Digital Rebel +420EX (or 55EX) Flash

[Chazs]

I've done a search here and never really found a solid answer to my question.

I currently have the DRebel with the hack (never a problem) and looking for an external flash. From what I gather, the 420EX will work on the Drebel since I now have FEC. Also, hopefully in a few months I'll upgrade to the 20D and a 70-200L. Does anyone have experience with the 420EX+DRebel AND 420EX+20D? I don't use a flash all that much and so not really sure if I should try to justify the move up to the 550EX. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

[KevC]

I've heard (no experience here) that the 550/580EX has tons more versitility. I'd personally just get a Sigma EF500 DG Super... almost same featureset as the 550 at half the price...

[mbze430]

From the 420EX to the 550/580EX you will gain more power, 194ft/GN @ 100ISO. You also gain the ability to control other flashes. I also believe with the 550/580 you gain Second-Curtain flash on your Drebel.

[profotos]

I have the 550EX and I wouldn't be without it - it is brilliant and you do get 2nd curtain synch and the nice red AF assist lamp.

Be warare that the Rebel uses the flash in different ways, depending on the mode its in. In Program mode it uses the flash as the main light source. In AV mode, it puts the flash in 'fill flash' mode. If you're not aware of this, then you'll think the flash is underexposing in AV mode...

I can't speak for the Sigmas or the 420EX, but the 550EX (and the 580) are brilliant.

[tim]

I have the hacked DRebel and the 550EX, and I couldn't get it to do 2nd curtain sync.

Unless you know you need the brighter flash, or need the on-camera controls, get the 420EX, IMHO. The only thing I ever adjust on the flash is the power, which can be done with FEC.

[MrChad]

I have 420EX on my Drebel. I've also used the 420EX on my Elan before that.

What do you want it to do? It will bounce flash and work straight on.

Other functions of the flash like 2nd Curtain and FEC need to present in your camera to work, the Elan and 20D can do this with the 420EX, however the standard Drebel can not.

I just stick mine on my Drebel and it works fine, even indoors. I do plan to upgrade down the road to add a second flash, but it's a great way to start a Canon flash system.

You'll gain more control with it on the 20D, but it will work great on the Drebel as is. Then once you fully master it on the 20D a 580EX would make a great second flash down the road. If you've never owned a hot shoe flash, it's a great start.

I also think the 420EX balances great on the Drebel, perhaps better then the larger 550/580EX. The 420EX is plenty big enough for my needs, but it's small enough I don't mind dragging it around. The best part about the external flash, is the AF speed you gain from the AF beam.

[Lenny_D]

We have the DRebel(300D), the 20D and the 420 EX. The combination 300D and 420EX gives a slight underexposure (aprox. 2/3 stop). I've seen this also being reported in many posts on this forum. We didn't install the hack of the firmware and are basically stuck with that.
The 20D does have the possibility for FEC (as you know) and I can tell from experience that it works fine in combination with the 420EX. Pretty happy about the combination. It works flawlessly.
The 420EX is strong enough in nearly all cases and the price difference with the 550 is significant.

Lenny

[Cadwell]

I've got a 420EX and a 580EX. I've used the 550EX and the Sigma EF500 DG Super.

Get the Sigma EF500 DG Super. It wins the "bang for your buck" fight hands down and it's good enough in all other cateogories.

[Chazs]

Thanks too all who replied. Looks like I need to look at the Sigma flash (and the sigma 70-210) before completely deciding. One more problem.....I finally got my hands on a 20D at the local camera store. Maaaaaaaan. That may have to come first, now. I'd get them all, but Uncle Sam wasn't quite that good to me this year. Time to sell the DRebel.:)

[ijohnson]

I can't explain it too well, but having used both extensively, I can tell you that the 550ex just works better. Set it to ETTL and shoot your picture. It is just easier to use. I spent a lot of time screwing around with the 420ex with multiple cameras and lenses. Once I got the 550, everything just works faster and better. I get about twice as many good shots using that flash.

That's reason enough, but it can also be a master transmitter and it has the better wide angle cabilities. Blah blah blah. You know the rest.

Get one used. They are really cheap right now.

[BCAPhoto]

Hi, new to this forum & glad I found it. Hope I can find help with this ongoing underexposure problem.

