540ez off camera?

I have a chance to get a 540ez for $50. It seems like a pretty good deal. Is it though? Does it have enough power?

I currently have a 580EX and I modded it for use with my Elinchrom Skyports. It works awesome for off camera lighting.

I want to do the same thing with this 540ez, but will it have enough power for using as a fill flash? I don't know what the power comparison is to the 580. I just want to make sure that max power on the 540ez will enough to get a nice balance. What do you think?

I have 2 of these and just picked up another one off ebay for $39 including shipping about an hour ago.

Because they were made for Film cameras you can pick them up for a song. I use my specifically off camera for that reason and they have worked great.

I have my flash heads with Quantum Battery 1+ to power the flash and I have a Quantum Turbo to help make recycle times faster.

I have used them to shoot basketball and I know MT Stringer also uses them for the same application and they work great.

Do a search here and also in the Sports section. He and I have made several external batteries to power them from parts you can get at Radio Shack, Batteries plus and from a vendor online that supplies chargers for them also.

Ross

Sweet. I went ahead and told him I would buy it from him. I can't wait to get another skyport and get this light setup going. I tell you what, I am getting pretty darn good results with just one flash with a shoot through umbrella.

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I think you'll be happy with that 540. I like mine.
Mike

I sure hope so. I don't think I can beat the price. I only do off camera lighting anyway,

IMO I haven't found anything better for the price because of the specific usage.

I already have (2) 580's so I can use those on camera and these were added for me to be able to use specifically as remotes.

And MT and I both have found a great fondness for them when shooting sports on top of that.

Enjoy yours as I do plan on possibly adding (1) more to my collection until I start picking up some AB800's for next years fall sports.

Ross

As far as power goes it should be pretty close to the power of the 580. I believe Canon names their flashes based on the guide number. So a 580 has a number that is good for 58 meters, so if the names follow then the 540 would be good for 54 meters. Therefore the power would be pretty close.

Awesome. I can't wait to pick it up. I might try to find a few more too.

I just picked up two more. They are plenty powerful for fill or main light.

metalman1010 wrote in post #4960419
picked up another one off ebay for $39 including shipping about an hour ago.

I wish we had US prices over here! We pay at least £50 ($100) for a 540ez, and it's not unheard of to see them go for (up to) £120 ($240), damn strobist demand.

Anyway, I have 2 of them, payed around £100 for both, which is alright over here. They have everything you need for off-camera/strobist use, and have plenty of power - not far off the 580 I think? I'm still waiting for my cactus triggers to be delivered, so I've not go mine off-camera yet, but, like I said, they have everything you need - unless you plan on using PW's, as there's no PC sync socket built-in.

I look forward to seeing your results, and showing you mine (should be less than a week now).

Ryan.

This little rascal will fix you right up.
http://www.flashzebra.​com/wizardcables/hotsh​oe.shtml

See...

Mike

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You can cancel the auto power off on these models (unlike the 430ez), correct?

red hot sheep wrote in post #4966754
You can cancel the auto power off on these models (unlike the 430ez), correct?

correct.

Yup, thats the cord I need. Too bad I have the hama hotshoe to PC cord and can't use it. Actually I never used it.

All you need is a 1/8" mono plug from Radio Shack and a soldering iron. Snip off the PC end and trim back the insulation. It should become obvious real quick as one of the wires is insulated and the other is bare. Solder bare to ground and insulated to the center pin and you'll be good to go. Lon was out of stock when I needed mine so I had to make my own.

Mike