420EX color temperature?

[Mycroft]

OI! What's the actual color temperature of the Canon Speedlite 420EX, expressed in degrees Kelvin? I don't want guesses or conjecture here, I want solid fact please.

[Mycroft]

NOBODY knows?!!?

[jimsolt]

NOBODY knows?!!?

Maybe nobody knows. There are lots of variables including the strength of your batteries . . . some say.

For practical usage, you would be pretty safe in assuming 5000K or 5300K according to some.

As you know, these numbers are associated with "daylight" in photography. Daylight by most charts varies from 5000K at noon up to near 8000K on a slightly cloudy day, so there is a very wide variance all falling into one range called "daylight." That's generally where your electronic flash falls. I've read that the Kelvin measurement varies between the center of the flash illumination and the edges of same.

Probably if you had a "kelvinometer" or whatever they're called it might measure your flash differently under various conditions.

Then you're likely to find someone with a different brand of "kelvinometer" who comes up with a different reading.

Maybe nobody knows.

Jim

[Mycroft]

Actually, batteries will have absolutely no effect on the color temperature of a flash. The xenon flashbulb is fired from a capacitor, and that capacitor is charged to the same level, regardless of battery strength. It just takes a few seconds longer if the batteries are weak.

You bring up a good point about the variation between the center and the edge of flash coverage tho... something to consider, I suppose.

However, I'd really like some hard evidence, ideally an original Canon specification, or even an actual measurement in laboratory conditions with the proper equipment.

Perhaps I'm just asking too much. :(

[mgbeach]

Well, wouldn't the fact that the flash doesn't fire at full power every time effect what temperature the light is? At any rate, Rob Galbraith's site mentions on the 20D that the Flash white balance setting is 5600K and Daylight is 5200. I'd say the Canon speedlights are in that range.

[chtgrubbs]

I don't know about the 420EX but my 550EX and 380EX both measure 5050 Deg. at full output and 5250 D at 1/4 output measured by a Minolta color meter.

[Mycroft]

I don't know about the 420EX but my 550EX and 380EX both measure 5050 Deg. at full output and 5250 D at 1/4 output measured by a Minolta color meter.

Thank you! ;)