Ok, I'm a noob, but is this guy for real?

[SteveBrown]

I went to Ritz camera just to look around and I begin to talk to the guy behind the counter, and he seemed intelligent, until he tells me to sell my 550ex flash and buy a new 430ex or 580ex. :shock: He tells me that it will be night and day difference in my photos. The 550ex was made for film cameras, and the new ones are geared towards digital slr's

Is this guy for real? :o

[crn3371]

Remember, it's Ritz.

[-MasterChief-]

he has some kind of a point .... i think the 550 has E-TTL while the 430 and 580ex have E-TTL II.

[SteveBrown]

he has some kind of a point .... i think the 550 has E-TTL while the 430 and 580ex have E-TTL II.

And that does what? Make the photo's night and day difference?

[squashed]

Night and real early morning maybe :)

[timnosenzo]

I've definitely heard worse stories from Ritz sales staff. ;)

[FlipsidE]

Think of Ritz/Wolf as nothing more than a corner drug store photo lab. They just happen to carry a few more camera related things.

[defordphoto]

Ritz/Kits/Wolf stores are like Radio Shack stores with about 30% of the intelligence. Down to about ape/chimpanzee level actually.

[Hermeto]

Same thing as Black's in Canada..

[-MasterChief-]

definitely not night and day difference! the newer flashes have slightly stronger output and faster recycle times. but flash exposure is probably close to identical.

And that does what? Make the photo's night and day difference?

[SteveBrown]

So, no need to sell it then I guess.

[Grayheron]

Steve, it is my understanding that all EX flashs are digital ready, he is just after a sale.

[Seqsea]

I went into Ritz for a Lenspen and was given their Summer catalogue. I looked through it and it said to ask for the price of the 5D, so I did since I happen to be in the market for one.

He told me: Well, if you have to ask, it's probably too expensive. I mean, the 1D is $4,000... so the 5D is probably a lot more than that. I can't even afford that!

In conclusion: Don't ask them questions ;x

[Lani Kai]

Remember, there are some silly people at Ritz but there are even worse people that actually think they are a good camera store. I've met a guy that bought his D300 at Ritz and he uses it only in live view mode.

[smileforme]

Ritz/Kits/Wolf stores are like Radio Shack stores with about 30% of the intelligence. Down to about ape/chimpanzee level actually.


:lol: That's funny!

[cdifoto]

he has some kind of a point .... i think the 550 has E-TTL while the 430 and 580ex have E-TTL II.
E-TTL vs E-TTL II is a function of the camera body, not the flash. A flash only need be E-TTL capable to be support E-TTL II, but it can only support E-TTL II if the camera does.

Example: My 10D is E-TTL. Therefore when my 580EX II is mounted to it, it is using E-TTL metering. My 1D II is E-TTL II. Therefore the same 580EX II when mounted to the 1D II is using E-TTL II metering. Same goes for for the 220EX, 420EX, 430EX, 550EX, 580EX and Sigma EF-500/530 DG ST & Super as well as all those generic E-TTL flashes you see on the market with slow as molasses recycle times.

[Dan Lorth]

Remember, there are some silly people at Ritz but there are even worse people that actually think they are a good camera store. I've met a guy that bought his D300 at Ritz and he uses it only in live view mode.
hahahahahahahahahahahaha

[BobOh]

This is no worse than the countertop literature I saw one day at Circuit City by the DSLRs. It said a 50 mm lens needs 6 times the IS as a 300 mm or some such nonsense. I pointed out to a salesman that if the proportions were indeed correct on that, they were nevertheless completely reversed.

[tzalman]

Remember, there are some silly people at Ritz but there are even worse people that actually think they are a good camera store. I've met a guy that bought his D300 at Ritz and he uses it only in live view mode.
An expensive, but more important, pretentious P&S

[apersson850]

...until he tells me to sell my 550ex flash and buy a new 430ex or 580ex.There will be a difference, though. In the shop's turnover.

