The ISO speed setting of digital SLR cameras which are commercially available now is basically set to 100 or 200. For a camera with an ISO speed of 100, the attainable distance of the built-in flash's light is limited to approximately 3 to 4 m. When shooting important events such as weddings, using a built-in flash frequently creates cases of lacking in the amount of light depending on situations.
　
In that case, using an external flash with a larger amount of light than the built-in flash increases the distance which the flash's light can reach, enabling you to shoot important scenes without fail.

※Most of the recent digital SLR cameras usually have a built-in flash. If you are like most beginner camera users, you may possibly have preconceived notions like that no external flash is necessary because a built-in flash is attached, or that you don't want to carry around an external flash because it's bulky, or that it looks difficult to use an external flash.
Certainly, the reason why an external flash is necessary is not widely known, and of course it is bulky. Also, it used to be difficult to operate an external flash (in the past).

Generally, the flash built in a digital SLR camera is convenient, rather for "fill light" performance (especially in the amount of light). It is very convenient in some kinds of dark scenes at close distances, back-light scenes, and such other scenes for the most part. But...

Even a photo with a small number of persons：
A built-in flash will do enough in shooting in narrow spaces such as indoor situations. However, in wide places (party places, restaurants, etc.) irrespective of whether they are indoor situations or wide indoor/outdoor places, believing that a built-in flash is good enough because it is "bright" creates many cases of failure.
In addition, right after shooting with your digital SLR camera, exposures are often checked with the camera's LCD monitor. As a frequent failure cause, although they look good at that time, the photos appear to be dark on a PC screen when checked afterward. This failure occurs quite frequently. Checking brightness on the LCD monitor is difficult because it looks different depending on the place where it is checked. Correcting photos shot darkly is quite difficult.
In a photo with a large number of persons：
Using an external flash is recommended regardless whether it is indoors or outdoors and the brightness.
Although taking a photo with a large number of persons is difficult even for a professional photographer, if an external flash is used, it is unlikely that a failure will occur.

At camera shops, you will often see a standard-lens camera set with a telephoto lens called a "double-zoom set" being sold. This set is certainly reasonable, but a majority of purchasers do not use telephoto lenses, feeling that it is troublesome to replace them.
Here is a good shopping tip for a camera set. Purchasing an "external" flash at a reasonable price in addition to a camera set that comes with a standard lens in the first place may bring you more convenience than purchasing a camera set that comes with a telephoto lens.
　
If sunlight is directed straight toward the face of a subject when taking commemorative photos, the subject may have to squint and frown from the glare.
In such shooting situations, having a subject in a slightly back-lighted position intentionally and using an external flash may produce beautiful photos with a natural facial expression and light naturally lighted onto hair and other body parts.

For this, an external flash serves as a helpful flash to avoid situations where photography is difficult including those with a long distance from a desired subject and dark scenes, in life events mentioned above and on commendation days (For example, weddings, dance parties, school entrance/graduation ceremonies, and athletic events), etc.
　
※Setting to a high ISO speed increases the distance which the flash's light can reach even with a built-in flash. Conversely, the image itself may get rough and visual noise may occur.
　
It would be a pity to buy a digital SLR camera but not to take excellent photos with it. More than that, an "important moment" is a situation where an external flash is needed more than you may think, most of the time.
Now, it is not too late! SUNPAK's flashes feature easy-to-understand functions and operability even for beginners. Give it a try in your digital SLR photo life by adding a spice of new possibility: an external flash.
We are sure that beautiful, vivid works photographic art can be created by you!