Canon 550ex - any reason not to use?

I need to do a location shoot where I need to run 3 flash heads. I am thinking of picking up some used 550s as they are reasonably cheap, support the aux battery packs, and can be controlled by the st-e3. I don't need tons of power, but lots of control. Any reason why buying some used 550s wouldn't be a good idea. They are half the price of 580s. Thanks.

None that I know of. I use a 550EX and they are excellent units. As a plus they will act as a master in the master/slave relationship giving a bit more options (at a lot more weight) than the ST-E2.

thanks Dave.... much appreciated.

Croasdail wrote in post #2184120
I need to do a location shoot where I need to run 3 flash heads. I am thinking of picking up some used 550s as they are reasonably cheap, support the aux battery packs, and can be controlled by the st-e3. I don't need tons of power, but lots of control. Any reason why buying some used 550s wouldn't be a good idea. They are half the price of 580s. Thanks.

If cost is an issue, Canon Speedlights, even the 550EX units are not the best approach.

If you want a lot more control* and usability* without increasing cost over a pile of Canon Speedlights, look at inexpensive studio lights like the Alien Bee units.

You may have to give up battery power, but if the location has AC power, the amount of flexibility you will gain from true studio lights will far eclipse the battery power angle.

* true studio light will give you all of these very desirable attributes

• far greater light output (the importance of this cannot be understated)
  
• built in modeling lights
  
• a large selection of light modifies that attach in a direct, not a clunky "adapter" manner
  
• robust and direct attachment to light stands (no clunky hotshoe to light stand adapters)
  
• I am sure there are others.
  

you can get studio AlienBee's for $225. You will have tons more control over them than if you used the 550's. They also sell a portable powerpack for them, it might be out of your range in price though.

www.alienbees.com

Yeah... thanks guys. I have a full AB setup but this is a location shoot for a car and we will be far away from any power. I would love to be able to use my bee's, and have thought of buying the romote power pack for it but I really don't want to hall three heads and all that out there if I can avoid it.

On the Sunpaks... can they operate as slaves? I guess I could do a search on the web for them...... The important thing is being able to remotely trigger them, and preferable be able to set them up in groups.

Thanks for the replies.

Croasdail wrote in post #2187001
On the Sunpaks... can they operate as slaves? I guess I could do a search on the web for them...... The important thing is being able to remotely trigger them, and preferable be able to set them up in groups.

Thanks for the replies.

The Sunpaks come with a short sync cord with a pc connection for the camera end. You could attach some inexpensive optical slaves to these short cords and fire them remotely. Check out the Wein "Peanut" optical slaves. I think you can get these in sets. They would plug right into the short PC cord that comes with the Sunpak 383 units. You could trigger the flash units with an on camera flash set to manual (but not the built in flash as it has a preflash that will confuse the optical slaves), or a flash cord to one of the Sunpak units, much like you likely use your Alien Bee units.

They will not have any "group" functionallity like the Canon Speedlights. You would be using them in manual mode (power levels from full to 1/16, a 5 stop range) just like you use your Alien Bee units. So, if you can use your Alien Bee units, you could mimic that usage with the battery powered Sunpak units (with a lot less power).

The only problem might be if the ambient light is very high. If this is the case sometimes optical slaves might not work so well. But, I understand that outside the IR communication with the Canon Speedlights is not very reliable either.

A set of the inexpensive Chinese radio slaves might also be an inexpensive option, with a receiver for each Sunpak unit.

Or, cord all of the Sunpaks.

If you are a bit of a gambler you might even want to take a chance on these dirt cheap Indian manufactured optical slaves (5 for $12.00 - with shipping). They would also plug right into the Sunpak supplied sync cords.

In fact, I just ordered some of these inexpensive optical slaves as an impulse purchase.

See:

http://cgi.ebay.com …egoryZ30038QQcm​dZViewItem

Enjoy! Lon