[Gochugogi]

he has some kind of a point .... i think the 550 has E-TTL while the 430 and 580ex have E-TTL II.

Sorry, that is incorrect as well. There is no such thing as an E-TTL only or E-TTL II only flash. Why? The main E-TTL algorithms are in the camera, not the flash. So even the oldest EX series flash, e.g., 380EX or 220EX, will perform E-TTL II if fitted to an E-TTL II capable camera such as the EOS Elan 7NE or 40D. If you fit the newest EX series flash, e.g., 580EX II or 430EX, it will perform E-TTL if attached an E-TTL only capable camera such as the EOS 3 or 10D.

The main benefit of newer EX series flashes is they sense whether the camera is FF or crop, and zoom the head ccordingly. Not a big deal unless you use the extremes of the flash range.

[SkipD]

I went to Ritz camera just to look around and I begin to talk to the guy behind the counter, and he seemed intelligent, until he tells me to sell my 550ex flash and buy a new 430ex or 580ex. :shock: He tells me that it will be night and day difference in my photos. The 550ex was made for film cameras, and the new ones are geared towards digital slr's

Is this guy for real? :oIt's apparent that the guy behind the counter didn't really know much, because he couldn't tell you what the difference was. However, Gochugogi (see the post above) is the first in this thread to post the real difference.

The real difference is the ability for the newer flash units to determine that various digital cameras have different sized sensors and then modify the focal length compensation for the flash output angle. What that can accomplish is providing a better match in the coverage of the light to what you see in the viewfinder, avoiding wasted light to some degree.

[Stocky]

If you have done a little research yourself then you are always going to know more about the products than the salesmen. The other place I have noticed this a lot is with car dealers, and I am disappointed every time, but have come to understand it.

[HoosierJoe]

We don't have Ritz here. We do have Cord Camera. The last time I went in there I asked about a filter and they guy didn't know what I meant or where they were located in the 3 aisle store. I saw the rack on my way out the door that I didn't let hit me in the A@@ on the way out. The Indy area has basically one camera store downtown (Roberts) that can actually tell you anything.

[zacker]

no no no... he's got it all wrong... what he should have told you was the absolute truth.... it will make your camera a full frame!! Gawd, Ritz employees dont know their butts from their elbows!!!

[-MasterChief-]

thanks for the clarifications on E-TTL and E-TTL II guys! :D

its amazing how you learn something new everyday!

[Mark1]

If you have done a little research yourself then you are always going to know more about the products than the salesmen. The other place I have noticed this a lot is with car dealers, and I am disappointed every time, but have come to understand it.



Ha ha!!! I went to the local Dodge dealer when the Magnum was being released. They did not have one yet. But, when I asked the sales man where the Magnums were. He says "thats a gun, not a car". Keep in mind they had them in stock 3 days later.

If your going to make a living off of something, doesn't it make sense to know something about it?

[azpix]

In conclusion: Don't ask them questions ;x

or if you do ask them something, do the opposite of what ever they say. It's more likely to be right.

[cdifoto]

E-TTL vs E-TTL II is a function of the camera body, not the flash. A flash only need be E-TTL capable to be support E-TTL II, but it can only support E-TTL II if the camera does.

Example: My 10D is E-TTL. Therefore when my 580EX II is mounted to it, it is using E-TTL metering. My 1D II is E-TTL II. Therefore the same 580EX II when mounted to the 1D II is using E-TTL II metering. Same goes for for the 220EX, 420EX, 430EX, 550EX, 580EX and Sigma EF-500/530 DG ST & Super as well as all those generic E-TTL flashes you see on the market with slow as molasses recycle times.

