550EX vs EF500DG Super

KevC · 13th of February 2005 (Sun)

Alright.

It's time to make my decision.

The Speedlite 550EX can be had locally, used, for $100 more than the Sigma EF500DG Super (brand new, after shipping, duties, taxes).

Is the 550EX better than the Sigma? Oh, and the 550EX also comes with a sto-fen omnibounce, lol.

Worth the $100?

Bruce Watson · 13th of February 2005 (Sun)

Possibly. The Omnibounce is about $30 Cdn. shipped and is certainly useful.

I have the Sigma (several of them actually) and have also owned/used a 380 and 420EX.

The Sigma has the same feature set, slightler lower GN, does not have provision for external power pack and some would say a slightly lower build quality.

$70 difference is a year's warranty and the slight differences noted above.

But unless the Canon was heavily used, warranty should not be a big issue.

Maybe you buy it, and then when you want more flashes in your setup at a later date, you can go for the Sigma, as they will work together?

Persian-Rice · 13th of February 2005 (Sun)

Hey KEV

The Canon is slightly better, but it being worth the $100 is debatable. I would buy the Sigma over the Canon any day, especially if I am on a tight budget.

Cheers

KennyG · 13th of February 2005 (Sun)

I have a 550EX, a pair of 420EX and the new Sigma. The Sigma works fine, but it is a long way from the build quality of the Canon 550EX. If you are going to use it a lot and maybe want to use an external power source, then go for the Canon. I don't think the Sigma will stand up to much use/abuse.

CyberDyneSystems · 13th of February 2005 (Sun)

As Kenny says,. probably the biggest difference is build quality,.

I decided to get a used 550ex for the onboard flash for it's robust-ness, with the intention that if I wanted to build a fleet of off camera slaves,. I would turn to the Sigma's for that purpose.

KevC · 13th of February 2005 (Sun)

Hm. External power source and build quality. Sounds like enough to warrant the purchase. And if I ever do sell it off, it should retain it's value better than the Sigma, no? Well... the 580EXs are replacing it.. sooo I duno.

External power source is what makes me interested though. I can use it sorta like in a studio setup? Shooting it into an umbrella?

13th of February 2005 (Sun)	#1
KevC Goldmember Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: to Posts: 3,154 IMAGE EDITING OK	550EX vs EF500DG Super Alright. It's time to make my decision. The Speedlite 550EX can be had locally, used, for $100 more than the Sigma EF500DG Super (brand new, after shipping, duties, taxes). Is the 550EX better than the Sigma? Oh, and the 550EX also comes with a sto-fen omnibounce, lol. Worth the $100? __________________ Too much gear... take nothing but pictures .... kill nothing but time .... leave nothing but footprints

13th of February 2005 (Sun)	#2
Bruce Watson Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ajax for the work week and on weekends, south of Ottawa, Canada Posts: 530 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 550EX vs EF500DG Super Possibly. The Omnibounce is about $30 Cdn. shipped and is certainly useful. I have the Sigma (several of them actually) and have also owned/used a 380 and 420EX. The Sigma has the same feature set, slightler lower GN, does not have provision for external power pack and some would say a slightly lower build quality. $70 difference is a year's warranty and the slight differences noted above. But unless the Canon was heavily used, warranty should not be a big issue. Maybe you buy it, and then when you want more flashes in your setup at a later date, you can go for the Sigma, as they will work together? __________________ Cheers, Bruce Watson My Camera Bag Overfloweth.................

13th of February 2005 (Sun)	#3
Persian-Rice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Behind a viewfinder. Posts: 1,504	Re: 550EX vs EF500DG Super Hey KEV The Canon is slightly better, but it being worth the $100 is debatable. I would buy the Sigma over the Canon any day, especially if I am on a tight budget. Cheers __________________

13th of February 2005 (Sun)	#4
KennyG Goldmember Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 2,252	Re: 550EX vs EF500DG Super I have a 550EX, a pair of 420EX and the new Sigma. The Sigma works fine, but it is a long way from the build quality of the Canon 550EX. If you are going to use it a lot and maybe want to use an external power source, then go for the Canon. I don't think the Sigma will stand up to much use/abuse. __________________ Ken Professional Motorsport Photographer 2 x 1D MK-II, 7D, 17-40L, 24-70L, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100-400L, 300 2.8L IS, 500 4.0L IS, 85 1.8, 50 1.4, 1.4 & 2.0 MK-II TC.

13th of February 2005 (Sun)	#5
CyberDyneSystems Wait, all that time and all I get is "Cream of the Damn Crop" ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Providence RI Posts: 37,454 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 550EX vs EF500DG Super As Kenny says,. probably the biggest difference is build quality,. I decided to get a used 550ex for the onboard flash for it's robust-ness, with the intention that if I wanted to build a fleet of off camera slaves,. I would turn to the Sigma's for that purpose. __________________ GEAR LIST CDS' HOT LINKS My POTN Share Threads Jake Hegnauer Photography

13th of February 2005 (Sun)	#6
KevC Goldmember Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: to Posts: 3,154 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 550EX vs EF500DG Super Hm. External power source and build quality. Sounds like enough to warrant the purchase. And if I ever do sell it off, it should retain it's value better than the Sigma, no? Well... the 580EXs are replacing it.. sooo I duno. External power source is what makes me interested though. I can use it sorta like in a studio setup? Shooting it into an umbrella? __________________ Too much gear... take nothing but pictures .... kill nothing but time .... leave nothing but footprints

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