External Flashers from Canon.

[windrivermaiden]

you love your kids more than I love mine Mine have to go with out photos after dark.  I'm just not dedicated enough to stay till the bitter end.

[Sierra Fox]

if you put the flash in high speed or FP mode you aren't limited to 1/250 sync speed. i'm assuming basically you want to do what most nature photographers want to do. use fill flash to combat harsh shadows or backlit conditions. stick to canon, a 550ex or 580ex speedlight, avoid the sigmas, which are good units and less expensive but for what you want they operate just a bit differently.......with canon flashes once you set flash to FP mode it stays there till you change the setting. with sigmas when in fp(high speed sync) the flash will fall out of the mode if at anytime the camera metering shows a shutterspeed below the sync speed. this causes a problem if for instance you are tracking your subject through a dark area or background to achieve focus, if the supposed shutterspeed read below the sync speed it reverts to full flash and your shutterspeed is locked at 1/250, then when your subject gets in range or the area you want to shoot at the sigma has"out thought you " and it takes two hands to push the buttons to put back in the right mode. hope i've explained that well enough.

now for the distances you're talking about, taking another page from nature shooters, with subjects that far away use a better beamer flash extender that attaches to the flash unit, cost about $40. they are made to be used with telephoto lens and get some fill flash out at longer distances. look for one at birdasart.com.

Mik, great information here you've provided   Would this "beamer flash extender" work well for the 100-400 IS USM? Further, would it also do well at nighttime sporting events (track and field or football) in a stadium with exsisting stadium lighting?

Thanks again

Anthony

[garphoto.com]

If i'm shooting a cross-country meet and my subject's are 40 to 100 feet away, what would be a good flash that would reach those distances?

The Sun

[DanG (m1)]

i use a 430ex for night football games, with an F4 lens, and bad lights. It gets the job done. I think it will reach 50feet, but dont quote me on it.

[Sierra Fox]

i use a 430ex for night football games, with an F4 lens, and bad lights. It gets the job done. I think it will reach 50feet, but dont quote me on it.

Thanks Dan, i really appreciate your imput

[mik]

well, your questions are quickly escaping my realm of experience. the better beamer is useful on focal lengths or 300mm and beyond. i've never shot night time sports, but from shooting birds at dusk the amount of light and distance it reaches ought to help you.  now whether the flash is welcome by the teams is another question. i never remember seeing a flash from the crowd or being blinded but from comments you read on the internets you'll be verging on child abuse if you use a flash.