Sorry, that is incorrect as well. There is no such thing as an E-TTL only or E-TTL II only flash. Why? The main E-TTL algorithms are in the camera, not the flash. So even the oldest EX series flash, e.g., 380EX or 220EX, will perform E-TTL II if fitted to an E-TTL II capable camera such as the EOS Elan 7NE or 40D. If you fit the newest EX series flash, e.g., 580EX II or 430EX, it will perform E-TTL if attached an E-TTL only capable camera such as the EOS 3 or 10D.

The main benefit of newer EX series flashes is they sense whether the camera is FF or crop, and zoom the head ccordingly. Not a big deal unless you use the extremes of the flash range.

It's apparent that the guy behind the counter didn't really know much, because he couldn't tell you what the difference was. However, Gochugogi (see the post above) is the first in this thread to post the real difference.

The real difference is the ability for the newer flash units to determine that various digital cameras have different sized sensors and then modify the focal length compensation for the flash output angle. What that can accomplish is providing a better match in the coverage of the light to what you see in the viewfinder, avoiding wasted light to some degree.
...

[mattograph]

I thought Ritz was a cracker?!?!

[Curtis N]

E-TTL vs E-TTL II is a function of the camera body, not the flash. A flash only need be E-TTL capable to be support E-TTL II, but it can only support E-TTL II if the camera does.This is correct, with respect to Canon Speedlites. Any EX series Speedlite, including Speedlites manufactured before the advent of E-TTL II, will work with all of the various forms of E-TTL metering, past and present.

Not so true with the aftermarket brands. If you're buying a Sigma, Promaster or Sunpak "E-TTL compatible" flash unit, the current models are backwards-compatible. But the models manufactured before Canon introduced E-TTL II will not work on E-TTL II cameras.

They all had to go back to the proverbial drawing board when E-TTL II came out, and re-reverse-engineer their flash units. And the problem is, sometimes they didn't bother to even change the model numbers when they made the update. My 3-yr-old Promaster 7500DX looks just like the ones they sell today, even though it's an earlier version. Be careful if you're buying used.

[olly_k]

One thing when I converted my old Hanimax flash to 6v the initial pictures had an awful yellow cast to them - I soon realised there was a yellowish filter in the flash head, which when removed made all the difference...
I assume the filter would have mean't to match the colour temperature to best match film?

[SuzyView]

I have all 3 of these flashes and they all work great. You can get the 430, if you'd like to. It's a great little flash, but really, don't sell the 550. I still use mine.

[CorzyPhoto]

Moral to the story: Ask photography forums for a more trusting and more reliable resource before jumping into a salesperson chokehold.

Keep the flash you have now if it works like new ;)

[CorzyPhoto]

I have all 3 of these flashes and they all work great. You can get the 430, if you'd like to. It's a great little flash, but really, don't sell the 550. I still use mine.


*off topic*

:drool:

Can I borrow your equipment for a week? Pease?

[NVcameraman]

I thought Ritz was a cracker?!?!

ROFLMAO :lol::lol::lol:

[rocker83]

mmmmm crackers

[Fade2]

I'd buy a camera from a grocery store before I give ritz/wolf a dime of my money again! :mad:

[David B12]

"You've got questions, we've got blank stares."

[fubarhouse]

Rule of thumb:
Do you're own research and never let a salesperson give you advice.
They might know some things, but it is their job to know the basics and features.

You really have to look hard for a good, honest salesperson who is also a hobbyist photographer

[M Powered]

You should have told him that memory cards are the only thing geared towards digital SLR's.

[SteveNC]

Think of Ritz/Wolf as nothing more than a corner drug store photo lab. They just happen to carry a few more camera related things.

^ ++++1

[René Damkot]

I went to Ritz camera just to look around and I begin to talk to the guy behind the counter, and he seemed intelligent, until he tells me to sell my 550ex flash and buy a new 430ex or 580ex. :shock: He tells me that it will be night and day difference in my photos.

This is correct, with respect to Canon Speedlites. Any EX series Speedlite, including Speedlites manufactured before the advent of E-TTL II, will work with all of the various forms of E-TTL metering, past and present.

