External flash recommendations

[heksa]

I'm thinking about getting an external flash. Canon Speedlite 580EX is out of the question - not for my pocket.

Is 220EX any good, or should I shoot for 420EX, or maybe something else?

Thanks for feedback.

P.S. I got G5. :lol:

[Jimrob]

Ive just bought myself the sigma 500 dg super for my G5 (you dont say what you have?)

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/a_pages/access.htm

got it for £159 locally or

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/photo/flashguns/sigma.html

Havent used it a lot yet, but certainly seems a massive improvement on built in,

I too wanted the 550ex, but the 420ex was all I could afford but I wanted more features (strobing to be precise)

Hope this Helps, Jim

[figueira]

One of the most appreciated features of my 420ex is the tilt and swivel head. You will be able to bounce the flash on the ceiling or in the wall regardless if your camera is in portrait or landscape.

Besides that you will avoid direct flash on your infant's eyes, and pediatricians don't recomment direct flash...

So, I would go with any flash that can be bounced. The 420ex is a very good choice.
Rgds,

[heksa]

One of the most appreciated features of my 420ex is the tilt and swivel head. You will be able to bounce the flash on the ceiling or in the wall regardless if your camera is in portrait or landscape.

Besides that you will avoid direct flash on your infant's eyes, and pediatricians don't recomment direct flash...

So, I would go with any flash that can be bounced. The 420ex is a very good choice.
Rgds,

That's exactly what I'm looking for, the possibility of bouncing the light in different directions. I wasn't aware teh 220EX wasn't able to do that.

Thanks. :D

[pradeep1]

There is a thread somewhere on this forum (search 8) ) that talks about the trigger voltage. Using these off-brand flashes may ruin your G series camera. Just a caution from those of us who learned about this problem back in the days when G1, G2, and G3 were kings. :D

I'll be nice:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32133&highlight=flash+voltage+pro blem

and here:

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

It seems the Sigma 500DG should be safe since its trigger voltage is < 6 volts. :D

[heksa]

There is a thread somewhere on this forum (search 8) ) that talks about the trigger voltage. Using these off-brand flashes may ruin your G series camera. Just a caution from those of us who learned about this problem back in the days when G1, G2, and G3 were kings. :D

I'll be nice:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32133&highlight=flash+voltage+pro blem

and here:

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

It seems the Sigma 500DG should be safe since its trigger voltage is < 6 volts. :D



Thanks pradeep1, I was leaning towards Canon flash just to aviod incompatibility problems and such. :wink:

[paladin]

I use the 220EX. It is a good little flash BUT it has neither tilt nor swivel. If I could handle the weight I would choose either the 420EX or 380EX. Be aware the 380 does not swivel it only tilts up/down. I have a sto-fen universal 2 way bounce and a lumiquest (sp?) mini softbox for the 220EX. They help reduce glare and shadow on the 220EX. Still, were I you, I would go with the 380 or 420. Good Luck with your choice.

Gil

One of the most appreciated features of my 420ex is the tilt and swivel head. You will be able to bounce the flash on the ceiling or in the wall regardless if your camera is in portrait or landscape.

Besides that you will avoid direct flash on your infant's eyes, and pediatricians don't recomment direct flash...

So, I would go with any flash that can be bounced. The 420ex is a very good choice.
Rgds,

That's exactly what I'm looking for, the possibility of bouncing the light in different directions. I wasn't aware teh 220EX wasn't able to do that.

Thanks. :D

[pradeep1]

Plus the 420EX is compatible with all other EOS SLRs and dSLRs, so you can use this in your Canon system for a long time. If nothing else, the newer models with E-TTL2 will be backwards compatible with your 420EX, which supports E-TTL only. Spend the extra $ and get this one. Its a no brainer. 8)

[MrChad]

I love my 420EX it's completely awesome with my Elan 7N.
Exposure are simply amazing I hate the on board flash now.

I'm now shopping for a non-SLR advanced digicam and the G6 is tops on my list simple because it gives me yet another excuse to bust out my 420EX :D

[gtg]

I am able to understand that the major difference between 220EX and 420EX is that 420EX can tilt and swivel that can be used for bouncing.

But may i know the difference between 420EX and 550EX please. This will be highly helpful, coz i was planning an external flash for my G6.

[Superbaldguy]

The 550EX is bigger, has more power, but costs quite a bit more $$$. The 550EX can use an external battery pack, too.

[gtg]

Thank u Superbaldguy... But is there some other real interesting feature that makes it so interesting or is it just the ones that u mentioned???

Again, i am seriously considering to buy one of these for my G6. which one would u suggest for me?

Also if u can suggest me some site where i can understand the difference between those, i would greatly appreciate it...

[Andy_T]

GtG,

the 550EX can trigger slave flashes (wireless, either 420 EX or 550 EX), and you can set flash exposure compensation on the flash. That might be important if the G6 does not allow you to set FEC.

