Generic flashes for Canon cameras

[forrest64]

Does anyone know if there are models (Vivitar for example) of flashes that are equivalent to the Canon 550 flash? Do the support and sell slave units?


Mark :?

[khkohl]

Why would you go with a generic? It certainly wouldn't be worth the lack of support.

[jcsorensen]

Why--how about significant cost savings? Sigma produces a good 550EX substitute in the EF 500 DG Super. You can read several threads that talk about the pros and cons of this flash. It is ETTL, and for me was worth the cost savings. Got mine from Delta International for a good price.

[forrest64]

Are you telling me Sigma or Vivatar don't 'support' their flashes?

[RichardtheSane]

Are you telling me Sigma or Vivatar don't 'support' their flashes?
Sigma & Vivitar do.
Canon don't.

I have heard some favourable reviews on the sigma DG500 that was mentioned, but I figured after spending £1400 on my 10D, and another £2500 on lenses (so far) why skimp £100 on a flashgun. I have a 550ex

[robertwgross]

Support works like this.

If you buy a Vivitar flash and put it on a Canon camera, then if you have trouble with it, the Vivitar support guy will say it sounds like a Canon problem, and the Canon support guy will say it sounds like a Vivitar problem. You, as the user, can get "caught in the middle" where nobody can or will help you with the overall problem. Sophisticated users are good enough that they can figure out on their own whether it is a Vivitar problem or a Canon problem.

On the other hand, if you have a Canon flash on a Canon camera, then either the Canon support guy or else (HERE) in this forum, you can get good advice, and it is worth every penny that you pay for it.

---Bob Gross---

[DaveG]

Support works like this.

If you buy a Vivitar flash and put it on a Canon camera, then if you have trouble with it, the Vivitar support guy will say it sounds like a Canon problem, and the Canon support guy will say it sounds like a Vivitar problem. You, as the user, can get "caught in the middle" where nobody can or will help you with the overall problem. Sophisticated users are good enough that they can figure out on their own whether it is a Vivitar problem or a Canon problem.

On the other hand, if you have a Canon flash on a Canon camera, then either the Canon support guy or else (HERE) in this forum, you can get good advice, and it is worth every penny that you pay for it.

---Bob Gross---

The Vivitars are quite simple and would be more accurate than the 550EX. I have a 550, a pair of 420's and a couple of Vivitar 283's. I think that it would be wise to get a Wein Safe Synch if you planned on using the 283's, for obvious reasons.

Now I love the 550/420 combination for wireless TTL, but from what I've seen of the 550 on E-TTL and with the 10D, it's just not dependable or predictable. The changes that Canon has announced to the Mark II's E-TTL system speak to the fact that CANON knows this as well.

So what would a Vivitar 283 do? Well it has the in-flash, rather than in-camera automatic eye. With a film camera the through-the-lens system was more accurate, but accuracy isn't important with a DSLR because you can check the histogram after a test shot. All the flash needs to be is consistant, and the 283 is that. It might be off, but from what I've seen it's consistantly off and I can correct that since the aperture is independent of the flash.

My workfrow in the field would be to select f8 on the 283, set the little colour dial an aperture of f8 and shoot. Now I look at the histogram. Hmm, a little under, so I'll leave the flash set at f8 and open up a half stop. Then the exposure is correct. Within 20 shots I'll know how the flash outputs. I mean I KNOW that it's a half stop under or a half stop over as long as I check.

With the 550 each exposure is independent with the flash seeing something it likes. I can only adjust the output by using the SELECT and then + or - , all of which is much more complicated and less intuitive than opening or closing the aperture. After a very short time with the 283 I'd just know that the flash was typically a half stop under and I'd start there.

Dedication, TTL and E-TTL might have been needed for film cameras but they really aren't for DSLR's, at least until their accuracy is greatly improved.

As for Vivitar blaming Canon, I don't see that that's any more valid than Lexar blaming Canon, or Canon blaming Stofen. Third party products have been around for a long time and they have a tougher road to climb than OEM stuff.

[Jakov]

:roll: Metz 54MZ3 with SCA 3102 (Canon adapter) works just fine.
:wink: Supports AUTOMATIC <---(yo! Canon hear this), E-TTL, Manual and TTL mode, + tons of custom settings, power zoom, autofocus assist..
http://www.metz.de/en/photo_electronics/mecablitz_54_MZ-3.172.html

My friend bought one few weeks ago..
I'm stuck with ooold Nikon SB-24 (used with my prev SLR f90x). I know that Canon flashes support more and more than this non Canon flash but Nikon SB24 on my 10D just blasts out with precize amount of light every time. period. 8) 8) 8)