Did I make a mistake with the 550EX?

[Moses]

I currently have a Canon G3 and thought that I'd get the 550EX to use. Reading the manual, there's nothing in it about using the 550EX with the G3 - just real DSLRs.

Are all the features of this flash useless with the G3? I know Canon's Web Site said the 550EX would work with it, but there's no information or instructions in using the two together.

I bought it with the thought of eventually getting the 10D, but I want to use the G3 for a while and become proficient before I make that step.

Are any of you using the 550EX with a G3?

[scottbergerphoto]

The 550EX should work fine with ETTL in Auto, Av, and Tv modes with the G3 if it's like the G2. Canon digital cameras for the most part work like type A camera bodies even though the flash manuals don't mention it. The camera manual will tell you what you can do in the Flash section. The point and shoots get weird though when it comes to manual exposure mode. In manual exposure mode the G2 will only fire the flash at full power, No ETTL.
Scott

[rudrasen]

HI ,
check out this thread : "420 ex for G3 questions!!!"

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22525&start=0&postdays=0&postorde r=asc&highlight=

I think you should be OK with the 550 EX . It offers more features that your G3 can use but its I don't think it is incompatible; just that it is targeted towards new SLRs. The only real usable advantage I think is its higher light output.

[scottbergerphoto]

HI ,
check out this thread : "420 ex for G3 questions!!!"

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22525&start=0&postdays=0&postorde r=asc&highlight=

I think you should be OK with the 550 EX . It offers more features that your G3 can use but its I don't think it is incompatible; just that it is targeted towards new SLRs. The only real usable advantage I think is its higher light output.

If you combine the 550EX with the Canon Off the Shoe Cord 2 and a flash bracket(Stroboframe Pro RL or Quick Flip for example), you move the flash off the camera, give more depth to your pictures, and eliminate red eye. It's a whole different story then on camera flash. The quality of your pictures will be much better.
Scott

[Moses]

Scott, Thanks for the information. When I saw the camera types in the 550EX manual and that the G3 was not mentioned, I thought maybe the G3 was a "type" not even included. I have yet to get to any section about "Flash" in the G3 manual, but I'll go look for it.

I wonder if the 420EX also does not mention the G. It seems that most posts I have read, people are mostly buying the 420EX for their G2/3/5.

rudrasen: Thanks for the link to that thread. I read it when it had only a couple replies, and have found several more I missed since then.

I figure the 550EX will probably be even more incentive to make the jump to a DSLR. I'm holding out until at least after February when Canon announces their new cameras. If nothing more attractive comes out, I'll probably opt for the 10D.

[jpglew]

Don't worry, take it from me, the 550EX is great on a G3.

The only coment I would make is that it is very heavy and seams to dwarf the camera. As far as functionality goes, it's a gem.

Jon

[scottbergerphoto]

The 420EX manual doesn't mention the G series cameras either. As I said above, the Canon digital cameras for the most part, behave as "Type A " bodies. The 550EX offers a few advantage over the 420EX:
1. Larger Guide Number, 55meters vs, 42meters at iso 100 at f/1.0
2. Manual flash control.
3. Wireless ETTL capacity with other 550EX's or 420EX's as slaves.
4. Option of using external battery pack.
I bought the 550EX to use with my 10D but I could just as easily use it with my G2.
Scott