Which Flash Should You Buy? ULTIMATE FLASH BUYING GUIDE!
Which Flash Should You Buy? ULTIMATE FLASH BUYING GUIDE!
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Tony & Chelsea Northrup teach you the basics of using a flash and provide specific recommendations for different flash models. They’ll show you why you might (or might not) want features such as TTL, HSS, a bounce head, a round vs square flash head, and more!
RETRO FLASHES:
$59: FlashBack Junior (GN 39.4’) http://SDP.io/FBJR
Works with ANY camera that supports a regular flash pin OR sync cable, which is almost every camera in the last 100 years
Available in a variety of colors
Totally manual
Small flash surface
$99: FlashBack Senior (GN 46’) http://SDP.io/FBSR
Many colors available, fully analog controls
Unfolds, creating a bigger surface area while still fitting in your bag, and yet still has a higher GN than the Junior.
USB-C charging
$94: FlashBack Lux Cadet (GN 30): http://SDP.io/FPLux
MANUAL FLASHES
$65: Flashpoint Zoom R2 Manual Flash (TT600) (GN 196’). http://SDP.io/FPZoom
Adds R2 wireless for off-camera work
Head tilts and turns for BOUNCE. Use the bounce card to light the entire room and still get a catchlight
Head ZOOMS, so you can get more reach when you’re far away from your subject and zoomed in
Has a flip-down diffuser for going wider than 24mm
4 AA batteries – get rechargeable batteries and keep an extra set. You can also power it with an external battery pack if you’re shooting a wedding or long event where you don’t have time to change batteries.
We recommend Eneloop Pro batteries. $30 at http://SDP.io/EPAA
Has HSS. HSS lets you use your flash outdoors in sunlight without needing an ND filter
$139: Flashpoint Zoom Li-on Manual (GN 190’) http://SDP.io/FPZLion
Same as the last flash, except:
The flash with AA’s did 330 full-power flashes, and then you’d need to change AAs. This flash does 650 full-power flashes.
And it’s twice the price, but you don’t have to buy separate batteries.
TTL FLASHES
$129: Flashpoint Zoom II AA TTL R2 (GN 197’) http://SDP.io/FPZAA
Same GN as the manual flash, but about twice the price because it has TTL
TTL requires talking to your camera, so you need to buy a different model that matches your camera. Available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic.
Automatically zooms when you zoom your lens
330 full-power flashes
Also commands other R2 flashes
Take one of your inexpensive flashes and put it in the corner of the room pointing up
Separately light up the entire room while also using your on-camera flash to light your subject
Adjust the output of both to balance the subject and ambient light
$179: Flashpoint Zoom Li-on TTL http://SDP.io/FPTLion
Same as the last flash, but uses the Li-on battery instead of AAs. Gets 650 flashes instead of 330.
$229: Flashpoint Zoom Li-on III (GN 197’) http://SDP.io/FP3
Modeling light
TTL/M switch on the side
MINI FLASHES
$159: Flashpoint Zoom Li-ion Mini http://SDP.io/FPMini (GN 118’)
All the same features, but…
Lower GN
Smaller screen
ROUND-HEAD FLASHES
$199: Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X2 TTL http://SDP.io/FPX
Demonstrate the effect of the accessories
You can buy the Accessory Bundle kit ($257) or kits with triggers if you want to move it off-camera. You can even get kits with a light stand and umbrella.
$329: Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X PRO: http://SDP.io/FPXPro
So new we don’t have it
Has a bounce flash, but also an optional front-facing flash
0:00 Introduction
0:47 Retro Flashback Flashes
4:28 Flash Guide Promo from northrup.photo
4:53 Manual Flashes
5:36 Bounce Flash
7:14 High-speed Sync (HSS)
8:18 Flash zoom head
11:08 AA batteries vs Li-Ion Batteries
11:27 TTL (Through-the-Lens) Flash Metering
13:21 Off-camera Flash (R2 Wireless)
15:19 Round-head Flashpoint Flashes
16:43 Summary
Anyone notice they are using a differnt product than advertised
You’re helping me a lot growing in my photography. Thanks a lot!!!
I couldn’t find a recent video on which light should you buy for video / Interviews, I know there,s lots of video out there but looking for video on people I trust 🙂
Awesome guide!
Y’all are amazing. Hundreds of videos and each time I stop in your video is the best of its breed. I’ve been around cameras(largely video) for a long time but never bothered with flash. This told me EVERYTHING i need to know. Great job
Tony looked scared throughout most pics
I read the High Speed Sync will shorten the life of the flash tube. Is this really the case
Thank you Chelsea and Tony, great video! if anyone is thinking of ordering the How to use flash video series, don’t hesitate. So much value for the price, it has really helped me grow my Photography skills. I wish I had ordered it sooner then I did!
