3rd party ETTL?

[csnudelman]

Do any of the really large (potato mashers) flash units from Metz, Sunpak, et. provide ETTL and hopefully sync with the 420, 550 and 580EXs?

[lostdoggy]

The only third party flash that sync to ETTL is Sigma EF-500 DG Super.

[PacAce]

The only third party flash that sync to ETTL is Sigma EF-500 DG Super.
I'm pretty sure Sunpak (PZ40X) and Metz (Mecablitz 54 series) both have flashes that are supposedly ETTL compatible, too. :)

[lostdoggy]

I'm pretty sure Sunpak (PZ40X) and Metz (Mecablitz 54 series) both have flashes that are supposedly ETTL compatible, too. :)

He mention sync to EX flashes

[Todd Jacobsen]

ETTL is camera based vs flash based, but you need a flash that supports the Canon ETTL signals.

I do not believe Canon has released their IR connectivity as an open source standard for use by competing flash manufacturers, thus wireless ETTL connectivity is not possible between Canon and other flash brands. The same would go for any other flash (monolight) units.

Syncing non-Canon flashes to Canon Ex is possible but can only be done via manual flash settings. If you attempt to utilize ETTL, only the Canon Ex will know what to do.

[PacAce]

He mention sync to EX flashes
OK, fair enough, but I just took what you wrote "sync to ETTL" and commented on that.

It didn't occur to me that you were referring to flashes that work in a remote wireless configuration with the EX flashes. So, that being the case, I'll still take exception to your statement that the Sigma flashes will work in a wireless configuration with the EX flashes.

I had a EF 500 DG Super once and could not make it work consistantly in a wireless configuration with my 550EX or my 420EX flashes, as a master or a slave. And when I quizzed Sigma tech support regarding that, their response was that Sigma does not ensure the compatibility of the Sigma flashes with any other make of flashes but their own in a wireless configuration. So, what that tells me is that, although the DG Super may (perhaps just by coincidence) work wirelessly sometime or maybe even more than sometimes, it wasn't designed to be like that.

Neeless to say, I returned my EF DG Super and got the 580EX instead.

[Headcase650]

A note from me, I have a 550ex and a 500dg super. A 300D and a 20D. Using the 550ex as master and 500dg as slave I got inconsistant results using the 300D but MUCH better usable results with the 20D. Who knows all the answers but I use the sigma and the canon flash together with the 20D and have no complaints.

[lostdoggy]

So I was more or less correct. I don't have an EX to test but planning to by one or two (now that I know) and on camera wireless remote thingy (forgot the call letters).

[PacAce]

So I was more or less correct. I don't have an EX to test but planning to by one or two (now that I know) and on camera wireless remote thingy (forgot the call letters).
If a partially correct response is considered correct, then I guess you were. :D