Canon Speedlite 270EX II Bounce Ideas
This post will give you simple tips on how to get great lighting with the compact, but capable 270EX and 270EX II Speedlites from Canon. I going to bounce a few Canon Speedlite bounce ideas off of you. Bouncing the light from the 270EX gives you a softer light source and more pleasing photos.
You're going to see that you don't have to be stuck with that flat and sometimes harsh, direct light from such a speedlite that doesn't rotate like the Canon 270EX II flash. This is just one way to get diffused lighting with your Speedlite.
The 270EX II does not have a built in bounce panel as shown on the Speedlite 580EX shown in this photo. (Click the photo for a larger view)
The big advantage with the 580EX is that the bounce panel is always with you and ready to use simply by sliding it out from its secret hideout inside the head. It's easy to use in an instant.
The 270EX II does not have a rotating head. The 580 Speedlite's head can rotate both clockwise and counter-clockwise to give you many possibilities for finding the best angle to bounce.
Don't despair, because there are a few ways you can still produce a diffused light with your pintsized 270EX II
When I am packing light I carry a small white business card with me that can be used as a bounce panel with the Speedlite 270EX II.
The distance from the flash to the ceiling and the distance from the flash to the subject and the size of the bounce panel you use all affect the light ratio.
I am a full-time shooting pro, but I don't want to carry the larger 580EX when I am out socially.
I occasionally use the Canon Speedlite 270EX II on a Canon DSLR, but more often use it on my Canon G11 or my wife's G1X Mark II. You can also use one of the convenient speedlite accessories to get a nice soft diffused light on your subject.
My Favorite of the Speedlite 270EX II Bounce ideas
This is the most versatile way to bounce your 270EX II. You'll need enough strength to hold the camera in one hand and the flash in the other hand. You can try several lighting variations with a simple twist of the flash to achieve quite a few different results.
Because the DSLRs have a nicely shaped grip, I sometimes find myself shooting with the camera in one hand and the flash in another hand. This allows me to boldly seek out new surfaces and angles to bounce the 270EX II in hopes of creating a sometimes unusual and pleasing way to light my subject.
I call this method of photography "Freestyle Bounce Lighting."
The initial start-up time for the 270EX is slow, but if the batteries are fresh, I find the re-charge time between shoots to be adequately fast. This is even more true now with the development of high ISO settings and reduced power usage when the flash is fired for any given exposure.
I've also done a bit of Macro Photography with a Speedlite 270EX II with the flash mounted directly on the hot shoe and bounced off of a small white piece of cardboard.
Recommended Place to Buy Speedlites and Accessories
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I hope this short post was helpful. For related posts see the links below my signature below. Have a blast. Shoot a Canon.
Bruce Lovelace is the publisher of Canon Camera Geek. Read more about him on the About Page. He also publishes how to articles and camera gear reviews at the Photography Tips website.
View some of Bruce's photos on Instagram and Flickr. Join the tribe of followers on YouTube. Bruce also runs photo workshops and provides 1 on 1 digital photography coaching.
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Bounced-lighting from aiming the 270ex II at the white cinder block wall off to the side of my Molly the mannequin model.
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