Cheaper Alternatives to Canon flash?

[BlueNoteBelzy]

Can anyone recommend a cheaper alternative (like $100 or less) to the Canon 430 or even 320 speed lights? There are SO many brands out there.

Also, if you can recommend a cheaper alternative to Pocket Wizard too that'd be great. My buddy bought one off Cowboy Lighting for ~30$ that is incredible, I just want to make sure it would work with a non-Canon speed light.

Thank you!

G

[GypsyHighSide]

I have been researching this issue as well. I have been really looking at the Youngno YN560 and the Lumopro LP160. I guess you could throw the Vivitar 285HV in the mix. I am leaning towards the YN560 due to price and adjustable power level down to 1/128 power.

Here are some links from Strobist.com on those particular flashes.

YN560, LP160, and the 285HV

Here is another review of the YN560 on Speedlights.net

[crazeazn]

i think the yonguo + cactus v5 is the best bet

[Saltwater Servitude]

I've picked up two Yonguno's. They meter within 1/10th of the power of my Nikon SB-800 at full power, but I haven't compared them at the lowest end of the range. They're purely manual setting, so you get what you pay for.

[BlueNoteBelzy]

hey everyone--thank you ! Looks like I'll be researching Yonguo and most likely getting one of those

[PMesritz]

Am I correct that there are no non-Canon flashes in that price range that have the ability to use the ETTL capabilities?

I've been bouncing around whether to get the cheaper (manual) flashes as suggested above or saving for the more expensive (ETTL capable) ones.

- Philippe

[cfortner]

I have the yonguo 460 and 560, I think they are both great flashes. No TTL though.

[Genxr65]

Are there situations or reasons where one would want a 3rd party flash? (besides obvious cost savings) The little reading I've done suggests for compatibility sake there's no substitute for Canon. I already have a Canon 430EX.

[kayumangi]

Depends on what you shoot Mark. If you never need TTL and what to have multiple replacements ready on-hand then using a 3rd party flash is the way to go. Like the setup at the Natural Bridge Caverns up in San Antonio, they're using Vivitar 285HVs and Cactus triggers. It's so humid inside that if a flash breaks they can easily replace the flash.


Alternately, I'd recommend a used Canon 540ez over the Youngno YN650 because they're more reliable much like the SB26, Vivitar 283 and 285HV.

[sldi]

Promaster makes a 7200edf which is ETTL only and goes for around 129 at Precision in Austin, I have been using it on my 5d. It doesn't do manual and that is its biggest problem