This is true.
However: According to this review (http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-580EX-II-Speedlite-Flash-Review.aspx), there is a difference between the 580EX Mk2 and the 580EX:
The biggest deviation occurred in a frame mostly filled with a black subject that had white highlights. In this scenario, the original 580EX completely blew the highlights, while the 580EX II exposed at over 1.5 stops lower - slightly too low, but retaining the highlights. In nearly all cases, would pick the 580EX II exposure over the 580EX without FEC by a slight margin.

So, while the guy is wrong on part of what he said, he seems to be right on another part. (Probably unknowingly so)

[scorpio_e]

I went to Ritz camera just to look around and I begin to talk to the guy behind the counter, and he seemed intelligent, until he tells me to sell my 550ex flash and buy a new 430ex or 580ex. :shock: He tells me that it will be night and day difference in my photos. The 550ex was made for film cameras, and the new ones are geared towards digital slr's

Is this guy for real? :o

No he makes perfect sense. He wants your 550ex;)

[FlashZebra]

he has some kind of a point .... i think the 550 has E-TTL while the 430 and 580ex have E-TTL II.
ETTL or ETTL II is controlled by the camera, not the flash.

Enjoy! Lon

[shutterfiend]

...
He told me: Well, if you have to ask, it's probably too expensive. I mean, the 1D is $4,000... so the 5D is probably a lot more than that. I can't even afford that!
...

LOL! It's simple arithmetic; if one "D" equals $4000 then five must be ...

[samurairx7]

i'm at work now and when i read the ritz was a cracker i brust out laughing and my supervisor yelled at me for being too loud..... :oops::oops::oops:


all tho the ritz cracker with the cheese in between is really good!

[jdg371]

I made the mistake of buying my 55-250 at Ritz, never again! It took them 30 minutes to find the lens. On that same day, I wanted to try a flash gun. The guy told me that their Quantaray is perfect replacement for the Canon flash guns. I asked what kind of power it has and he stated that it had "lots of power" He was confused when I asked if it had 360 rotation and 90 tilt. =( sad sad day.

[Adaptive]

Same thing as Black's in Canada..

racist :lol:

[Tareq]

Turn off your 550 and turn on 580 and it will be night and day difference ;-)

[proxes]

Sad reality is most sales people are green and their biggest source of information are their customers. Most just spew back what people have told them.

Like the guy that only uses his D300 in live view mode would come in and tell them the D300 sucks for airshows. The next guy that comes in and askes for a camera that's best for airshows will be told to stay away from the D300. The cycle just grows from there.

[Tareq]

Sad reality is most sales people are green and their biggest source of information are their customers. Most just spew back what people have told them.

Like the guy that only uses his D300 in live view mode would come in and tell them the D300 sucks for airshows. The next guy that comes in and askes for a camera that's best for airshows will be told to stay away from the D300. The cycle just grows from there.

And thats why i never trust or consider what those salesman telling me, i read about all information myself from online and then i can decide later what i should use or buy.

[Village_Idiot]

There are knowledgable people that work at Ritz, they're just not in the majority.

Their goal is to sell products for commission and sell warranties for even more.

I know two people that work at Ritz. One was a photographer in the Navy when he was active and the other is a pretty accomplished photographer that regularly shoots weddings and other paying gigs, like a calendar for on of the larger motorcycle retailers in Maryland.

The one that did the calendar is a manager. I've heard some good stories about his bone head employees though. They get a lot of people in that want an easy job where they can make money and a lot of kids looking for a mall job for after school and weekends. Turn over rate can be very high and commitment to job and customer satisfaction = low.

They do some pretty good prints though. If I need a print in a hurry, I just drop into Ritz and get it done. I went to Walmart once to compare quality and Walmart blows. I ended up walking out of Walmart because the photos were so bad.

[SteveBrown]

WOW, this thread was dug up from long ago.