What to get next?!?!

[getone]

Hello all! I'd love to get the 580ex II speedlight along with the 70-200mm f/4 (no IS) lens. but my wife and I just bought a new laptop and i'd like to save $ and decide on one. although, the canon rebates are really tempting me to get both!


my current gear list: 7d, 16-35mm, 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8. i don't have the nice telephoto zoom but I have found myself possibly needing the speedlight a little more. I love to do portraits and landscapes.


my thoughts are to get the speedlight and save up for the 70-200 2.8 a year or so down the line.


any thoughts?

[Steven23]

I'd get the speedlight and a small light stand set up. Portraits get a lot better with a flash, i'd also get a light stand, and set up to use off camera flash as well. Save up for the 70-200 2.8

[TakahiroW4047]

I've spent about $400 on a light setup, with 2 Vivitar 285HV, 2 light stands, 2 umbrellas, and Cactus V4 wireless triggers. It's great capturing the moments with great lenses, but I also found that with off camera lighting it opens up a whole new world. Instead of capturing moments, you get to create your own with artificial lighting. It's quite addicting actually []





I actually also have the 70-200mm f/4L non IS coming in the mail today. I don't regret getting the light setup first at all []

[btaylor]

I'd agree with the other guys. If you like portrait work then a speedlight is a great accessory to have.


Light stands are really cheap (3m air cushioned stands can go for as little as $40-$50) and umbrellas (also very cheap) are a great way to start off and get to learn the basics. I don't own the 7D so I'm not sure how the flash trigger works but I assume it works off the on-camera flash, triggering the speedlight. I'd suggest a wireless/ radio trigger for the speedlight. I did a bit of a writeup on the Yongno RF-602 ( http://community.the-digital-picture.com/forums/p/3441/28509.aspx#28509) triggers that you might be interested in. I still use these by the way and have had no issues at all.


Hope this helps, Ben

[Sean Setters]

I own a 7D, and I've only once used the pop-up to control an off-camera flash (580EX). I use Cybersyncs 99.9% of the time. It's just plain easier to deal with (even though it involves more walking around to manually adjust flash output).

[btaylor]

Another point I just thought of too, I found the 70-200mm range far too long for portrait work on a crop body.