Hi, Really bad at making decisions, HELP! lol

[pathfinder]

hello folks :-) I came across this website after weeks, well really a year of trying to decide on what my next purchase should be? Let me tell you i am the absolute worst at making decisions, lol

I was hoping I might be able hear some in-cite and experienced recomendations along with knowledgeable thoughts?

Im having a really hard time deciding on buying a flash or lens next?
First i Ill start off by telling you a little about me and my gear.

I'm just a hobbyist, I love nature and being outdoors and mainly into taking pictures of landscapes in the early mourning/late evening. I also ejoy although rarely take city shots at night, so mostly low light landscape type photography.

Okay so here is the gear i own now:
Iv got a 30d W/Grip (Dont use the Grip Much)
Canon 24-70mm 2.8L
Canon 10-22mm (which iv not used much at all, up until recently a little)
I bought a used Tamron 200-400mm f5.6 LD which i almost never use (but does take decent pics, not wonderful)
A Bogen 190XB pro W/ Markins M10 Ball Head & ReallyRight Stuff quick release plate, along with two Really Right stuff L-plates, one for the camera and one for the camera with grip.

So First i figured with out a doubt i need an external flash (430EXII) even though i dont take wedding/portrait type pictures id like to be able to take good pictures at family events, Christmas, party's...mostly inside/low light.
to get a decently exposes picture with just the on board flash....(which by the way i dont even like to use if possable they turn out very bright and fake looking. I love getting that natural light specially when i use custom white balance). However its near imposable without lugging out my tripod, then having to ask people to stand still and even then the picture is almost always blurry,and it truely gets annoying having to ask them to pose again and not move. Im sure you know what i mean.

So i said for sure the next item i thought i should get is an external flash! Then I can learn all the different techniques iv read about, like bounce off walls and ceilings...learn how to use the settings, get a diffuser if need be.and now id be able to take decent indoor shots.

However now im thinking maybe i should get a new lens, iv always wanted a decent zoom lens, and figured id go with the canon 70-200 f/4, but i cant make up my mind as to whether or not to get IS, after all i do use my tripod pretty much all the time when shooting waterfalls, lakes, foggy forests, your basic landscape shoots. So is it really all that important to have IS? Same with the idea of buying the much more expensive Canon 70-200 2.8...Im dont shoot sports or birds in flight, and again iv got my tripod which i always use when taking serious pics?

However i thoguht for now it might be wise to buy a decent IS walk around type lens maybe the 24-105 F/4L IS?, I also thought maybe the great canon 17-55mm IS. By the way i am in no way against buying a tamron Lens, i certainly don't need the absolute best lens. So If anyone has any thoughts so far i sure woulod appreciate it! But iv also always wanted a macro lens and I thought about the newer 100mm IS macro lens (and this is where i i would love some thoughts so please do share your in0cite or experience about this) if i get the 100mm 2.8L Macro lens, wouldn't it also be a good regular prime lens which could be used as a regular/general lens perfect for landscape, portrait, indoor shots?.

Okay i know this is a super long message and iv rambled quite a bit but again if anyone would be so kind to share any humble opinion and experienced knowladge as to everything I'm trying to decide, It would mean allot to me and would truely appreciate it!!
Eddie

[Joey_M]

Hi Eddie!
Welcome to Designer Digitals!
Wow, this is a tough question since your main shots are outdoors! I LOVE my external flash. I try to shoot without it as I love natural lighting, but this flash has saved me many times. It sounds like you have a few lenses that aren't being used much. Perhaps you should go with a flash and get to know the lenses you already have. I tend to go through stages were I favor a lens. I have made myself use other lenses so I could get used to them and understand what they were good for. So, I my opinion is go with the flash! I look forward to hearing what you decided to do! Good luck!

[LauraBean]

The flash has made a huge difference in my indoor photography, especially at the kinds of events you mention--family stuff, parties, etc. I love my flash and am really glad I opted for it over a new lens last Christmas, though I always have a long list of lenses I'd like.

It sounds as if you're really not sure what you'd want in a lens. The ones you mention are all good, but what hole would each one fill for you? The 24-70 ought to be a pretty good walk-around lens and I'm not sure the 24-105 or the 17-55 would be different enough to be worth it for you, unless there are shots you're not able to get with the 24-70 and you're frustrated with its limitations.

One thing I did recently to help me decide what lens I wanted next was to rent one that was high on my wish list and use it for a week. That week was enough time for me to decide that while it was a great lens, I would be better off with something more versatile. I saved a bundle by renting first and would do that again in a heartbeat if I was faced with that kind of quandary. (You can also rent flashes at some places, but the learning curve with a flash can be steepish, so you might not get really comfortable with it in a week unless you really dive in and use it a lot.)

Happy shopping!

[pathfinder]

Thank you so much for your quick responses! Well first may i ask what flashes you have and do you use any diffusers?

