Which flash: Canon or Sigma

I want to buy a flash for my EOS 300D and have narrowed it down to either the Canon Speedlight 550EX or the Sigma EF 500 DG Super.

Which of these would you guys recommend?

The Canon is more expensive than the Sigma, but I have read in other forums that the Sigma has a higher spec.

Any help would be appceciated.

Thanks.

Have you considered the Metz 54 MZ-4?

Have you considered the Canon Speedlight 580? I am thinking about getting one.

I thought about the 580, but it is dearer than the 550, the Sigma and the Metz.

I must check out some reviews.

Hi,

Without borring you with the details, Im getting the Sigma myself...read reviews, shows it on par with the 550 for about 120 USD less (the 580 is superior, but also alot more $$$). I gotta check on the Metz that Dusty writes of....didnt look into that one yet. Just make sure whatever you get is E-TTL.

Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains. - Winston Churchill


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300D
Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX
Sigma 105 2.8 macro EX

I just ordered the Metz from B&H after a lot of searching. It seems that many on here love the 550 and almost had me convinced to go with that flash. The 580 has features better suited for the 20D. The 550 appears to take a lot of getting used to and does not have an auto mode which I thought would be a useful feature in a flash. I don't do a lot with flash, so I wanted something good yet simple to use. You may want to read the recent review at http://shootsmarter.co​m/infocenter/wc031.htm on different flash units they tested. The Sigma was not listed, but the 550EX was along with some others. I considered the Sigma, but the Metz seemed to be a higher quality unit. I also could not find any negative comments on the Metz54 MZ-4 and it's only $50 more than the 550EX.