When do you need external flash

The best use for it is somewhat opposite of what most hobby photographers use their flash for: as a fill light during the day , rather than as a primary light source at night. In very bright outdoor light, your onboard flash can be used in a pinch to fill in those dark shadows, especially on people's faces. It can also help bring out detail in a backlit subject.

The onboard flash can also be used in situations where you can't turn the ISO up high enough especially if your camera produces grain at high ISOs. But that's where its usefulness ends. Because when your best reason for using it is because "it's better than nothing," you probably ought to mostly avoid using it. That's why every photographer needs to have an external flash. Parts of home by Flickr user Jixar.

Before we get into the primary reasons why external flashes are superior to your onboard flash because they make for better pictures , there are also some technical reasons why you ought to use an external flash.

The first is because you'll save your battery's life, especially if you find yourself taking a lot of flash photos. An external flash has its own set of batteries, so it won't suck down your camera's battery. This also means it has a faster "recycling" time - you can fire the flash more often, without having to wait as long between shots. An external flash also has more power than an onboard flash much more power, often as much as 15 times more , which means you can illuminate subjects at a greater distance.

You can also illuminate wider shots - an onboard flash has a narrower range than an external one and can sometimes leaves the edges of the frame in darkness. You've probably heard me suggest that you "bounce" your flash. If this helpful tip has ever been directed at you, it was probably while someone was politely looking at one of your least appealing flash photos. Of course, the term "bounce your flash" doesn't mean a whole lot without a fairly detailed explanation of how to do it.

Tina by Flickr user Steve Koukoulas. You can sort of get your onboard flash to bounce by putting a small piece of white card in front of it at a 45 degree angle. The price of a cup of coffee is all we ask. We know that most people will ignore this message. But if photographycourse. Domien Van Eynde. Last Name. Make this an anonymous donation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. The 31 Best Food Photographers in the World. Photography Course. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. How to adjust the filter for bolder colors and a dramatic result. Lighting Related course: Wow Factor Photography. Share with friends Share. Show Comments 5 Hide Comments. Related Articles. The flash has become a vital piece of gear in many areas of photography.

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As a natural light enthusiast, I wanted to have as few restrictions as…. Also you can go for FP Flash high speed sync so that you can flash and still use with high shutter speeds. These small enhancements can really make a difference when it comes to professional shooting.

Which Flash to Buy? This depends on the compatibility factors and also the power requirements. If not, the next best choice would be EX I have this model. About the Author This article was written by Sudipta Shaw.

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