolutely stupid!
Now as for incompatibility with Nikon, Canon, Pentax etc,when in 1985 Minolta developed the 7000 which was a major development in autofocus and automatic film advance,,, they also developed their hotshoe which is a major improvement on the standard ISO shoe used by the others,, they probably expected the design would be adopted by the other firms too, It is still more efficient, easier to use and more secure than the ISO ones. I don't know why its competitors didn't adopt it!.
Minolta (and others) produced adapters to make older flashes fit the new shoe, the old manual focus Minolta had the ISO style shoe
Unfortunately Minolta was fined $127.6 million for infringing Honeywell patents which I am sure is the cause of its merger with Konica and eventual demise after which Sony adopted Minolta technology.
There is nothing wrong with Sony, they make an enormous range of technological products, only part of their development is in cameras but they are at the forefront of development with their new translucent mirror camera and the new NEX cameras
Don't get me wrong, I like Nikon and Canon but as I have been using Minolta SLRs since the days of the 7000i, I have A Mount lenses and other Minolta gear which I can still use, I'm staying with Sony.
Phone jack?
It will sync via pc-sync, phone jack and optical slave.
Saying the LP160 has a "phone jack" is highly misleading, IMO, especially since many studio strobes do have a 6P6C connector. I would suggest writing 1/8" or 3.5mm TS or audio jack instead.
Great post about equipment, though!
re: phone jack
Thanks Benjamin, good point. updated
Best backback bar none - Dakine Sequence
Just thought I'd add a suggestion for the backback category, I've been through a few different bags and recently pitched my Lowepro Fastback 350 for a Dakine Sequence. This bag is extremely well thought out and you get tons of bells and whistles (not to mention straps) for the price. Every review I could find had people shouting how amazing this bag is and how they wished they'd found it sooner. I must say I'm inclined to agree with them, it's pretty fantastic.
I still use my Lowepro Slingshot 200AW when I don't need all of my gear though.
About 20 years ago I got a
About 20 years ago I got a Minolta 7000i which I still have, Later I got a 600si which was stolen last year. Because I have a range of Minolta A Mount Sigma lenses as well as some original Minolta lenses, I replaced my stolen camera with a Sony A350. I am very pleased with it, My main criticism is that the optical viewfinder is smaller than on the old Minolta. Apart from that, it does everything I want.
My camera bag is an old LowePro Nova 5, very well padded, carries heaps of gear. Can be heavy, it is so big and holds so much, so I also have an old Nova 3 into which I transfer what I need right now to carry with me, the big Nova 5 stays mainly in the car boot
flashes?
being a non-nikon user, I don't understand the opinion that the SB900 is the king.....AFAIK, I can't make use of some of those admittedly attractive advanced bells and whistles, it specs out as rather low-powered at GN 140 or so, and is most expensive.
For value, it's still hard to beat the 285 for lumens per buck......though I'm intrigued by the new Nissin system flash.....http://www.nissindigital.com/en/Di866-1.html
I've used the Nissin handlemounts for many years, finding them more accurate, more power, more durable than the Sunpaks (555) that preceded them. Have been lazy recently though, and gone back to top-of-camera light, with modifiers.
We all have faves......appreciate your sharing this list, and reminding me I'm unhappy with my bags! Time to look again.
Flashes
If you don't know why the SB-900 is king it's because you've never used an SB-900. I know of MANY Canon shooters who have several of these for off camera use. They are so much easier to set in manual mode than Canons or Sigmas or just about any other I've ever used, recycle VERY quickly, are very high power (seriously, what are you comparing against to think this is low power?!), very reliable, and you can practically hammer nails with it.
The 285 is a good value for the power, but that's about the end of the comparison.
SB800
Yes, Jon, I have not used or invested in the Nikon unit......large investment in uncompatible communication seems like what the car guys call "stupid money".
About the power, just basing on published specs....131 for the Nikon, 190 for the 580EXII, 198 for the Nissin. Not that I believe any of those absolute #'s without verifying by my meter, but my experience is that all manufacturers are equally overoptimistic about output......YMMV
Recycling time hsn't been an issue since I switched to high MAH NiMH's.
The SB900
Why does everyone seem to skirt the widely known issue that Nikon's SB900 overheats on a consistent basis? I have never been so frustrated with a high dollar piece of equipment in my life. I was hoping that for the nearly $500 I paid for my flash I could at least get through more than 6 frames before the heat sensor would power the unit down. I was told that it was just my unit, but it happened on both models I used. I attempted to use a different battery type etc, but the flash simply could not keep up. Thank goodness I tested it out before taking it on location with me. I was very dissatisfied with mine.
I work in camera sales, in
I work in camera sales, in addition to being a studio photographer. I have never been able to duplicate this problem with the SB-900 overheating. I have heard about it enough that I believe it's a real thing, but I honestly can't seem to get one to have a problem. I have tried with many.
Does that mean I'm skirting the issue, then, by not mentioning it?
What about the number of SB-800s that melted themselves because they were able to shoot as fast as the photographer asked them too without any thermal protection?
