Thanks to TQ et all...

[vfilby]

for recommending the 550EX over the 420 (500dg super in my case).

I love the manual mode. In fact I don't think that I would have survived with no manual mode on the 420. Thank you, thank you for an excellent recommendation.

Cheers,

[timmyquest]

;-)

We tricked you, now you need to go get 2 420's :twisted:

[FlipsidE]

;-)

We tricked you, now you need to go get 2 420's :twisted:

- Portable portrait setup, maybe?? ;)

FlipsidE

[vfilby]

Actually Timmy, I am more seriously considering a good metz flash and a couple studio strobes. I;d just have to get a hotshoe->pc adapter. I wonder if I could use the 500dg instead of the metz temporarily....

V

[sGu]

I just bought my second 550EX, now with a pair, and off shoe cord 2, I can set up wireless flash system very easily and they work like charm, not to mention it's portability.

There is a great piece on sportsshooter regarding 2x550 set up.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/450

[vfilby]

I just bought my second 550EX, now with a pair, and off shoe cord 2, I can set up wireless flash system very easily and they work like charm, not to mention it's portability.

There is a great piece on sportsshooter regarding 2x550 set up.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/450


Do you shoot the flash into umbrellas?

[sGu]

no, i use two stofen diffusers on them and if you place them close to object, they work like softbox, very smooth lighting.

sometimes i remove stofen on one of them to light specific part of object while the other one works like softbox

[JCK]

I am thinking of buying a second flash too, I already have the 550, so should I get another of the same, or move to 580? Does getting the 420 make a more sensible idea?

[sGu]

unless you have 20D or 1D MK II, 550 can do a brilliant job if not as good as a 580, if no ETTL II is involved, i don't see the point of going for 580.

As for 420, it doesn't have the control and flexibility of 550, you'll probably regret afterwards for not be able to achieve what you want.

I say go for a second 550, even for a second hand one.

[nosquare2003]

Actually Timmy, I am more seriously considering a good metz flash and a couple studio strobes. I;d just have to get a hotshoe->pc adapter. I wonder if I could use the 500dg instead of the metz temporarily....

V

Metz flash is very good and I prefer it over Canon EX flash. Well, my cameras are not ETT2 and I'm not going to upgrade them for the near future.

The Metz flash offers ETTL. I use it for fill flash.

And it has an auto mode. It always give correct exposure no matter of the focus point selected (which is the weakness of ETTL).

I'm not sure the performance of multiple Metz flashes, however. I will do some more research if I invest more on Metz.

[vfilby]

I was in a camera store today and they had a 420ex there. It is so tiny compared to my 500dg super.

Again reminding me that I am glad I have the bigger more flexible flash.

Cheers,