canon 420ex FOR SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

[rosco1971]

hey there.i am new to photography and would like to know how the 420ex would be for sports photography........and if it could be used with a 70-200 f4 lens......i am also thinking of getting the SIGMA EF500DG CANON SUPERFLASH E-TTL II instead of the 420ex any comments?..........the sports i am planning on shooting are outdoor sports such as downhill mountian biking and snowboarding..

[tim]

The Sigma is a generic copy of the 550EX and is a better product, and it's more powerful. I don't know how effective a flash would be at 200mm, i've never tried it, plus a lot of the time you're not allowed to use a flash for sports.

ETTL-II is a function of the camera body, not the flash.

There's plenty of info about each flash on the forums, a search should give you the basics, then you can ask more targeted questions.

[Jon]

I don't think either will do much for you except maybe add catch-lights outdoors. They're not really that strong at any distance. The Sigma would need about f/4 at 40 ft. and wouldn't get much beyond that. The 420EX would manage about 35 ft.

[rosco1971]

so what do you suggest i go with.?

[PacAce]

so what do you suggest i go with.?
As the others suggested, the EF 500 might be the better option of the two. However, as was also suggested, unless you can get reasonably close to the action, you may get disappointed with trying to use any flash for sport photography. But as long as you can get close to your subjects, it'll be OK. Within 20 feet. Maybe 30 at the most but I think that's really pushing it, espcially outdoors in the dark.

Another thing to consider--when using a flash you'll be limited in your shutter speed choices to the camera sync speed or lower whereas, with sports photography, you sometimes want to go higher than sync speed. To use higher shuter speeds, you'll need to set the flash on high-speed sync mode but then that will further limit your flash working distance.

[etaf]

look at the guide number to see the effective range and distance it will operate to

[PacAce]

look at the guide number to see the effective range and distance it will operate to
That's easier said than done. For one thing, flashes are more effective indoors than they are outdoors due to indoors having walls and ceilings and other objects that help reflect light back at the subject. That's not the case when outdoors.

[Jon, The Elder]

My 420EX does quite well out to about 50+ for fill at indoor arenas using my 28-135IS. See www.pbase.com/jpferguson for examples.

Works well outdoors to 35+ for fill also.