430 ex alternatives

[VwFix]

I picked up a Vivitar 285HV a few month ago.
And i really am starting to appreciate hot shoe flash photography, one thing i do not like is it is fully manual and would like something with TTL metering.
I am on a tight budget right now and was wondering if someone can recomend alternatives to the 430ex that has ttl and swivel head as the 285hv does not swivel either.

[msowsun]

This one seems like a pretty good unit. Lots of features and a very good price. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ETTL-II-Power-Zoom-Flash-for-CANON-EOS-XT-XTi-XSi-450D_W0QQitemZ110340858568QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigit al_Camera_Flashes?hash=item110340858568&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/22001023/Images/8/POWER%20ZOOM%202%20.jpg

Features

Red Eye Reduction
Auto Focus / TTL Metering
Digital Power Auto Zoom And Manual Zoom Flash Head From 24 / 28 / 35 / 50 / 70 / 85 mm
Focus Beam To Assist In Low Light Conditions
Illuminated LC Display
Higher Guide Number 42m At 85mm Position
Swivel Bounce Zoom Head : Horizontal Swivel Angle : 0° To 270°, Vertical Bounce Angle : 0°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°
Five level Of Power Ratio : 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 And 1/16
Automatic Shutter Speed Setting
Built-In Reflecting Plate And Diffuser
Built-In Slave Function
Power Saving Function

[VwFix]

Sounds interesting but I am not sure if i want to go with a no name flash as i have a fear of damaging my hot shoe.

[captainmorgan000]

How about a Sunpak? I think they are around $150US

[Green Li]

amazon has Metz 48 AF-1 for $169 today. if you want to consider it here is my review on this flash:
http://photo.greenlightstreet.com/www/index.php?/publisher/articleview/frmArticleID/2/

[tim]

If you want quality stay with Canon.

[VwFix]

I guess I will try to save up some more money,maybe get rid of the 283 as I already have a 285Hv and will have a 430ex so no point for 3 flashes.

[blssdwlf]

@Green Li - Do you know if a Sigma Super 500 will be able to control the Metz 48?

amazon has Metz 48 AF-1 for $169 today. if you want to consider it here is my review on this flash:
http://photo.greenlightstreet.com/www/index.php?/publisher/articleview/frmArticleID/2/

[tkbslc]

I guess I will try to save up some more money,maybe get rid of the 283 as I already have a 285Hv and will have a 430ex so no point for 3 flashes.

So if you already have (or will have) a 430EX, then what else are you looking for?

[VwFix]

So if you already have (or will have) a 430EX, then what else are you looking for?
No i was thinking if i buy a 430 EX I can sell me 285 HV and just keep the 430 ex and the vivitar 283

[VwFix]

I was wondering what would be a better flash between the two a Canon 430 Ex (not the II) or the sigma 530 dg super
http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-EF-530-Super-Electronic-Flash/dp/B000UHIMG2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233944823&sr=8-1

The flash will be used of camera often with a pair of vivitar 283 and will be my main flash that will be used on camera to shoot at party and stuff since it has ttl and would be simple to use that i could set it to auto mode and pass it of to someone to take a photo.

[Green Li]

@Green Li - Do you know if a Sigma Super 500 will be able to control the Metz 48?
blssdwlf,
I don't Sigma 500DG super anymore and never tried to use it as a master but if I recall correctly it can control Canon units, which mean it can control Metz that is made for Canon.

[msowsun]

I was wondering what would be a better flash between the two a Canon 430 Ex (not the II) or the sigma 530 dg super
http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-EF-530-Super-Electronic-Flash/dp/B000UHIMG2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233944823&sr=8-1

The flash will be used of camera often with a pair of vivitar 283 and will be my main flash that will be used on camera to shoot at party and stuff since it has ttl and would be simple to use that i could set it to auto mode and pass it of to someone to take a photo.

The Sigma 530 Super has lots of good features (full ETTL, more power than 430, can act as Canon compatible master or slave, also has a built in optical slave) But it's build quality is just not as good as any of the the Canon's.

I would recommend the 430EX II simply because it will give you one fully automated ETTL flash that is fully compatible with your 450D.

The XSi has the in-camera flash menu, but it only works with the 430EX II and 580EX II. All flash controls and custom functions are nicely displayed and are fully controlled from the in-camera menu.

Unless you have used it, you won't appreciate how nice it is....

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/msowsun/photo%20stuff/Canon_external_flash.jpg

[VwFix]

Can't you set all the same setting on the sigma just from the back of the flash?

[msowsun]

Yes, you can but the Sigma manual is very basic, and makes it a bit of a challenge to understand and use all it's features.

[msowsun]

Here is a link to a "cheat sheet" for the Sigma 500 Super which will you a general idea of the complexity involved with the similar Sigma 530 Super.

http://www.cs.hmc.edu/%7Egeoff/ef500cheatsheet-a4.pdf

[blssdwlf]

blssdwlf,
I don't Sigma 500DG super anymore and never tried to use it as a master but if I recall correctly it can control Canon units, which mean it can control Metz that is made for Canon.

Thanks for the info. Hmm looks like the price of the metz48 is back to $225 on Amazon. D'oh!

[40Dude6aedyk]

If you bought the Sigma Super you would be able to use it as an ETTL master which could control a 430EX (or another Sigma) off-camera in ETTL mode if you later go to that point. You would not be able to use the Metz as a master.

After lots of use, I myself do not consider the build quality of the Sigma to be much less than the Canon 580EX. The much more expensive Canon 580EXII does have some more features, but I think we are fooling ourselves about build quality. They might even be made in the same factory in China nowadays :)