Looking for something in a flash...

[cowman345]

I'm in need of a powerful flash like a 550ex that I can just throw on my bracket and go for candid wedding photography. I used a 420ex but need more power.

What I don't need is all the extra 550ex stuff (i.e. slave control, etc.).

Is there an (cheaper) alternative to a 550ex that would be good for wedding photography on the fly with a Canon 10d?

-dave-

[Bruce Watson]

At the risk of being jumped on again, I bought a pair of Sigma 500 Super DG units and have been using them quite happily on my 10D, 300D and G2.

They have most of the features, approx. half the price.

Without arguement, the build quality is a notch below Canon (although that funky Canon battery door seems to be a problem).

Here is a good review, note that they are discussing the prior Sigma model, but do allude to the new one.

I can attest to it being compatible.

http://photonotes.org/reviews/sigma-ef-500-super/

Cheers,

Bruce

[mr_clean001]

Do you know off hand if that flash is compatible with the Canon 300d Digital Rebel?

[Bruce Watson]

Yes, I have one on my 300 DRebel and all functions work fine.

Ditto for 10D and G2. I cannot comment on any other Canon camera models.

Bruce

[jcsorensen]

I got to say I love my Sigma flash also. Only thing missing that I fixed with a hot shoe adapter was a place to plug a sync cord into (I believe the 550 EX has one).

[slin100]

Just be sure that whatever you get satisfies your first requirement, which is more power. For comparison, the 550EX is less than a stop more powerful than the 420EX. The Sigma 500 DG Super is around a 1/2 stop more powerful.

The 550EX does not accept a sync cord.

[mattchase]

Also look into the Vivitar 285 flash - around $100 new. And be sure to get a new one (if you go this route), and double check the voltage, as the older one's put out enough to spike a 10D's electronics. The newer models shouldn't have this problem.

One major advantage of the 285 is the auto-thyristor circuit. After shooting with a 550ex for the past 2 years, first on a D60, 1D, and now 10D, the worst part about it is the exposure accuracy. Since E-TTL is tied to the focus points, you tend to get very different exposures from one shot to the next, and not always the exposure you want. You can shoot the 550ex in manual, but you are constantly going to be adjusting your aperture or your flash power every time you get closer or further from your subject. Another trick is to set yoru focus to manual, which makes the 550ex give a more averaged exposure. But if you need to concentrate more on what you are shooting and on getting the shots done quick, niether of these are a good option.

The auto-thyristor pretty much solves this. Set the 285 to expose for F8, set your camera to F8, and the flash will expose for F8 within a given distance. To an extent, it is that simple. You will still have some similar problems, such as if you get too close or too far away, you may need to make some adjustments to flash or aperture. I don't have a 285 in front of me to double check this, but I think at ISO 100 and F8, the flash will properly expose from a range of a foot out to about 15 or 20 feet, without you needing to worry about changing any of your settings (anyone with more accurate numbers, please correct me!). If you were using a 550ex on manual, you might get a good exposure at 5 feet, but then would have to pump up the power to get to 8 feet, and again to get 15 feet, and then adjust your aperture a little when the flash is a little too bright at 13.6 feet....you get the point.

After so long with my 550ex, I am just about ready to retire it and start using my 285 again.

[jalafer]

I have a SIgma 500 and it works fine in the D300. However I can tell you that the plastic quality is very poor. In fact my flash's shoe has been broken.
I putted the camera with the flash on it, I suppose the bag received a knock, so when I opened it , the flash was broken.
I know this is something that I shouldn't have done, but I did so hundreds of time with my old Nikon 801 and the SB24 and never had a problem.
If I was buying now I wound´t repeat Sigma.