The 420 EX can't do these.

Best regards,
Andy

[gtg]

thank u andy... got the point...
is it a better idea to go for a 420EX now and if we find use for slave flashes later, can i buy a 550EX then to put this 420EX as slave.
am i making sense.

[Nabil-A]

For those of you with a 420ex, i have a question.

Does, that the IR beam (red) on the flash 420ex work with the G6, it seems that when the flash is on, the flash fires, the in built IRbeam on the Canon g6 shows its bluish pattern, but no flash beams.... is this normal?

Ive tried turning of the inbuilt flash IRbeams for focusing, but the flash head doesnt output these..

Is this an incompatibility issue or is it just an incorrect setting im making.

Otherwise the flash is great.

[exfilmcat]

I am also in need of an external flash for my pro1 for interior photographs, sometimes for quite large rooms and furniture. I am doing them for insurance purposes. Is the 420ex a good choice for the pro1 for this? The built in flash falls off in a rather large 20x20 room. Any advise would really be appreciated. Cost is an issue so hopefully you will feel the 420ex will fill the bill.
Thanks

[Nabil-A]

The 420ex would definetely be the way to go as it would allow you to swivel and bounce the flash in the right direction to create the best lighting shots.

Additionally, the ex range is e-ttle enabled so provides auto flash exposure adjustment and the ability to manually adjust your flash output via the camera.

Ive had countless success with the 420ex with my g6 for indoor photography. Even with distant shots, the flash has a motorised adjustment that automatically adjusts between 24mm - 105mm focal range so youll be able to take zoom shots up to 105mm with good flash exposure.

In my opinion the 420ex is better value for money than the 550ex which isnt supported by the pro1 for its full range of capabilities.

[exfilmcat]

Thanks Nabil-A. Could you tell me what the e-ttle means and what effect it has on the pro 1 and also, are there any downsides to the 420ex as far as working with the pro 1 is concerned?

[Pugdaddy]

I've just started thinking about external flashes, myself. How about someone write a tutorial on this subject? There sure are a lot of questions about them, as we can all see. A couple of mine off the top of my head right now are: What is a dedicated flash and what is a zoom flash? Also, what does a strobe do for you?

[paladin]

Anyone know if it is possible to get the 220EX to fire a preflash to reduce redeye when on the hotshoe of the G3? If so, how?
Gil

[Nabil-A]

Redeye problems inherently occur due to the flash being too close to the lens. As such cameras with built in flashes tend to fire a pre flash to contracte the subjects pupils and hence reduce any red eye problems.

You should find that
1.Having an external dedicated flash should overcome most cases of red eye, as the flash is offset vertically (in the case of being attached to the hotshoe) and being futher away from the lens axis.

(Since the ex range do not have optical slave options (eg where an onboard camera can trigger the 220hex held remotely) bouncing the flash isnt possible without buying a hot shoe cord and attaching the flash to this.This would allow you to hand hold the 220ex while shooting. Bouncing the flash of walls, ceilings or even just offsetting it away from the lens axis a further distance than is allowed by the standard hotshoe attachment on your camera.).

2.A hotshoe cord would be the only other way of ensuring red eye does not occur, while giving you more flexibility for bounce lighting etc.

3.Most graphic packages have some form of red eye removal for post processing. (so perhaps live with it, i still think you shouldnt get much red eye with a dedicated flash as the 220ex).


There is no way to my knowledge of a redeye preflash on the 220ex. The 220ex however does fire a preflash for automatic flash exposure adjustment. Perhaps this already provides a similiar effect.

Hope this helps

[Nabil-A]

As per photonotes org site,

"with the Canon Elan II/50 camera in 1995, Canon introduced another form of flash technology - E-TTL, for “evaluative through the lens” flash metering. E-TTL fires a low-power preflash of known brightness from the main bulb to determine correct flash exposure. It measures the reflectance of the scene with the preflash, then calculates proper flash output to achieve a midtoned subject, based on that data."

more info see
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/


cheers.

[paladin]

As per photonotes org site,

"with the Canon Elan II/50 camera in 1995, Canon introduced another form of flash technology - E-TTL, for “evaluative through the lens” flash metering. E-TTL fires a low-power preflash of known brightness from the main bulb to determine correct flash exposure. It measures the reflectance of the scene with the preflash, then calculates proper flash output to achieve a midtoned subject, based on that data."

more info see
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/


cheers.

Nabil-A, thanks for both replies. From the rather extensive :) article there doesn't appear to be a simple way to fire a preflash with a 220Ex on a G3. It seems my best bets are to correct with software, bounce or use a mini softbox. Thanks again for your help.
Gil

[Pugdaddy]

Yea. Thanks, Nabil. I learned a lot about flashes from your directing us to Photonotes. Man, there's a wealth of knowledge there, huh?