Canon Powershot G3

[Rombauer]

I am a recent owner of a Canon Powershot G3 digital camera. The manufacturer recommends the use of Canon flashes, as an option for external flash use and briefly mentions the possible use of other flashes. Considering that the camera's hot shoe "physically" supports flashes of different brands, I just wonder if there is any risk of damage to the camera if I couple a Mecablitz 348BTS (made by German METZ) electronic flash to it. For your information, this flash is energized by four 1.2V NiCd rechargeable batteries and performs an outstanding job when attached to a conventional SLR camera.

[rssfhs]

I'm pretty new at this, so I can't really say if that would damage your camera or not. Personally, I wouldn't want to risk something like that, especially with such a nice new camera.

By the way, I have a G3 too, but have never really understood or had the need for external flashes. Could you or someone maybe explain to me what type of photography they are necessary for? Are they just brighter, or do they have some other functions or capabilities?

Craig

[Bjorn]

Good question Craig,

I was wondering about the same. Hope we get some reply here, though we could find the answers by using the search fonction, I guess. Have you tried? Me being new (signed up an hour ago) I'm trying to figure out.

Good luck.

Bjorn

[nsxpower]

Rombauer: Metz flashes should work and some are superior to Canon's offerings and will serve you in the future if you deside to switch to a different manufacturer. However, people have been having difficulty getting 3rd party flashes to work in some cases, such as ETTL does not work in some cases.
You should also know that the G3 can't utilize some of the features of 420/550EX :( Which is very unfortunate. I was wishing I could use 420EX's AF assist lamp ... perhaps its going to be fixed in firmware sometime soon. So I guess my recommendation would be to go w/ Canon flashes.

rssfhs/bjorn: Yes the internal flash on the G3 is sufficient for most every day situations, however an external flash can be very usefull for the following:

- Eliminating red-eye
- Greater reach
- Tilt/Swivel allowing you to bouce the flash of ceilings and walls for more controlled lightning. (420EX and 550EX only).
- 550EX can be used to trigger (remotely or otherwise) several other compatable flashes.
- G3's internal flash can only sync to 1/60 shutter speed w/ an external flash set to high-speed sync you can sync up to 1/150
- 58mm lens adapter + WA/TC make the internal flash useless on the G3
- There is probably more, but I just can't think of it right now...

[rssfhs]

Thanks Alex!

[Lenny_D]

Hi Guys,

Whatch out, don't connect a non-Canon flash to the G3 without checking whether the strobe voltage is gonna ruin the circuitry in your camera!
I own a G3 and an old Metz flask unit but the strobe voltage is too high, I don't wanna take the risk.

You can find information on this at:
http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Regards,

Lenny