Flash time! (well... not yet.)

[KevC]

Hey,

I'm gonna be investing in a flash eventually... and there's just so much out there to chose from.

Canon 420EX Speedlite TTL Shoe-Mount Flash $179
Canon 550EX Speedlite TTL Shoe Mount Flash $319
Canon 580EX Speedlite TTL Shoe Mount Flash $399

Sigma EF-500 DG ST E-TTL Shoe Mount Flash $149
Sigma EF-500 DG Super E-TTL II Shoe Mount Flash $199

I've got a drebel, a EF35-105mm, kit EF18-55mm , EF50 f/1.8 coming in the mail :oops:. Not planning to upgrade body anytime soon...

I want to spend <$200. The Canon 420EX, Sigma EF-500 DG ST and EF-500 DG Super are the three I'm looking at...

I'm not buying just yet, I don't have the cash. I need to read up on flash photography, seems like a lot to learn :) Is there anything wrong with Sigma? The price differences are so big! Should I just get a 420EX? Or spend the extra $30 and get the EF-500 DG Super?

Quite honestly... I don't know much about flashes.

[Eric DeCastro]

I have the Sunpak PZ5000AF. it is a great flash for ~150USD. alot of people use it and it gets great reviews. I suggest you check that out.

if anything thing else, get the Sigma super only. the dg st is (insert 4 letter word of your choice)

[Cadwell]

Get the EF-500 DG Super. It's by far the best flash of the three and the fact that it has manual controls compensates for the 300D's lack of flash exposure compensation.

[tim]

Get the EF-500 DG Super. It's by far the best flash of the three and the fact that it has manual controls compensates for the 300D's lack of flash exposure compensation.

Of course you can just install the hack to get FEC. On the 550EX (and maybe others?) you can manually reduce the flash output using controls on the flash.

[Eric DeCastro]

i have never needed to use the fec, I have a fully manual flash. i rather compensate the flash, then the camera body.

[Jim Larson]

With ETTL, you really want FEC.

Controlling the flash manually is really true trial and error.

[Eric DeCastro]

With ETTL, you really want FEC.

Controlling the flash manually is really true trial and error.
I guess, i'm passed the trial an error part, I can usally gauge just about close to what it should be then minor adjustments. also for my type of work (event coverage) it's not that critical. i don't even know how to access the FEC, and i have never used ETTL or in my case TTL.

[KevC]

Hehe you guys can tell I'm a total n00bl3t cos I have no idea what you guys are talking about. All I really do is play with aperature and shutter speed, and let the camera do the rest. I really want to learn though. Is there a flash I can just stick on the drebel and it'll do whatever? Or is my camera not good enough (lacking FEC...).

[blackviolet]

i have a pz5000af as well (in addition to my ef-500 super), which i use as a slave on my bracket, etc. note that it is not completely ettl compatible. for example, when using it in the shoe, it prevents the camera from correctly exposing for ambient (fill flash) in av and tv mode. it forces the camera to expose for flash, so you have to use manual mode (at least this is the behaviour on both the 1dmkii and the 10d). note that sunpak even states it is not compatible with any of the digital slrs...


the ef-500 super dg, on the other hand, seems to work very, very well. i highly recommend it.

[pierrot]

Well, when it comes to artificial lighting, and especially to flash lighting (you can't see in advance what it will result in), it's a bit hasardous to suppose that the "magical box will do whatever"... ;)

The good news are that one can learn a lot and eventually succed in mastering lighting techniques.

The bad news are that it takes quite a lot of reading (books, forums, websites), trying, analysing. It requires time and perseverance. But the results are worth it.

Or you can just rely on the magical mystery box: you may also be happy with that, after all... :D

[CyberDyneSystems]

the 420 will offer good results,. but no manual control.

The "Super" Sigma is a good choice.. giving most if not all of the advantges of the 550ex at a lower price. The Other Sigma is no good ... get the "Super"

[PacAce]

Hehe you guys can tell I'm a total n00bl3t cos I have no idea what you guys are talking about. All I really do is play with aperature and shutter speed, and let the camera do the rest. I really want to learn though. Is there a flash I can just stick on the drebel and it'll do whatever? Or is my camera not good enough (lacking FEC...).

As Cadwell said, get the Sigma EF 500 DG Super. It'll do everything for you in addition to giving you FEC which your body doesn't provide. Think of the Sigma EF 500 DG Super as the generic brand 550EX. :mrgreen: