Flash recommendation

[tonynlau]

I recently purchased a g10 for my brother. Would like to get him a flash to go with it.

I see some have suggested the 270ex. Is the 220ex no good? His main purpose is basically for portrait/candid shots of his family.

-Tony

[stax]

the 220ex doesn't articulate and thus can't bounce, I think. another choice is the sunpak RD2000, cheaper than 270ex and can bounce (although not like a more powerful flash). I have the 270ex and like it a lot, but others also like the RD2000, which will save you $$$.

[tonynlau]

ok thanks, i'll take a look at the rd2000.

[NaturalMystic]

I just picked up the 270EX today along with an extra NB-7L battery and the LowePro Apex 100 AW. The Apex holds the G11, Flash, 4AA plastic battery holder and the extra NB-7L just perfect, with a little space for extra SDHC cards and similarly small items.
I'm charging up some Energizer AAs for the flash now so haven't tested it yet.
I also just ordered a Stofen Omni-Bounce style diffuser for it off *bay for about $10.

[tonynlau]

Nigel- how do you like the 270ex so far?

[Pbskis14]

Anyone have experiance with the Vivitar 183? I believe its new, cant find much on it besides it looks like a good size for the G10, has a Guide Number of 20 and supports TTL metering

-Pete

[jr_senator]

The first flash I got for my 5D was a 550EX. Point being, smaller cameras need light just as much as larger cameras. I don't think the RD2000 has bounce capabilities (maybe a blessing considering how weak it is) and looks like it would more prone to red eye because it sits so close to the lens. The 183 looks OK, but kind of weak as well. Look at Vivitar's 283. Looks to be a lot of bang for the buck. Of course if you're looking for small (whatever the reason), then you should get small. But, at a cost in power, espically with using bounce.

[stax]

The first flash I got for my 5D was a 550EX. Point being, smaller cameras need light just as much as larger cameras. I don't think the RD2000 has bounce capabilities (maybe a blessing considering how weak it is) and looks like it would more prone to red eye because it sits so close to the lens. The 183 looks OK, but kind of weak as well. Look at Vivitar's 283. Looks to be a lot of bang for the buck. Of course if you're looking for small (whatever the reason), then you should get small. But, at a cost in power, espically with using bounce.

Regarding the bounce capabilities, or lack thereof, of the RD2000, if you are suggesting that it can't bounce because it is not powerful enough, you may be right (I have never used one, although I have heard that it can bounce in smaller rooms). If you mean it can't bounce because of its design, I'm not sure that's correct. Here is a shot of it pointing skyward: http://www.foto-mage.com/pix/lg_rd2000_nikon2.jpg

Like the 270EX, however, the RD2000 doesn't swivel and thus can't bounce off the ceiling in portrait mode.

[NaturalMystic]

Nigel- how do you like the 270ex so far?

Hey Tony, to be honest I haven't had a chance to really play with it yet. Just got back from (Canadian) Thanksgiving dinner at the in-laws and have been fighting a bit of a cold so the lack on energy plus all that turkey had me down for the count. There were so many other family members with cameras there that I didn't bother taking too many pics.
Hopefully this week I'll get a chance to play around with it a bit more and let you know. This is my first G too so I'm also going thru the learning curve with that. It'll be a little while before I'm familiar with all the settings, etc.
I really like the combination of these two in the LowePro Apex 100AW case so far though. It feels so much lighter and smaller than my Nikon DSLRs. I plan to put this gear thru a lot of work.

[dad3*3]

I tried the 430EXII, the 580EXII and a Sunpak RD2000 on a G10. Now of course the 430 and 580 did great but they were so big and I just wanted to have something small to give me that little extra in the few instances that I needed it with this small camera. Although the RD2000 doesn't swivel it does tilt. Plus it is so small that I didn't mind taking it with me when I thought a flash might be handy. It did its job and I was very pleased with it. I'm sure someone else is also pleased with it as both it and my G10 were stolen about 2 months ago.

Anyway, for the money, I'd buy another RD2000 again.

[NaturalMystic]

Wow dad3*3, that really sucks. I'm sorry to hear that. Are you going to get the G11? If you haven't looked at the 270EX yet, check it out. I'm not familiar with the RD2000 but the 270EX is quite pocketable and so far seems to work great with the G11. Like the RD2000, it tilts but doesn't swivel though.
I'm a Nikon DSLR user so didn't want to invest in a bigger Canon flash, and as you said, the 430 and 580 look ridiculously large on a G.

[jr_senator]

...the 270EX is quite pocketable and so far seems to work great with the G11. ...the 430 and 580 look ridiculously large on a G.
I have several flashes including a 220EX for the times I want to carry something small. But, I have used my 550EX more often with the G5 than the 220EX. As far as "look ridiculously large" goes, over 50 years a shutterbug and I have never let vanity guide my choices.

[NaturalMystic]

Hey if it works for you then all the power to ya! :-) Besides the reasons I mentioned above, the reason I got the G11 is to travel light but have a bit more flexibility than one of my Elphs. If I'm gonna lug around a full sized flash then I'd prefer to carry my D300. If I'm going big I'm going all the way. True I lose some flexibility with the 270EX but again, for any serious shoots I'd walk with a DSLR.

[dad3*3]

Wow dad3*3, that really sucks. I'm sorry to hear that. Are you going to get the G11? If you haven't looked at the 270EX yet, check it out. I'm not familiar with the RD2000 but the 270EX is quite pocketable and so far seems to work great with the G11. Like the RD2000, it tilts but doesn't swivel though.
I'm a Nikon DSLR user so didn't want to invest in a bigger Canon flash, and as you said, the 430 and 580 look ridiculously large on a G.

Yea, it really burned me that someone had the gall to take my bag right out of my car as I was unloading a few items. I really liked the G10 and RD2000 combo for a smaller gear package.

Anyway, I ended up getting an Olympus E-P1 and added a Pany 14-140 lens along with the kit lens. Also got the Leica M to m4/3 adapter and use a Voightlander 40mm as well. Not really a pocket camera but it is so light compared to my other Canon gear that I don't mind the size especially when I compare the images to those that came out of my G10. The G10 was great but the files really don't compare. Totally different systems. Now if Sunpak made the RD2000 in an Oly mount, That would be nice.

[NaturalMystic]

Yea, it really burned me that someone had the gall to take my bag right out of my car as I was unloading a few items. I really liked the G10 and RD2000 combo for a smaller gear package.

Anyway, I ended up getting an Olympus E-P1 and added a Pany 14-140 lens along with the kit lens. Also got the Leica M to m4/3 adapter and use a Voightlander 40mm as well. Not really a pocket camera but it is so light compared to my other Canon gear that I don't mind the size especially when I compare the images to those that came out of my G10. The G10 was great but the files really don't compare. Totally different systems. Now if Sunpak made the RD2000 in an Oly mount, That would be nice.

I feel your pain man. Back in the mid 90s I had my car broken into twice within 2 yrs and my stereo equipment and gear bag with gadgets stolen. I found the bag minus the gadgets in a school yard when someone from the school found it and called my ph# in my organizer.

Good for you on the new gear. I hope it brings you a lot of joy. I hesitate to get into that 4/3 system. I'm kinda anal/obsessive compulsive and don't like too much variety because I drive myself crazy trying to decide which gear to take. It's always a what if scenario...what if I need to shoot this or that. With just my SD870IS, G11 + 270EX and D300 + multiple SB800s and lenses it's pretty straight forward now (thank God!).
On previous vacations I've taken both the Elph and D300 in my carry on, which gets really bulky and a pain to look after when you're trying to relax. With the G11/270EX it's the perfect balance for my needs - light, small and flexible.
If I were to get another camera I'd probably never leave the house, I wouldn't know which to take! LOL

[tonynlau]

I ended up getting the 270ex, and my brother could not be more happier. His only complaint is the lack of swivel on the head.
Are there flashes(other brands) with this capability?

[stax]

I ended up getting the 270ex, and my brother could not be more happier. His only complaint is the lack of swivel on the head.
Are there flashes(other brands) with this capability?

To my knowledge, there are no other comparable flashes that swivel, but there are larger flashes that swivel.

[tmwag]

Used the 270EX with my G9 and was very happy with it. Now I'm I going to see how it works with my new G11

[tonynlau]

Yea I use the 430ex on my 40d but that would seem overkill size wise for the g10. Also lose the whole idea of being compact..

[jr_senator]

Yea I use the 430ex on my 40d but that would seem overkill size wise for the g10. Also lose the whole idea of being compact..
Overkill in size? I have used my 550EX with my G5 many a time. Can't have too much light.

[tmwag]

Overkill in size?

I would say yes...or better yet... you betcha:lol:

[jr_senator]

I would say yes...or better yet... you betcha:lol:
Because you think using a 430EX on a G11 could harm the camera? Or the flash?

[tmwag]

No harm, no foul...just because...nope

Big flash units such as the 430 belong on a DSLR...not a compact G series

[tonynlau]

not harm the camera or anything but the flash would be bigger than the camera. just looks a bit odd, but for practicality reasons, of course the bigger flash is better.

[NaturalMystic]

I mentioned this previously in another thread but I kinda agree with the 430 and 580 looking too big for the Gs. Sure they work fine with them and will increase your overall flash capabilities, but part of the reason I went with my first G, the G11, was for the reduced form factor over a full dSLR. If I'm gonna use a full sized flash (in my case an SB800) I might as well use my D300. IMO using the 430 or 580 defeats the purpose or original intent of getting the G11, which was to be able to walk light, but hey, different strokes for different folks right? :-)

[reignmkr]

+1 with the 270 ex. I also have the 430ex II but puts everything out of balance in your hands.

[xhack]

Like others, I got fed-up with the ludicrous imbalance when bolting a 580EX to the top of my fairly new G10. I got a 270EX last week and am discovering its limitations.

On the plus side, it's a comfortable hold; your left hand is back on the body rather than supporting the flash while trying to keep fingers off the front sensors.

It has the grunt to cover most indoor shooting situations, but occasionally betrays its lower power in bounce mode - ambient light can give yellow or greenish cast to some shots. But that's probably as much a result of the feeble AWB inherent in the G10. I've experimented with tungsten, fluorescent and custom settings to no avail so far.

The lack of swivel is a pain and much missed in portrait mode. I get round that by using Canon's off-shoe cord and holding the flash in my left hand, but it's a clumsy work-round.