580EX poll question

[timmyquest]

I'm still undecided if i should go with the 1D(MKI) or the 20D but if i do go with the 20D i'm wondering if i should also upgrade to the 580EX.

The 550 works fantastically, i've owned it for about 4 months.

The question just relates to the 580 and it's features with the two new DSLR's from canon.

[Morden]

I'm sticking with my 550 and 420 EX (and ST-E2) for the time being; I can't afford to upgrade everything at once anyway! :shock:

[WestFalcon]

I think the 550ex is a horribly unreliable flash.....maybe it's because of the 10d but I find them to be the most unreliable flash I've ever used. Bad sample...I doubt it, I own 3 of them and I get better exposures from my 283 vivitar flash...sad but true.

[timmyquest]

I think the 550ex is a horribly unreliable flash.....maybe it's because of the 10d but I find them to be the most unreliable flash I've ever used. Bad sample...I doubt it, I own 3 of them and I get better exposures from my 283 vivitar flash...sad but true.

Thats odd.

A will state a disclaimer of sorts in that i dont have much experience in flashes, and the 550 is my first ETL flash but i love the results i get.

this shot for example, i just set it to f/2 1/60 ISO 100, pointed the flash skyward

http://www.questphotos.com/d100.jpg

[Adam Hicks]

MODS REMOVE THAT IMAGE.

My eyes! My eyes!!!!!!

:oops:

[Adam Hicks]

Oooh but I do love Portra 160nc. ALMOST makes me wish I still shot film :)

I need to find a Photoshop action that emulates Portra 160nc... that would be handy!

[Vegas Poboy]

I'm going to keep My 10D & 550 but I will purchase the 20D and wait for the reviews on the 580. The 200e & the 420 will go up for sale & I might purchase a Vivitar 283 or 285 believe it or not these is still two of the best manual flashes on the market today. Hopefully Canon will make the 580 & the 550 where they will sync together.

[drisley]

I think the 550ex is a horribly unreliable flash.....maybe it's because of the 10d but I find them to be the most unreliable flash I've ever used. Bad sample...I doubt it, I own 3 of them and I get better exposures from my 283 vivitar flash...sad but true.

I am fairly sure the problem lies with the ETTL metering system, not the flash.
People who have complained about the 550EX when using a camera with ETTL have said they have been very impressed with the 500EX when used on the 1DMkii which has ETTL2.

I use a 420EX and 300D, and generally I find it works great.
However, I think that the reason that most people have problems with the 420EX/550EX with the 300D/10D is because the metering (even evaluative) is affected by what is under the current focus point.
So, even if you are using evaluative metering, the exposure, and flash exposure, will often under expose if your focus point falls over a bright/white object (or over expose if the focus point falls over a dark/black object)

[leony]

i've been shooting weddings (journalistic type) with film (EOS-3) and this past season and a half with 10D - and 550EX's. No problems here.

I'm mostly shooting in manual mode, metering set to center weighed or average metering depending on situation.

People have been using e-TTL since '95 when it first came out and trust me, it is a HUGE improvement over TTL.

Play with your metering mode - and understand that when you shoot film the lab compensates for the bad exposure during printing. WHen shooting digital you see the "raw" shot.

Try shooting weddings with chromes and you'll know what I mean.