What flash should I buy? (sorry for the basic topic)

[clkgtr37]

Howdy there, I am shooting a wedding on the 13th and I was going to pick up a flash for it. I don't really have a budget, but I would like to get the best deal for my money. From what I have found, the coice will come between the 420EX or the 550EX. I was just wondering if the 550EX has a $190 advantage over the 420EX. I will be shooting with a 70-200 2.8 IS and I was wanting to know if the 550EX will reach the 200 range. I also have a 15-30 3.5-4.5 and didn't know if the 550EX would be wide enough. Any help would be a blessing.
Thank you

[ethan1219]

i for one have had nothing but problems with my 550...
no experience with the metz but from other posts i read...i think it might be a better choice.

[Cal Maier]

If you can afford the 550EX, then get it. You won't have much success shooting with your 70-200 and the 420EX at longer focal lengths. It's just not powerful enough.

I've shot a few weddings using only the 70-200 and the 540EZ on my EOS1 film burner and had great results at pretty well all focal lengths. I'm using the 550EX now and have had good ttl results with Canon's D60 but I've only used it with the Sigma 15-30 and Canons 28-70 2.8. I haven't used it with the 70-200 very much on the D60.

Also the 420EX is strictly an auto-exposure flash and depends entirely on the camera to decide it's output. The 550EX can be shot in a number of different modes and can be used as a manual strobe with a variable output from 1/128th to 1/1(much better for manual exposures), also the 550EX has a wide angle diffuser down to 17mm.

I haven't used the Metz so I can't comment on it but I would wonder if you might not have to shoot it as a manual flash, which would be fine when shooting digital 'cause you can see what your getting instantly and can make exposure adjustments as you go.

If you can, go down to your local camera shop and try some flashes out, you should be able to take some test shots there and get a pretty good idea of what will work best for you.

Anyway, good shooting and have fun.

Cal

[lazoj]

YOu might also consider getting a flash bracket and off camera cable. It really helps with red eye, and those ugly shadows. It will also get wid of any chance of lens shadowing. I am using the Stroboframe Press-T and love it with my 550.

[krimple]

I have the Metz 54 Mz3. It works in the following modes:

E-TTL (with FEL!)
E-TTL High Speed Sync
Automatic (Thyristor mode)
Manual

I actually use it with my camera in M mode to control shutter sync speed indoors or in very low lighting conditions. I set the exposure to an appropriate value (usually f/5.6 @ 60 or something like that) and the flash to Automatic or eTTL mode).

Also, using it in camera Av mode allows me to get that slower sync and less "Deer in headlights" look.

I have one comment about weight--it is a beast. I am actually using the onboard flash in outdoor situations with smaller lenses for fill-in flash. It does a better job and the Metz seems to blow out highlights a bit in brighter light.

Ken

[KHogan]

krimple wrote:
I have the Metz 54 Mz3.

I have one comment about weight--it is a beast. I am actually using the onboard flash in outdoor situations with smaller lenses for fill-in flash. It does a better job and the Metz seems to blow out highlights a bit in brighter light.

Ken


So would you recommend the 550EX over the Metz as a result? I'm on the verge of buying a flash too and was thinking seriously about the Metz. I would like to be able to use it as a fill flash (among other things of course) with consistent results, particularly outdoors. Your report worries me somewhat...

Thanks,
Kharim

[krimple]

KHogan wrote:
krimple wrote:
I have the Metz 54 Mz3.

I have one comment about weight--it is a beast. I am actually using the onboard flash in outdoor situations with smaller lenses for fill-in flash. It does a better job and the Metz seems to blow out highlights a bit in brighter light.

Ken


So would you recommend the 550EX over the Metz as a result? I'm on the verge of buying a flash too and was thinking seriously about the Metz. I would like to be able to use it as a fill flash (among other things of course) with consistent results, particularly outdoors. Your report worries me somewhat...

Thanks,
Kharim



I think if you dial down the EV a few notches you can get good outdoor results. You can adjust the EV easily on the Metz (overrides the camera settings). I haven't done a ton of outdoor shots with it because of the overexposure, but I'll try to test a few tomorrow more scientifically with some EV compensation & different modes and update you.

ken

[KHogan]

krimple wrote:

I think if you dial down the EV a few notches you can get good outdoor results. You can adjust the EV easily on the Metz (overrides the camera settings). I haven't done a ton of outdoor shots with it because of the overexposure, but I'll try to test a few tomorrow more scientifically with some EV compensation & different modes and update you.

ken

Thanks Ken, I appreciate it! It would really help me out with my decision. I need a good flash for indoor photography but have been doing alot of outdoor work lately and the little pop-up flash just doesn't cut it as a fill flash (or any other type of flash really) especially when using large lenses. I spent a month with the 550EX and was totally frustrated by the FEL pre-flash. While the flash itself was quite capable, I like the option of shooting in autothyristor mode that the Metz seems to offer. I also spent a couple of weeks with a Sunpak 120J which is a very very nice flash but can only be used in automatic mode with the D30/60 since it's TTL and not ETTL. The results with the Sunpak were very consistent and really quite stunning. But feature-wise, the Metz still seems to be the better option though I haven't had any opportunity to try one. So any more info you can provide would be most helpful. ;)

Thanks so much!
Kharim

[mattlamb]

I used a 550 at work on my D60 but found it a real pain to get good results , then i tried my old nikon SB24 and it works great !
it only works on auto so it exposes using the "eye" on the flash unit but it appears tobe far more accurate and consistent than the 550's, most of my flash is fill flash so I just set my camera to apeature priority and pick a f.stop that gives me the correct balance.