420EX vs. 550EX?

[klic]

Hi All,

I am planning on bying a speedlight for my G1, and am wondering what the better choice would be between the 420 and 550, regardless of the price. Is the 420EX better suited/more compatible with the G1 then the 550, or the oppiste, or are both as good?

I do not plan to have a Master/Slave configuration.

Thanks for the help,

klic

[Don Ellis]

My knowledge in this area is limited, so I'll jump right in :)

Since we're ignoring price, I would purchase the 550EX simply because you can adjust flash output on the flash itself, which you can't do with the 420EX.

I'm a 420 user myself, but if I did it over again, I'd buy the 550.

[kd6lor]

Hello klic and Don,

I have to agree with Don in that if we were able to ignore the price, the 550 would be my first choice as well - it is a better flash. I have a 420 because I couldn't ignore price when I bought the flash, and if I had to do it over again, I would STILL buy the 420 since it has served me well. I would bank my savings over the cost of the 550 with an eye towards other equipment that I wanted.

I am of the opinion that many of the features available with the 550 are only of benefit with Canon SLR's, possibly film only SLR's (D30?)

As far as the master/slave thing goes, I also use only one flash, so I can't offer comment in this area. Speaking of masters/slaves, I got to run, my wife is calling for me...



Paul

[klic]

Thanks Don & Paul,

Your comments are greatly appreciated. I am going with the 550 EX (as well as my savings). One of the reasons is that I hope (wish?) to get a SLR sometime in the future.

Cheers,

Claude

[mutungi]

420EX balances better on the G1!

[klic]

Hi mutungi,

By 'balancing' you mean weight/size?

[runner]

I have the 420ex. I would love to have the 550, because I could control a couple of 420's off camera with it. The 420ex is more than enough for walk around camera use.

[Norle]

hi,
the autofocus helplight (redlight from the 420EX)
doesn't function with the G1/G2. I appeal to all G1/G2 freaks - take a look at site http://www.rkornberger.de/speedlite/
so we can take Canon on fire.
The 420EX was expensive enough!

cheers
Norbert

[twalker294]

Norbert,

I have spoken to Canon on the AF light issue and they insist that this function cannot be implemented in firmware. Personally I think it is BS and it is probably the number 1 thing that bugs me the most about my Pro90/420EX combo. Other than that, it's great.

You know, it isn't just Canon though. I don't know why, but most digitals that support external flashes don't utilize the AF assist light on those flashes. I don't know if it is something about the fact that it is digital or what, but it is pretty common. The only exception that I can think of is the Olympus FL40 flash when used with an Oly digital. But that flash was designed for a digital camera (the C2500) from the beginning, so maybe that's the difference. Perhaps there has to be a circuit in the flash to allow that capability?

The AF light works on the 420/550 when used with the D30 but the D30 is a "digitalized" film body so that makes sense.

Todd

[picnic]

twalker294 wrote:
Norbert,

The AF light works on the 420/550 when used with the D30 but the D30 is a "digitalized" film body so that makes sense.

Todd



I'm glad to hear this. I had just been wondering since I have a 420EX that I use with my G1 (also have an FL40 used with Oly E10). I suspect in the future I may go down the path of the Canon D series, and would like to put off buying yet another flash.

Diane

[mutungi]

Be smart, sensible, practical ...GO FOR THE 420EX!