Camera Flash: Research your needs

In order to end up with the camera flash best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of camera flashes are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a camera flash.

Research the Market: Camera Flash features

A photographic flash is a tool which will greatly improve your creative image output. Flash photography is used to allow capture of images when in no or low-light conditions. These units assist in stopping action, help to reduce lighting contrast and can create special effects.

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the camera flash market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Autofocus: Autofocus flash units will have an autofocus aid light. If there is no light, the flash is likely a non-autofocus flash designed for manual focus cameras.

Guide number (GN): This is the guide to the maximum power output the flash can provide. This impacts the range when used with autoexposure but can also be used to work out the needed aperture when used with manual exposure.

Flash Connections: This is how the external flash connects to the camera's shutter release and auto-exposure systems. A hot shoe is an opening on the camera into which you can slide and lock the external flash. There are also adapters for the hot shoe that let you connect strobes or off-camera flash units. PC connections attach the flash with a synch cord. Cold shoe adapters (Universal Sync Blocks) look like hot shoe connections but require a PC connection. Flash brackets mount the flash onto the camera using its tripod socket.

Diffuser: Some flash units have built in or attachable diffusers which expand the flash coverage for wide angle shots or tone down harsh lighting.

Flash Head: Flash heads can have a 360 degree swivel or a bounce head that allows you to 'bounce' the flash off a white ceiling or reflector.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a camera flash. For example, will you use the camera flash only to record special occasions or are you a keen photographer?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have I used a camera flash before?
	If you have, work out what you did or didn't like about the camera flash. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient.

What brand or model is my camera?
	The flash must be compatible with your camera.

Does my camera have built in flash?
	If so you will probably want to consider a slave flash unit as it will detect the camera flash to which it is connected.

Do I use flash as the main light source in my photographs?
	Fill flash needs a lower flash power than does the main light source.

Will I use special lighting techniques such as “painting with light?”
	If this is the case you will want open flash.

Does my camera have a hot shoe?
	This connects the flash to the camera shutter release and autoexposure system.

Do I need special connector leads to connect external flash?
	You need to check whether this is the case.

Do I have an older camera with a PC socket?
	These do not work with electronic flash.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of camera flashes and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

Bounce Card For Your Camera - Info
Informative video gives tips on how to make a better bounce card for your camera flash. (18m 14s)