Im right with ya Joey.....When i take pictures inside i just love the natural actual colors even the exposures are fantastic, in the color sense, but the picture is far to blury. Now iv done allot of reading about the diffrent settings you can change on the 30d with the onboard flash, and iv come to the conclusion either im not setting the settings right, or dont have the correct combo of settings....i do like to use auto white balance.

I have read allot about external flashes and all the different techniques like bouncing off walls ceilings...not to mention diffusers...so i would simply buy the flash then sit and learn all the diffrent settings available...i know with my on board flash when i lower the flash exposure that helps a little, but again...here is an example, a few christmas ago i had my camera with the 24-70 lens, and it wasn't even a really dark room, but i still couldnt get a good shot, everything was always blurry. Do you guys think i will be extreamly surprised and pleased with indoor shots when i have the exteranal? Im thiknking teh canon 430EX II or would your experience say go right for the 580EX? I personally dont think i need the latter?



Im running late but i wanted to throw this in as for lenses.... im happy with my 24-70 but not so much as a "walk-around" lens...Id love to have an IS for a walk around type lens....you see when i go out for the strickt pourpuse to take photos i bring my Tripod, But even shooting hand held im not pleased with the pics.. i guess i just dont have a very steady hand...the lens is heavy so maybe if i use the grip more it would balance everything better?

may i ask what tripods/ballheads you guys use...same with filters i know i need some filters.

Again thank you so much for your suggestions and time in responding, i have to run now but any suggestions you can share would be greatly appreciated!!
Eddie

[pathfinder]

Thank you so much for your quick responses! Well first may i ask what flashes you have and do you use any diffusers?

Im right with ya Joey.....When i take pictures inside i just love the natural actual colors even the exposures are fantastic, in the color sense, but the picture is far to blury. Now iv done allot of reading about the diffrent settings you can change on the 30d with the onboard flash, and iv come to the conclusion either im not setting the settings right, or dont have the correct combo of settings....i do like to use auto white balance.

I have read allot about external flashes and all the different techniques like bouncing off walls ceilings...not to mention diffusers...so i would simply buy the flash then sit and learn all the diffrent settings available...i know with my on board flash when i lower the flash exposure that helps a little, but again...here is an example, a few christmas ago i had my camera with the 24-70 lens, and it wasn't even a really dark room, but i still couldnt get a good shot, everything was always blurry. Do you guys think i will be extreamly surprised and pleased with indoor shots when i have the exteranal? Im thiknking teh canon 430EX II or would your experience say go right for the 580EX? I personally dont think i need the latter?



Im running late but i wanted to throw this in as for lenses.... im happy with my 24-70 but not so much as a "walk-around" lens...Id love to have an IS for a walk around type lens....you see when i go out for the strickt pourpuse to take photos i bring my Tripod, But even shooting hand held im not pleased with the pics.. i guess i just dont have a very steady hand...the lens is heavy so maybe if i use the grip more it would balance everything better?

may i ask what tripods/ballheads you guys use...same with filters i know i need some filters.

Again thank you so much for your suggestions and time in responding, i have to run now but any suggestions you can share would be greatly appreciated!!
Eddie

[pathfinder]

Thank you so much for your quick responses! Well first may i ask what flashes you have and do you use any diffusers?

Im right with ya Joey.....When i take pictures inside i just love the natural actual colors even the exposures are fantastic, in the color sense, but the picture is far to blury. Now iv done allot of reading about the diffrent settings you can change on the 30d with the onboard flash, and iv come to the conclusion either im not setting the settings right, or dont have the correct combo of settings....i do like to use auto white balance.

I have read allot about external flashes and all the different techniques like bouncing off walls ceilings...not to mention diffusers...so i would simply buy the flash then sit and learn all the diffrent settings available...i know with my on board flash when i lower the flash exposure that helps a little, but again...here is an example, a few christmas ago i had my camera with the 24-70 lens, and it wasn't even a really dark room, but i still couldnt get a good shot, everything was always blurry. Do you guys think i will be extreamly surprised and pleased with indoor shots when i have the exteranal? Im thiknking teh canon 430EX II or would your experience say go right for the 580EX? I personally dont think i need the latter?



Im running late but i wanted to throw this in as for lenses.... im happy with my 24-70 but not so much as a "walk-around" lens...Id love to have an IS for a walk around type lens....you see when i go out for the strickt pourpuse to take photos i bring my Tripod, But even shooting hand held im not pleased with the pics.. i guess i just dont have a very steady hand...the lens is heavy so maybe if i use the grip more it would balance everything better?

may i ask what tripods/ballheads you guys use...same with filters i know i need some filters.

Again thank you so much for your suggestions and time in responding, i have to run now but any suggestions you can share would be greatly appreciated!!
Eddie