Question about 550EX flash

[boyhowdy]

I just ordered one of these. I figured "why not?" since I don't own a flash and it seems to be the best Canon for the money from the posts.

I read that the 550EX does not have an external cable port or whatever you call it so it can be removed from the camera and hand held. I know I can get a bracket which raises the flash above the camera and I know I can get another flash and use it as a slave. My question is "Is all that really necessary? Can you take most shots with the 550EX attached to the camera or will I need to consider a slave flash and/or a bracket? I will be using the flash for everything ie fill flash, portrait, landscape, macro (not ideal for this I know). I just want to know if I REALLY need a bracket or a slave since I can't move this flash off the camera. I know I can bounce it off the ceiling and walls for a lot of situations, but not for outside shots. Any advice would be appreciated. I won't get the flash until Monday.

[rdenney]

boyhowdy wrote:
I just ordered one of these. I figured "why not?" since I don't own a flash and it seems to be the best Canon for the money from the posts.

I read that the 550EX does not have an external cable port or whatever you call it so it can be removed from the camera and hand held. I know I can get a bracket which raises the flash above the camera and I know I can get another flash and use it as a slave. My question is "Is all that really necessary? Can you take most shots with the 550EX attached to the camera or will I need to consider a slave flash and/or a bracket? I will be using the flash for everything ie fill flash, portrait, landscape, macro (not ideal for this I know). I just want to know if I REALLY need a bracket or a slave since I can't move this flash off the camera. I know I can bounce it off the ceiling and walls for a lot of situations, but not for outside shots. Any advice would be appreciated. I won't get the flash until Monday.


Canon makes an extension cable that will allow you to mount the flash on a bracket away from the camera. I seem to recall that it is called the "Off-Camera Shoe Cord 2" and it's about $50 or 60, depending on where you buy it. It transfers all the E-TTL information and maintains full flash function.

If you want to move the flash more than a foot or so from the camera, then you need the slave system, which is the ST-E2 transmitter. It's much more expensive; more like a coupla hundred bucks.

Rick "who just bought the cord a couple of weeks ago for mounting the flash on a bracket" Denney

[boyhowdy]

Thanks Rick "who just bought the cord a couple of weeks ago for mounting the flash on a bracket" Denney! I knew you would know the answer! Maybe a cheaper 420ex would be better to use as a slave if I want it to be farther away.

Patrick