Question on 420 EX for G2

[RICHARD/CANADA]

I would like to get a good flash and it seams that the 420 EX is the flash recomended by many. So I searched on ebay and found many for sale. My question is " Is this flash compatibal with the G2 it isn't listed as one of the cmpatible flashes. Also is the price good?
Thanks
Rich

This is a link to a 420 EX auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2950469271&category=15221

[msvadi]

I would not buy it for $160 on ebay. You can get it from B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ for $169. According to many reports here they are very reliable. I got my from them and would recommend B&H too.

420EX IS compatible with G2 and gives wonderfull results. Some flash functions won't work: focus assist light, high speed sync, but you cannot get it working with any other flash either.

Consider also buying Stofen omnibounce. It's basically a plastic cap ($17). I was very skeptical about it at first, but it works.

[msvadi]

scottbergerphoto wrote:
I use the 420EX with my G2 and 10D. It's a great flash. The focus assist light most certainly does work with the G2. It's infrared. Hold your hand in front of it in dim light and you'll see it light up when you depress your shutter button. I use it at times with the stoffen omnibounce.

Scott,
I think you're mistaken about AF assist light. The issue has been discussed extensively (for example, http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12691). The flash focus assist light does not work with any of G series cameras.

[scottbergerphoto]

msvadi wrote:
scottbergerphoto wrote:
I use the 420EX with my G2 and 10D. It's a great flash. The focus assist light most certainly does work with the G2. It's infrared. Hold your hand in front of it in dim light and you'll see it light up when you depress your shutter button. I use it at times with the stoffen omnibounce.

Scott,
I think you're mistaken about AF assist light. The issue has been discussed extensively (for example, http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12691). The flash focus assist light does not work with any of G series cameras.

You're absoloutely right. The 420EX focus assist light doesn't come on with the G2, however the G2's focus assist light does work with the 420EX attached. I must have been thinking about my Nikon film camera.
Sorry,
Scott

[RICHARD/CANADA]

Thanks guys.

[dereklam]

scottbergerphoto wrote:
msvadi wrote:
scottbergerphoto wrote:
I use the 420EX with my G2 and 10D. It's a great flash. The focus assist light most certainly does work with the G2. It's infrared. Hold your hand in front of it in dim light and you'll see it light up when you depress your shutter button. I use it at times with the stoffen omnibounce.

Scott,
I think you're mistaken about AF assist light. The issue has been discussed extensively (for example, http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12691). The flash focus assist light does not work with any of G series cameras.

You're absoloutely right. The 420EX focus assist light doesn't come on with the G2, however the G2's focus assist light does work with the 420EX attached. I must have been thinking about my Nikon film camera.
Sorry,
Scott


hi, according to you, the G2 always relies on the built in auto focus light whether the 420ex is attached to or not. Actually I am very disappointed to hear about that. This is because I always use large filters, tele, and wide angle lens on my G2 but they always blocked the built in auto focus light. So, under the dark environment, I believed that there is no way for me to focus correctly to any objects while those lens are being used.

Any way to solve my problem? thanks.

[scottbergerphoto]

dereklam wrote:
scottbergerphoto wrote:
msvadi wrote:
scottbergerphoto wrote:
I use the 420EX with my G2 and 10D. It's a great flash. The focus assist light most certainly does work with the G2. It's infrared. Hold your hand in front of it in dim light and you'll see it light up when you depress your shutter button. I use it at times with the stoffen omnibounce.

Scott,
I think you're mistaken about AF assist light. The issue has been discussed extensively (for example, http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12691). The flash focus assist light does not work with any of G series cameras.

You're absoloutely right. The 420EX focus assist light doesn't come on with the G2, however the G2's focus assist light does work with the 420EX attached. I must have been thinking about my Nikon film camera.
Sorry,
Scott


hi, according to you, the G2 always relies on the built in auto focus light whether the 420ex is attached to or not. Actually I am very disappointed to hear about that. This is because I always use large filters, tele, and wide angle lens on my G2 but they always blocked the built in auto focus light. So, under the dark environment, I believed that there is no way for me to focus correctly to any objects while those lens are being used.

Any way to solve my problem? thanks.
Manual focus. You might also have someone hold a powerful flashlight while you focus and then turn it off before you take the picture.

[msvadi]

Scott,
Do you have any tips on how to use the manual focus with G2? There are just too many problems with the MF settings:

*The MF indicator does not show the exact distance and it's not easy to adjust it, as the values change in irregular increments.

*The LCD is too small, you just cannot be sure if the image is in focus.

*And I just cannot understand what for the camera magnifies the portion of the image in the AF frame. It's digital magnification, which, I think, is absolutely useless. Besides, it blocks a large portion of the LCD.

[dereklam]

Scott

you have Nikon film camera. This is similar to my side.

Because I am still new to use the 420ex, I don't know for sure whether the 420ex could work with the Nikon film camera. Did you try it?

[scottbergerphoto]

dereklam wrote:
Scott

you have Nikon film camera. This is similar to my side.

Because I am still new to use the 420ex, I don't know for sure whether the 420ex could work with the Nikon film camera. Did you try it?


The 420 EX doesn't appear to have a manual mode or "Auto Mode"-where the flash controls its own output. As such it can't be used on a Nikon camera. I was referring above to a Nikon flash on a Nikon camera. Now if you find a Canon flash that has manual mode or "Auto"mode where the flash has it's own thyristor to control flash output, you could probably use it on any camera with a hot shoe. You just couldn't use it in E-TTL mode on a non Canon camera.
Scott

[scottbergerphoto]

msvadi wrote:
Scott,
Do you have any tips on how to use the manual focus with G2? There are just too many problems with the MF settings:

*The MF indicator does not show the exact distance and it's not easy to adjust it, as the values change in irregular increments.

*The LCD is too small, you just cannot be sure if the image is in focus.

*And I just cannot understand what for the camera magnifies the portion of the image in the AF frame. It's digital magnification, which, I think, is absolutely useless. Besides, it blocks a large portion of the LCD.
I haven't used the Manual Focus on the G2. I just know it exists. Sorry, I can't be of more assistance.
Scott

[gmlotkow]

I just got my g-2 back from the repair shop. See post Sept 27. I also have a 420ex.
Pairing them up again, everything is washed out, overexposed. I remember when each shot was a winner, you could hardly miss.

Here are a few situations, I'd like to have someone verify them. Auto mode

The camera zoom is not coupled to the flash, should the indicator lights correspond to the lens settings?

Red indicator is set to 35

No green lite

Camera puts out the focus beam at 1/2 press, but does not fire when fully pressed

ETT-L light is on

Tilting the head upward make red light blink at 50.

No influence by choosing different camera modes.

[ijohnson]

The 420 ex has been a savior to me. The standard flash on the G2 is awful in comparison.

I have taken so many good shots since I got the 420. It is a miracle worker for the amateur, which I am.

The flash on the G2 flattens everything and despite "red eye reduction" gives massive redeye. My friends think I am a pro because I can make a wonderful, natural image from bouncing a flash against a ceiling. How awesome is that?


The 420 ex product is an inexpensive way to make you look preofessional, what else can you ask for?