good value flash for Rebel/300D

[tim]

Since I can't justify getting myself more lenses right now (except maybe the 50mm 1.8, heh heh) i'm thinking of flashes. I'm finding that night photos aren't working very well, and the built in flash isn't great.

What's a good value flash that'll work on the 300D? Full auto is good, as is having control once I work out how it all works. The 550EX looks good but a little expensive new, I don't mind which brand.

I think i'm aiming at the lower end of the price range for this, but not so much it effects the results too much. I figure when I buy the 30D in a couple of years i'll need to get a new flash that supports the latest TTL protocol anyway, so no point wasting money. I just take photos for fun.

[cmM]

I think exposure compensation is a must in flash photography. Unless your rebel is hacked, I would only go with the 550 / 580 EX. I have 2 550EX and they work great in most instances. You can always buy used. I got one new for 320 and one used from this forum just recently for $250.

[tim]

I know nothing about flashes yet, thanks for that. 550EX used is probably my ideal, if anyone has one for sale or knows of one please drop me a PM or something :)

[MrChad]

Why not do a Drebel hack and get a 420EX?

[lmelendez]

Why not do a Drebel hack and get a 420EX?
That's what I did... and I have no complains...

[Bruce Watson]

Or the Sigma 500 DG Super which I beleive is listed at $199 USD new at BH Photo site?

[robertwgross]

I know nothing about flashes yet, thanks for that. 550EX used is probably my ideal, if anyone has one for sale or knows of one please drop me a PM or something :)

That's why we have a Marketplace Forum here.

---Bob Gross---

[Bruce Hamilton]

Why not do a Drebel hack and get a 420EX?
That's what I did... and I have no complains...
I found that the 420EX works fine with the drebel without the hack. ;)

[Jon]

Why not do a Drebel hack and get a 420EX?
That's what I did... and I have no complains...
I found that the 420EX works fine with the drebel without the hack. ;)

Without the hack, you can't get Flash Exposure Compensation with a 420. You'd need the 550 which has a flash-based FEC setting.

[tim]

Thanks for the info people, I have the hacked rebel so the 420 should work with FEC. Would there be any advantages in holding out for the 550 - ie what's better about it? And would the sigma flash do the job as well as either of them.

That's why we have a Marketplace Forum here.

I know, I posted there, but it doesn't hurt to mention it in the thread either :)

[Jon]

550 does full manual, and can act as a master in wireless E-TTL/E-TTL2 configurations. I believe the Sigma will also (not from personal experience).

[Ogrt48]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004TVSC/102-7196409-7198563?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

I have that coming on monday or so. Other forums says it works fine on the Rebel, I'll post my own results here when it comes.

[tim]

I'd be interested to hear your impressions ogrt. It seems that's a smaller more compact flash, not a really high powered one.

I'm unlikely to need master/slave flashes, the flash will mainly be for fill-in of peoples faces, or for general low light work.

[MrChad]

I had a vivitar flash before my 420ex.
No comparison the 420 is amazing. I had many an over exposed shot with the Vivitar before getting the Eos specific Speedlite.

-Chad

[Ogrt48]

Well my Rebel is hacked so hopefully that'll help fine with the exposure. I ordered the Flash last Thurs from amazon and just today they finally put it as shipping soon :\ Slow slow store, yes it said instock and shipping within 24 hours when I ordered. =[

[merrrrjig]

what do you guys mean when u say hack it or my cameras hacked?

[tim]

Have a look at the sticky thread in this forum. It's a way to enable more functions on the rebel that you don't have by default.