External flash is a must

I have had my G3 for a couple of weeks and got a 420ex flash today. It makes a huge difference with the color and with red eye reduction. One question, does anyone know what the durability is with adding and removing the flash frequently? I do not have a case that will hold the camera with flash attached, that means I frequently put it on and take it off. I have a concern of the long term wear on the camera/ flash.

You'll probably upgrade to a newer camera before you wear out the flash hotshoe on your G3.

I think the durability factor depends more on the user. I've had my G3 and 420ex for about a year now and had no problems. Take care of your equipment and it should last you a long time.

It will take you years to wear it out and if you do Canon can replace it.

I love my 420EX. I love it, love it, love it.

Which a diffuser and using bounce effects it makes for wonderful indoor flash pictures.

I use it outdoors frequently for fill flash of people.

I'll keep it when I've moved on to something other than the G3.

Exposures are consistently right on target no matter how I use it.

Agreed, I have found the exposure to be also be very consistent, being able to use it on higher end cameras was also a consideration.

I love my 420ex. I didn't know how well it worked untill I got one. I was going to buy a Sigma EF-500 flash but thank God I didn't. My friend got one and it works like crap compared to my 420.

Another nice benefit of an external flash is that it sits centered above the camera lens, which means that any ugly shadows get hidden behind and slightly below the subject. Compared to the internal flash which casts it a little to the subject's right side.