Upgrade nifty-fifty or Flash?

[romanaz]

So, I've got some money leftover from the holidays, and I've been thinking of upping the performance of my system currently. My only lens right now is the 50 f/1.8 from Canon. I'm currently using my 40D, w/ the battery grip. Biggest problem is the crappy focus on the 50 f/1.8 in lower-light situations.

My question is, would I be better served picking up this :

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/666243-USA/Canon__430EX_II_Speedlite_TTL.html

or this

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12140-USA/Canon_2515A003_50mm_f_1_4_USM_Autofocus.html

I'm leaning for the 430ex w/ that flash bracket for the grip. I'm also looking @ a camera strap for my setup, and I'm leaning towards the r-strap 4, any opinons on that as well?

 

[TheReef]

I'd go for the flash, it'll open up more creative possibilities and it's AF assist beam will help your 50 focus in very low light.
(It also has a mode whereby it acts only as a focus aid if you don't want to use flash - but only works on some Canon bodies)

Consider also getting a cord so you can use the flash off-camera at different positions.

 

[romanaz]

I'd go for the flash, it'll open up more creative possibilities and it's AF assist beam will help your 50 focus in very low light.
(It also has a mode whereby it acts only as a focus aid if you don't want to use flash - but only works on some Canon bodies)

Consider also getting a cord so you can use the flash off-camera at different positions.

I'd assume holding it off camera would make event photography slightly more challenging eh?

 

[Grimace]

hunting in lower light affects all lenses so I don't think you'd see a great increase in AF speed or image quality. I've owned both lenses, and I definitely liked the smooth bokeh of the f/1.4 better but those were all shots in better lighting where I had some control over the subject -- probably something I could have done with the f/1.8 had I had the time.

Using a flash properly is a really tough task, and one that is often overlooked. If there was one area that I wish I could instantly learn, it would be use of light with a flash. It isn't hard stuff, but it takes time and practice.

As said before, try to get the flash off of your camera if possible (a bracket works wonders). I have an awesome hotshoe cord from when I used to use a 430EX that I was planning to sell soon -- PM me if you're interested; I'd rather have it go to a MR photog than some random person on Craigslist.

 

[romanaz]

hunting in lower light affects all lenses so I don't think you'd see a great increase in AF speed or image quality. I've owned both lenses, and I definitely liked the smooth bokeh of the f/1.4 better but those were all shots in better lighting where I had some control over the subject -- probably something I could have done with the f/1.8 had I had the time.

Using a flash properly is a really tough task, and one that is often overlooked. If there was one area that I wish I could instantly learn, it would be use of light with a flash. It isn't hard stuff, but it takes time and practice.

As said before, try to get the flash off of your camera if possible (a bracket works wonders). I have an awesome hotshoe cord from when I used to use a 430EX that I was planning to sell soon -- PM me if you're interested; I'd rather have it go to a MR photog than some random person on Craigslist.

Yeah, its something that thus far as eluded me, so I think it might be a good time to pick one up and learn it before I really need to know it.

I've been looking at different brackets, I see massively expensive ones and cheap ones like the one with that 430ex. Is there any ones that you guys reccommend at all?

 

[romanaz]

for an update : one of my coworkers is offering his 430EX II for 170, and I will be testing it out and probably going with it, at that price.

I'm also going into the city monday and picking up the RS5 r-strap and maybe a stroboframe bracket, depending.

Does anyone have an thoughts on the brackets, like, which ones might be better with a battery grip?

 

[Abyssgh0st]

for an update : one of my coworkers is offering his 430EX II for 170, and I will be testing it out and probably going with it, at that price.

I'm also going into the city monday and picking up the RS5 r-strap and maybe a stroboframe bracket, depending.

Does anyone have an thoughts on the brackets, like, which ones might be better with a battery grip?

$170 for a 430 EX II, that's a DAMN good deal! I'd take that in a heartbeat.

 

[romanaz]

$170 for a 430 EX II, that's a DAMN good deal! I'd take that in a heartbeat.

thats what I thought, as long as its in decent condition, its mine