can the 580 EX II wait...?

[danielchansm]

Dear masters and grandmasters,

This will be my first post. I enjoy reading SA very much and I find that so far,SA has been safe from nasty posts and unsporting banter.

Great job.:partyon:

I am going to be taking photos for a wedding. Chinese wedding. Officially this will be my first job and I am doing FOC as I want to learn.My gf who plays with 350D will be joining me.I am not a fan of flash as I find that direct flash kills the mood. Learning to diffuse it. And also learning to love flash and know I need it one day.

My dilemma = can I still shoot the wedding dinner using the built in flash on my 30D as long as I keep the B/G within the guide 12 range (12 meters) I should be safe. All I need is to drag the shutter. Am I right?

Most of my test (point and shoot in P + built in flash) ends up with people sitting down on table lit bright and B/G standing dark therefore = failed shot.

What would a 580 EX II help me. The issue is I am saving money for a trip to Krabi in January 08 and cost is a factor. Let's just say if I could, I would like to buy a speedlite in Feb 08 only.

My situation you can say is = flash all rosak,only flash I can use is built in flash. Thanks for your help.

[noordin]

You can shoot but your pictures will be pretty aweful! You need external flash for indoors especially at night and shooting groups of people. You just can't do it with your built-in flash.

[ShaolinTiger]

Yeah have to agree with noordin, it seems like you've considered the situation pretty well.

But honestly you can't shoot effectively indoors without an external flash, internal flash can't be tilted, bounced or diffused effectively rendering it almost useless (I never use mine as it makes for bad pics).

Built in flash causes red eye and bad spectral reflections (harsh highlights).

The best bet is the 580EX and some kind of diffusion be it normal bounce (if the ceiling is low enough and white) or some other kind of light modifier (flip-it, GF lightsphere, lambecy, foam paper etc.).

So get the flash ASAP and get used to it, get used to setting it and capturing ambient light indoors with flash as fill.

Use low shutter speed, as low as you can manage, or use slow sync flash - you really gotta practise to get good exposures down to 1/15s.

[noruazumi]

some add ups...
based on your gear, it seems like your 50mm is the most suitable lens for you to use during that dinner based on your mentioned situation.
but this will require you to use high ISO and slow shutter speed.

i would say the flash IS necessary.
but if money is the main prob, then there's nothing more that you can do.
try to rent or loan a unit if possible.

best of luck, buddy. :)

[danielchansm]

my humble thanks. I think these quick replies mean I need to go get it fast.

i think of adding the stoffen omnibounce.

Thanks once again. It is great to get such a quick response.