Hi! I want to start trying out simple portrait lighting... bouncing off the ceiling/wall indoors, or some fill light in outdoors backlit situations. I currently use a Canon 20D.
I was thinking of picking up someting like the Canon 430exii (while it's still on sale at B+H) or the Metz 50 AF-1. I've heard pretty bad reviews about Metz's customer service - is the price bump for the Canon worth it? Are there any others I should consider?
The critical factor to make flash natural is getting it over the heads of the subject. Bounce will work, but you can't always bounce. A bracket and OC-E3 cord will allow you to bounce, but when you can't bracket will create "wrapping" modeling of the more rounded cheekbones, chin, etc. and the distracting darker unfilled shadows will be cast down out of sight of the camera.
Indoors you can boost ISO to get more range with flash when bouncing. Outdoors where you must match the sun the best strategy is to shoot at ISO 100, put the sun at the subject's back and illuminate the front with a flash raised overhead on a bracket. In that situation you'd be better served over the long haul with the .8 stop more light of the 580exII. Getting the 580exII will later allow you to expand to wireless dual flash by adding another 430exII or 580ex.
Don't both the metz and the canon work with e-ttl 1 and 2? I would like to consider one of these (probably the 430, if I jump on it this week) and a flash bracket. what are some reasonably priced on-camera flash brackets?