Thank you for this!
Its interesting that you do the "ultimate flash buying guide" for Sony cameras without including Sony flashes. They are completely awesome on a Sony camera. Sony have done an amazing job there.
I bought an AD600. Battery died within months. Adorama did nothing! I bought another battery – $200. It stopped working within months. Go online and read all of the similar stories!!!! They all die and adorama does not stand by the product. NEVER EVER BUY FROM ADORAMA!!!!!! They are criminals that sell junk!!!!!!!
Mga paa ano kaya ang sagot??? kanina pa ako nag hahanap ng clue…
Just got a TT600, that thing is AMAZING! Especially for the price
ad200 ad600 all you need 🙂
The Godox TT350 doesn’t give you full power flash on manual, you have to use TTL for that. The 1/1 setting on manual is maybe 1/2 power or even less. On TTL, I have to set between +2 – +3EV to get proper exposure. Buyer beware, the flash software matters more than the technical specs.
i still have a handful SB 800’S and one Leica Flash for my Q twins. I also like Pro Foto.
Thanks, guys.
I see you finally got your nikon zf. Looks sleek in orange.
I skipped flashes and went to constant light 🙂
UNBELIEVABLE! These two do not even know how to use flash lighting…
Bummer that 2/3 of the retro flashes use rechargeable batteries. I’d rather use my rechargeable, replaceable AA/AAA than a non-serviceable integrated battery :[ They could’ve at least made it like their bigger flashes, where it’s proprietary but swappable.
how about Kelvin temp,cri,ra,tint …?
That Junior flash I REALLY like it. Although would need to use a 28mm pancake prime in order to use it. But it’s handy if you wanna use it when you have other strobes on slave also.
Love you guys home thanks for allowing us in your home. Who is that beautiful picture with the scarf on
500th like!
The problem many of us have now is the incompatibility of legacy flash units with new mirrorless cameras. I do not believe Nikon and others needed to change the signals going to their contact points. They could have left it the same so that legacy flash units and triggers would still work TTL. That, and making FTZ adapters without screw drive for legacy lenses, has kept me from updating to the Z system. I’d need to replace too many primes and most of my speedlight and studio lighting and triggers. There was absolutely no need for them to do that.
does the flash guide only discuss speedlites, or does it have a device on cranking up my 600?
Thank you. Nice demo. I have to get one of those retro flashes for my old film camera.
I am Tony’s"Pavlov’s Dog". I have been classically conditioned to perk up when I hear the sponsor music.
Don’t buy Profoto. They refuse to release a USB-C charger for their A10 flash
What ever happened to Metz flashes ?
Tony waiting for your s24 review with your thoughts on camera
You have a nice house.
As a budget alternative I really like the Hähnel flashes!
Hey you guys are awesome!! Those retro flash units are pretty neat. That orange looking Nikon camera y’all were using s pretty wicked too. What model is it?
This video is far too bright, I hate this trend on youtube!
I WAS LITERALLY BEEN STRESSING OVER FLASHES THESE COUPLE OF DAYS. AND IT’S MIND BLOWING THAT YOU SUDDENLY, VERY RANDOMLY, CAME UP WITH THIS HAHA IT FEELS LIKE IT’S MADE FOR ME 🤣
What a detailed explanation
Wow we actually agree on some gear I love Godox
Another great video T & C! I had zero knowledge of flashes when I bought my first setup, so I went the continuous lighting route (plus I wanted to do video as well). Your video gave me an overview of the current state of the art of flashes. Can you please do a video of flash mounting brackets and modifiers as well? I’m tempted to get a flash with a modifier to do some quick photos around our vintage clothing store when we get new stock in. Keep up the great work!
Does TTL account for light control when you use ceiling to bounce?
Love your content! Been watching for years. I have a bunch of old Canon and some older Godox and Flashpoint lighting equipment. I’m planning to sell all of it and go with a set of maybe 3 Zoom Li-on X PRO R2s. I have an Einstein and 2 AD 600 that I may keep or I may upgrade to the newer AD 600 Pros. Thank you so much for everything you do. During this video I was trying to figure out why your height difference was so great – then I realized that Chelsea was sitting! 🙂
Thank you
Great video but I don’t recall of you noted in the video that the more advanced TTL type flashes need to be matched to your camera brand. Otherwise great examples of what you can do with a flash and a little bit of practice.
👍 Good info 👍Flash photography is awesome!❗
Does anybody get wireless TTL to work reasonably well with Godox/Flashpoint flashes?
CONG TIBEEEE
penge clueee huhu
If you have a crop camera, do you need to adjust the flash to the effective focal length?
me, personally, I would buy a million plates for bulletproof vests and stack them horizontally in a shipping container Try to get through that! lol
Very helpful, thank you!