[sleaver]

I'm trying to decide if I need a dedicated flash or not. So I would be greatfull of people could say if one would have or would not have improved the following photos.

The Lemon/Lime one has shadows but would a dedicated flash have helped or would I need a light tent or hand made version? With the portrait would bounced flash have added anything?

[sleaver]

Anyone?

[Peakoverload]

Well it all depends.

The second shot, I think, is perfect and would not be improved with a dedicated flash.

The first shot, well possibly, but it does depend on what you want to achieve.

There are two basic advantages of a dedicated flash over the on board flash, more power & more direction.

When you are up close to your subject more power won't be needed but if you want to control shadows that more direction can be useful. With a dedicated flash you could have bouced the flash off the ceiling but then you would probably get shadow underneath, you could slap on a big diffuser or even a softbox (lastolite hotshoe softbox - very nice) which would remove most of the shadows, you can mount the flash off camera etc etc etc. It all depends on the effect that you want to achieve. Personally I see nothing wrong in having a bit of shadow under the fruit as this is natural but if that's not what you want to achieve then a dedicated flash may help remove them.