The only reasons overheating could be a potential problem are because it recycles so quickly, and because it is such a high powered flash. But if they changed one or both of those to compensate then there would be a completely different set of complaints.
I'd rather it shut down than
I'd rather it shut down than just DIE like my two SB-600s did. And then Nikon told me it was 'abuse' and wouldn't replace them despite that they were less than a year old. I'll never buy another Nikon flash.
Is Olympus a swear word?
I am relatively new to the photo world but I have always liked Olympus since the OM-1. I can't put my finger on why...
So when I saw an Olympus kit for sale (body+ 2 glass) I snapped it up. I do not regret my decision even though I wasn't versed in camera technology. It's an old model (E-510) but it's been a great camera for rme.
I have been politely snubbed for shooting Olympus but I feel it's more of a school yard gang thing. Why don't people take Olympus cameras seriously nor include them in rating articles such as this? I think it's time to widen the circle.
Sony Alpha series cameras
Further to my earlier post, my main flash which I used on the Minolta 600si (and the 7000i) was a HS5400 which was great, you could use any shutter speed, right up to the maximum on the camera. Unfortunately Sony have changed the software in the A series and the flash is no longer compatible. I can use it at 100% on the A350 but have no other control.
As a retired pensioner on a fixed income, I am unable to afford a current flash costing several hundred dollars
It's all extremely frustrating!
Sony Flash
There are 3rd party flash's that do a Great Job, Sigma for one !!
Pentax, Kata and YN Strobes
Wow you would think that Pentax doesn't exist. The Pentax k-x and k-r are excellent "entry level" DSLRs and have the benefit of in body Shake Reduction meaning you get a stabilized image with every lens - not just the ones you pay through the nose for. And you get stabilized small primes and even your Lensbaby - not even an option with Canikon.
The Pentax K-5 is one of the most feature rich APS-C DLSRs in production. Unmatched weather sealing and sensor performance that rivals some Full Frame cameras.
The Kata DR 467 is an amazing bag with tons of room and features like a tripod/water bottle holder and a strap to attach it to a trolly or the handle of any rolling bag - and its $20 less than the Lowespro.
Finally the Yonguno YN 560 and YN 46x series are great manual strobes for 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of the LumoPro.
It seems you have really limited the scope of your buying guide to Canikon shooters. That is a shame.
+1 Pentax
I don't know why Pentax are ignored so much - well apart from their crap marketing - but they really are fantastic cameras. For the price you get more features, good built quality and a kit lens which is actually optically pretty good. I played with my friends Canon kit lens the other day it felt horribly plastic, binding up on the focus ring and rattling about.
Someone said in-body stabilization is a "far cry" from lens based stabilization. Well in most people's experience that "far cry" is about half a stop. I would trade half a stop most gladly for stabilization on EVERY lens that has ever been released for K-mount!
Anyway, point is, people should definitely be considering the k-r as an entry level and the k-5 as mid-range.
http://www.thephoblographer.com/2010/11/05/pentax-k-5-beats-out-canon-5d-mk-ii-7d-nikon-d700-d300s/
+1 Pentax and YN stobes also add cactus triggers
Pentax do really good entry level - mid cameras as stated above,
Also for a site that promotes the DIY aspect of getting most bang for the buck supprised that Yonguno Stobes not mentioned for sheer value especially combined with cactus triggers make for a great value setup!
re: Yonguno Stobes
for sure!
I am working on the new eddtion of the guide. Will surely have YN strobes!
What's with the Sony
What's with the Sony bashing?
Sony has in body stabilisation which means I can use any lens i.e. my 50mm f1.4 and it's stabilised. I also have access to Carl Zeiss lenses with Auto Focus so the whole nonsense of soft Sony lenses can stop right there.
Also who makes Nikons sensors???? Eh Sony!
The Sony system is really coming on for someone not long into the SLR game that's had to turn around the failing business of Minolta camera division.
Then backed with Translucent technology and massive research into future technology (liquid lenses which can change characteristics dependent on the voltage). Then massive sales in the NEX system.
Canon and Nikon watch out as Sony is coming.
ADORABLE!
Your enthusiasm is just adorable.
• While sensor stabilization is better than none, it is a far cry from stabilized lenses.
• Nikon has announced that they will no longer be buying Sony sensors.
• Nikon sells Sony the machines that make Sony sensors.
• Translucent mirror technology is great for video (unless of course you want your sensor to overheat while filming video; you should probably research the long-term effects of overheating your sensor before you decide) but does very little for still photography. Within a year or two the HD video in SLR cameras craze will be over anyway.
• Canon and Nikon's response to Sony: "Sony who?"
Honestly I would LOVE for Sony to become a real competitor in the SLR market. Competition is great for improving the technology for everyone, discouraging price gouging, and Sony is generous with their commissions to sales people (ask me how I know). But as it is the only people buying into Sony are those who don't have enough interest to care about a full camera system. Your "every lens is stabilized" sounds great until you actually look into it and find out just how small the Sony/Minolta lens selection actually is.
