Photography Essentials

Camera Flash

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Need A Gift Idea? Camera Flash - The Best Digital Camera Accessory

Here is a gift idea for the DSLR photographer in your house. An accessory Camera Flash is easy to give and offers immediate benefits. And there is a good chance that you aren't giving a duplicate item. Camera Flash is one of the more overlooked accessories for a photographer's bag and the ability to add an accessory camera flash is one of the major advantages DSLR cameras have over compact digital cameras.

Almost every digital camera comes with a built-in flash, and these are useful tools for improving many images. However the fixed position of a built-in flash limits its effectiveness. The built-in flash is so close to the camera's lens that it is prone to red-eye. Since the flash is immovable it cannot be positioned to create flattering side light, the built-in flash is always straight on and a little flat. In short, built-in flash is great for snapshots and adding light to dimly lit scenes but for better images a hotshoe-type camera flash is needed. By adding a separate camera flash a whole world of possibilities open up.

Here is the good news about today's digital camera flash options: Given the high degree of automation there isn't any learning curve for the photographer to tackle before instantly seeing improved pictures. Simply load the AA batteries into the flash, slip the flash onto the camera's accessory shoe and turn both the camera and the flash on. If the camera is set for "P" or "Auto" mode it will make all of the decisions necessary for better pictures.

I've said "better pictures" several times now, better how? By moving the flash farther from the lens red-eye is all but eliminated. That greater distance also means that the flash's light is directed downward on the subject rather than straight on, this produces more flattering people pictures. Many accessory flashes have a larger diffuser over the flashtube which produces broader, less pinpoint light – a tremendous improvement for people pictures!

Better also refers to power; the least expensive accessory flash produces almost three times the light of a built-in flash. More power not only improves the range of a flash but it also provides more room-filling light so that the subject is less frequently pictured against a dark or black background.

And those are just the instant improvements. If the flash selected has a tilt head even more possibilities are opened up. By taking the small, easy next step into using add-on flash diffusers a camera flash offers even more benefits. The amazing number of accessories available for camera flash allows a photographer to both solve lighting problems as well as a means to create beautiful lighting effects. (Think: Gift ideas for years to come).

Here is how to buy a camera flash. First we need to know the brand of the camera. All flashes are made to mate with one specific camera brand and they won't work for any other brand of camera. This is because each manufacturer has different requirements on how the flash connects with the camera's internal computer. Canon flashes for Canon cameras, Nikon only for Nikon and so on.

There are brands like Promaster that offer flash models that have a unique and distinct version for each camera brand. For example, Promaster offers a model 7400EDF flash, and the model is offered as a 7400EDF-N for Nikon and a 7400EDF-C for Canon.

So the first step is to know the brand camera that the flash will attach to.

A next step is to get some idea of how the photographer uses their camera. In general terms are their interests in people pictures, family pictures, wildlife, travel or sports? There are many interests in photography and only a few will not benefit from adding a camera flash. Sports and wildlife are two interests that don't benefit very much from adding a flash, but it is the rare sports parent that doesn't also take family photos too.

The photographer's interests are important in this way: if they like taking pictures at events and in large spaces or if they are truly a hobbyist photographer a higher powered flash is recommended. If the photographer is more of a Holiday gathering and family vacation type a lower powered and more compact flash should work.

For any photographer other than the vacation and Holiday shooter a camera flash with a tilt head is strongly suggested. A tilting head (also called a bounce head) describes a flash that has a positionable head, the head can face forward toward the subject or it can be tilted upward by degrees until it is pointed at the ceiling.

A tilt head is pretty much required if there are flash accessories such as diffusers in the photographer's future. And I guarantee that any photographer that gets even a little bit hooked on using a camera flash will soon want these accessories. If a tilt head fits your idea of what the photographer needs don't be lured by lower cost compact flashes where only the flash tube itself tilts upward. These compact flashes cannot use the add on flash accessories.

So we need to know the camera brand, some idea of what the photographer likes to shoot and we seek out a flash with a tilting head for all but the strictly vacation / holiday photographers.

The power of the flash is another consideration and power directly effects price. Within the same brand of flash, the more powerful the flash the more costly it will be. Hand in hand, a more powerful flash is also physically larger than a less powerful flash. Simply put, unless you know that smaller size is desirable go for as much power as can be afforded. I have never heard a photographer complain that their flash was too strong.

The last consideration is to stick with the camera manufacturer's brand or to purchase a secondary brand. With this decision there is as much personal preference involved as fact.

Camera branded flash will always be more expensive at the same flash power level. A Nikon SB-700 costs over twice as much as an equally powered Promaster 7400EDF. However the camera branded flash will usually have a few additional tricks or controls available that can benefit advanced photographers. So if the photographer is a very advanced hobbyist or even a part time pro you might consider the camera branded flash first.

About the Author

Stu Eddins is blogger, instructor, merchandiser, and is generally in charge of a lot of things for Porter's Digital Cameras and Imaging. Years of experience over the counter and in classrooms have turned Stu into an evangelist for image preservation and helping people understand digital cameras, digital camera lenses,nikon digital cameras.