Canon 550EX

[rtay0118]

Equipment: Canon 10D, various L lens and Canon 420EX. Considering a $325 price tag, would the 550EX be a worthwhile investment?

[RichardtheSane]

Do you need a 550EX?

I think it is a worthwhile investment, but I now use the extra featuresit offers over the 420EX. Took a while to learn them though.

DO you think your photography would benefit from the 550 EX?

[Whaler]

The 550ex is more of a unit than the 420ex. Do yourself a favor if you buy the 550, buy grey market, and do not sell the 420. They work very well together. Okay why I said grey market? There are to moving parts and B&H will cover grey market for a year. Make sense Bro? :D

[timmyquest]

I was under the same delema when i was trying to figure out if i should get the 10d or the 300d. I thought "pshh, i dont even know what that extra stuff on the 10d is.."

now i do, and i regret not getting it.

Yesterday i got the 550ex without second guessing it.

[rtay0118]

Thanks folks. I'll be ordering the 550 EX shortly. Appreciate the input. 8)

[Bruce Watson]

The Heretic speaks:

Or, you could buy yourself a Sigma 500 Super DG which has most of the functionality of the Canon.

I have two and really like them. About $189 each.

Not quite the build quality, but for the price of one 550, I have a two unit setup.

YMMV,

Bruce

[timmyquest]

The Heretic speaks:

Or, you could buy yourself a Sigma 500 Super DG which has most of the functionality of the Canon.

I have two and really like them. About $189 each.

Not quite the build quality, but for the price of one 550, I have a two unit setup.

YMMV,

Bruce

I went that route too and honestly just decided to invest in something that i know is going to last...flashes generally arnt something that need replacing all that often.

Thats the nice thing about this hobby, although the initial investments are very large. The stuff lasts a long time.

[Bruce Watson]

Timmy,

All due respect, and I quite agree about buying for quality, but all mechanical and electronic devices have a finite life, especially if they are used daily.

However, I don't subscribe to the idea of sticking with one brand regardless of cost.

Often equipment is stolen, dropped or otherwise damaged long before it wears out.

I have had five different flash units in thirty years; if these last five or so years as I expect, I will consider it a well amortized bargain and good value for the money.

[timmyquest]

Timmy,

All due respect, and I quite agree about buying for quality, but all mechanical and electronic devices have a finite life, especially if they are used daily.

However, I don't subscribe to the idea of sticking with one brand regardless of cost.

Often equipment is stolen, dropped or otherwise damaged long before it wears out.

I have had five different flash units in thirty years; if these last five or so years as I expect, I will consider it a well amortized bargain and good value for the money.

Obviously nothing lasts for ever, however not everyone uses equpiment quiet the same or quiet as often as others may. With that said your experiences are not going to have very much effect on mine both past and future.

I'm not usually one to just go spend that much cash on something without doing any research, and i've read ALOT about these two flashes and although...based on user reviews...the sigma produces fantastic images, ithe one thing that came up in nearly EVERY review was "the build quality isnt that great" or depending on what the person had used in the past; "the build quality isnt nearly as good as the 550ex".

Now does that justify people spending $100 more on a differnt flash? i dunno, and i will never know. One thing i do know is that i'll be happy with the 550ex for years. So to me it was a justification, for you...perhaps not.