Adding an Extra Flash

[Coops61]

I have an 550ex with 420ex as a slave unit -- i would like to add an extra speedlite to be a little more creative. Would another 420ex be fine, or would a second 550ex add more options? Anybody with any experience/thoughts :)

[PacAce]

The 2nd 550EX will give you more light output compared to the 420EX and it will also allow you to do wireless flash photography with the flashes set to manual (which will effectively take the 420EX out of the picture because you can't use the 420EX in a wireless config with the master set to manual).

[DaveG]

I have an 550ex with 420ex as a slave unit -- i would like to add an extra speedlite to be a little more creative. Would another 420ex be fine, or would a second 550ex add more options? Anybody with any experience/thoughts :)

I use two 420's and a 550 as Master. Yes you do lose the Manual wireless capability but that is more or less about shot to shot exposure consistency than anything else.

Remember that the 550 is MAYBE a stop more powerful than the 420 and probably even less so, so it's not like the 420 is very weak, or for that matter that the 550 is so much more powerful. Surely with three flashes - a 550 and two 420's - that would be enough to light whatever subject you had in mind. If the flashes are too far away to do this I'd have a greater fear that the Wireless wouldn't work anyway!

I'd go - come to think of it. I went - with the 500 and a pair of 420's. A second 550 just do all that much more, it's a lot more expensive and somewhat heavier. And "Oh, my aching back." should be accounted for too.

[Longwatcher]

Unless there is a reason not to, why not get the 580EX?

I have two 550EXs so it doesn't matter which I use on the camera, more importantly so I have a backup and could pick up a 420EX in an emergency if one of the two flashes died and I needed the second flash until it got repaired. If I were in your situation, I would pick up the 580EX so I had the best and that would give me the 550EX for backup and a third flash in the 420EX. They should all work together, but you might want to ask Canon first.

Consider that if you get the 420EX and the 550EX dies, you are somewhat out of luck for two flash operation (unless you have ST-E2).

Just my opinion,

[PacAce]

Unless there is a reason not to, why not get the 580EX?

I have two 550EXs so it doesn't matter which I use on the camera, more importantly so I have a backup and could pick up a 420EX in an emergency if one of the two flashes died and I needed the second flash until it got repaired. If I were in your situation, I would pick up the 580EX so I had the best and that would give me the 550EX for backup and a third flash in the 420EX. They should all work together, but you might want to ask Canon first.

Consider that if you get the 420EX and the 550EX dies, you are somewhat out of luck for two flash operation (unless you have ST-E2).

Just my opinion,
Yup, all three flashes play very nicely with each other. :)

And you make a good point about having a backup flash that is capable of working in master mode, in case the primary one fails.

[Coops61]

Thanks very much Guys, very helpful - the only reason for looking at the 550ex over the 580ex was that old favourite " $$$$$$" or should i say "£££££££" -- there are lots of good secondhand 550's at the moment on ebay :)

[Todd Jacobsen]

Thanks very much Guys, very helpful - ... -- there are lots of good secondhand 550's at the moment on ebay :)

Hmm...is that good feedback on the 550?!

[PacAce]

Hmm...is that good feedback on the 550?!
If you're talking about feedback in terms of quality or reliability of the 550EX, I doubt it. I'm inclined to think that it's more a case of a lot of people being anxious and eager to get their hands on the 580EX and just wanted to offload the 550EX to get one. :)

[Coops61]

Definately as PacAce states - my current 550ex was from ebay, and i'm guessing it's no more than a few months old, absolutely A1 condition, the seller told me he had just purchased a new 580ex because it was a bit smaller for his 350D - bargin as far as i was concerned, just starting out putting together a reasonable Digital kit :)

[Longwatcher]

One of the reasons I have not upgraded my 550EX flashes to 580EX, is the flash part actually ends up slightly closer to the camera (it is very little, but I noticed it), so I actually like the 550 slightly better because of this (to avoid red eye). Of course I could get a cord and bracket and get either of them farther away from the camera.

The second reason is that my 550EXs have more then enough power for my needs, I already blind anyone within 10feet.

The third and most important; until I pay off my camera (almost there) I can't even get the remaining lenses I want, much less upgrade something. That and I have never developed the habit of selling old to buy new.