By the way, I was a long time Minolta shooter. I gave up on getting a digital SLR from them and switched to Nikon. The Maxxum 7D was underwhelming when it eventually came out, and when Sony bought the camera division and released the a100 I was completely convinced that I'd made the right move. Sony doesn't know how to differentiate their products. They don't understand the features that photographers want so they throw in whatever they think is innovative and hope people bite. (This isn't just limited to their camera division. They do this across their product lines.)
Yeah, Nikon and Canon have nothing to worry about from Sony. Which is a shame because Sony is in the best position to cause an actual market disruption, but they continue to fail to do so.
ORly?
@ Adorable
I would LOVE to see scientific "proof" of in lens being better than in body. If you think Nikon and Canon use in lens because it is better you are fooling yourself. Their pre-digital business model was to sell bodies once, lenses a lot. They had IS/VR lenses before digital and would have faced a revolt from customers if they told them "toss that old glass." And if push comes to shove, Pentax and Sony users have the option for either one - both Sigma and Tamron make OS glass for both mounts.
I seriously doubt that Nikon stopped buying Sony sensors because they suck. In fact the Pentax K-5 and D7000 have the exact same sensor and Pentax gets better performance out of it. The kx and D5000 - same story.
Im with you about the Video SLR craze but I think sony is going to make the translucent mirror will let them do some amazing things with a EVIL hybrid.
My concern with Sony and DSLRs is that they dont fit into the rest of the Sony "family." DSLRs are never going to be the mass market items that TVs, Video Games, and point and shoot cameras are. It looks like the head of the PS3 division is about to become the head man and I wonder if he is going to want to continue to pour R&D into supporting a product that is driven by the pro end rather than the consumer end.
But beyond all that, its disappointing that the "Buying Guide" was really only for Canikon.
Sony DSLRs
Sony is developing the DSLR based on the work that Minolta started years ago. They are making good gear and their lenses are a good as any, Their 'G' lenses are excellent and their CZ lenses are out of this world! Certainly they are stretching technology with some of their newer designsm the NEX range is very compact, but they are also improving their DSLR range with the translucent mirror and the new A580 with the traditional prism. The only real problem with the A350 is that the optical viewfinder is small and the camera has the 'teleconverter' switch which is pretty useless, almost every time I push it , it says 'Invalid Operation' DOny would have been better advised to use the button for something else or make it a programmable one. Reminds me of one I saw described wwwwhich when you pushed the button, it invariably brought up the message 'Don't use this button again'
Agreed what's the problem here with Sony!!
I would bet that most if not all of you that are bashing Sony have never owned one or shot with one..
I have shot Sony for several years (since the A100 and through the A850)
I did get on the Canon band wagon for about a year shot with the 5 d mk2 and 60d.
Went back through my photos and the most that I have sold have been with Sony, So I sold the Canon gear went back to Sony.. The 850/900 has the best resolution of any FF camera and the A580 for mid level is a low light king..
I prefer Sony so rather than me bashing brands just shot what you like!!
Fellow Sony users what are
Fellow Sony users what are you doing about the hotshoe issue? I've bought adapters and eventually the breakdown and fail. So frustrating to have to wait for new ones to come in the mail.
Sony/Minolta hotshoes
It is unfortunate that Sony continued with the Minolta design hotshoe instead of the ISO one. Adapters are available but I don't think they allow generic flashes to use all the top end features of a dedicated Sony flash
There are independent flashes on the market which are available for the Sony hotshoe, Sigma is one such supplier.and is much lower in price. I don't know what others there are but you can ask your local camera shop
Sony Flash's
I have used adapters as well some have been lower end and tend not to last as long, thats why I buy Sony Flash's the 58 is the best flash on the market, You can as already stated but a great flash from Sigma.. Even Vivitar makes a flash for the Sony!
I think people are making a bigger deal out of it than it is.. Funny I have not read too much about th e "So called flash problem" before Sony bought Minolta. I can hear it now if they had changed it, same people would be crying about that..
Sony Flashes
I have recently purchased the mod for the Minolta 5400HS flash from Sebastian Voitzsch in Germany and it's installed now and working. I had a few problems to begin with, the slide on cover for the battery compartment has contacts on it and they were somewhat corroded after being stored for several years without batteries in the flash. A good scrub with a fine wire brush cleaned the contacts up and the flash works well with EverReady Lithium batteries now. OK, it's an old flash but the mod allows it to be used on Sony DSLRs in TTL mode. It''s very economical to be able to use my old flash on my newer gear. It can't be used any more on any old Minolta film SLRs though.
is the third party lens good
hey i have Canon 550D for which i wanna buy a flash gun and i don`t have that much budget is it good to but a thrid party flash and which 1?
Gear Under $20
I love the fact that you listed equipment that you own and can personally recommend. In that same vein, I compiled a list of photography accessories under $20 that people can buy for themselves or to encourage a photographer in their life. I'd love it if you posted a comment on it and shared your experience there, too!
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