| The most basic flash units are for ideal for casual | | | | you to have greater input on the lighting, and it |
| photographing of family etc... or if you are out | | | | aids in the reduction of unsightly background |
| shooting still life on a dull day and need that extra | | | | shadows, which may occur. There is another |
| bit of fill light, it would be a perfect solution. The | | | | useful function called curtain sync which allows you |
| basic flash units are also beneficial for their size; | | | | (when shooting long exposures) to have a light |
| smaller sizes mean less weight and easier to | | | | trail following a moving subject. |
| transport, perfect for the smaller more compact | | | | The curtain sync is the flash firing just before the |
| SLR's and point and shoots which have a hotshoe | | | | shutter closes. Another use for the curtain sync |
| (the connection plate on the camera to mount | | | | mode is shooting portraits indoors where you |
| the flash). Even these flash units can have a flash | | | | would like to include the background in your shot. |
| output twice or three times greater than that of | | | | By using the curtain sync mode, the shutter |
| the built in flash. | | | | remains open long enough to allow ambient light |
| Moving on from the basic models, the mid range | | | | from your background into your camera, then the |
| and professional models are supplied with a much | | | | flash fires before the shutter closes thereby |
| greater array of functions, settings and controls | | | | "freezing" your main subject. |
| leaving the photographer with a much greater | | | | Another useful addition to the flash units is the |
| scope on power output, manual and ETTL | | | | AF-assist beam, which are used for low light |
| settings, as well as custom settings, exposure | | | | conditions where autofocus may otherwise be |
| compensation, etc... of course with these extra | | | | difficult. Some flash units come with a pull out |
| functions comes a cost. They can be quite | | | | Fresnel lens to allow for the use of wide-angle |
| expensive but are well worth the money utilised | | | | lenses. The higher end flash units are also |
| correctly. | | | | manufactured with a small white reflector to get |
| The advanced flash units also have a slave | | | | the most out of using a bounced flash (flash |
| function, which allows you to use them as | | | | reflected off the white reflector and "bounced" |
| secondary flash units. Slave units are triggered by | | | | onto your subject, rather than firing the flash |
| the primary flash unit, which is mounted on your | | | | directly towards your subject). |
| camera. It is a very useful function, which allows | | | | |