I'm perplexed by getting continuous very bad underexposures when bouncing the 420ex DReble combo off an 8' ceiling. My subjects are 6' - 8' away. I've used all mode settings and the best (so far) has been manual with a speed of 800 to 1600 but then the pixalation is too great even while shooting a large format. Is there a secret to getting the 420 or the DRebel to shoot like my Elans do with the 540 EZ's?
Wished the EZ's would adapt to the Rebel then my problems would be over. ;)

thanks............ b

[robertwgross]

Wished the EZ's would adapt to the Rebel then my problems would be over. ;)


Film cameras with -EZ flashes use a completely different flash metering process as compared to digital cameras with -EX flashes. For one thing, in a digital camera, there is no film surface to get a reflected meter reading from.

---Bob Gross---

[puttick]

I have a Rebel XT (350d) and a 420EX. FEC was one of the reasons I upgraded from a 300d as I wanted the smaller, lighter 420EX.

The combination was used for the first time in anger last night, at a school play, in a large hall with few reflective surfaces to lift the brightness. After a few test exposures I realised I needed to set the FEC (on the camera, as this flash has not FEC control itself) at +1 stop. The following 100 exposures were all PERFECT.

The 420EX is a superb and very cost effective unit IMO.

[MadMesh]

I have a 420ex and I LOVE IT. I will be buying TWO sigma super 500s instead of ONE 580ex.

[Jon]

Just be aware that the Sigmas aren't as, well, consistent as master/slave when mixed with Canon flashes as the all-Canon setup would be.

[Chudilo]

So as far as I understand if I only have a Digital Rebel 350, and have never used an external flash, and getting a flash to completely get rid of red eye forever and ever via bouncing the light off stuff, then I should get the 420EX.

Can someone explain the huge price difference? Is it only because of the wireless external flash controller unit?

I'm also thinking of getting the Stofen omni bounce. Would someone care to explain if it will really make the flash be soft and diffused and make the harsh shadows disappear?

[Titus213]

So as far as I understand if I only have a Digital Rebel 350, and have never used an external flash, and getting a flash to completely get rid of red eye forever and ever via bouncing the light off stuff, then I should get the 420EX.

Can someone explain the huge price difference? Is it only because of the wireless external flash controller unit?

I'm also thinking of getting the Stofen omni bounce. Would someone care to explain if it will really make the flash be soft and diffused and make the harsh shadows disappear?

I opted for a 550EX for our 300D. I just took 100+ portraits (VBS at our church) and used the flash and an LSII. Not a bad shot in the bunch. Shadows were well under control and the flash performed flawlessly. The Stofen works similarly I'm told and is smaller than the LSII. But the kids loved the LSII on the camera which got a few smiles for us. I told them it was my tupperware popcorn bowl.

[goatee]

Having had a look around (primarily at eBay) - you can get the Sigma EF500 DG Super for only a couple of pounds more than the 420EX with a feature set that is closer to a 550EX or a 580EX than the 420EX.

[Chudilo]

550EX costs $304 in B&H
420EX is only $174

What features on the 550EX will I benefit from if I will be using it primarily in auto mode? I have heard the pros stating that 550EX just makes everything easier. If I'm a novice to the whole external flash thing, It'll probably take me quite a bit to master the whole bouncing the flash off stuff technique.
the 420EX has ETTL and second curtain sync. It's not as bright as the 550EX but I do not thing that brightness is the fist priority for me at this point.

Either way if I ever need to go to a more advanced flash I could always have a 420EX as a slave. Does that sound reasonable, or does 550EX make everything so much less painfull that it makes shelling out almost double the amount of money worth it ?

[Jon]

Unless you've got the hacked firmware, the 420EX won't allow FEC (Flash Exposure Compensation), while the 550EX will. It also allows manual settings - the 420EX only does what the camera tells it to, ever. If you're only going to get one now, get the 550EX. It'll also give you somewhat better range, and has a diffuser to cover wider angles, if needed. If you're counting on bouncing the flash routinely, the extra power of the 550 will be invaluable, since the average ceiling will cost you 1 stop over and above the additional distance in the light path when bouncing.

[Chudilo]

As far as I can see there is a major change that might be worth spending the money on, and it is in the 580EX, not the 550EX .
ETTL II sounds like a great feature that Rebel 350XT does support. And as far as I understand it won't take long for the 420EX to be replaced with something with ETTL 2 support.

So I guess the wisest solution for me is to wait for the product that will replace the 420EX

[Jon]

E-TTL II is in the camera, not the flash. If the camera supports E-TTL II, any EX-class flash will work with it. The only things the 580 offers that the 550 doesn't are that it sends colour balance info to the camera and that it adjusts for the sensor size when zooming. So don't hold your breath waiting for a 420EX successor, and don't shun the 550EX because of E-TTL II