How much better is the 550EX over the 420EX

Thinking about dumping my 420EX and getting a 550EX, how much better is the 550 EX with a 10D?
What advantages will I see upgrading to the 550?

I understand that the 580 really isn't a good choice for the 10D since I won't be able to use many of the new features, true?

Thanks

It depends. The guide number is only a bit better in the 550EX. There are some advanced flash modes, which you may or may not get any good out of.

The primary feature is that the 550EX will act as a wireless master or a wireless slave (or not at all). If you always use your flash on camera as a single flash, then the wireless master feature has no value to you. On the other hand, if you have one 550EX as a wireless master, and then a 420EX as a wireless slave, you can start to do some interesting things.

Well, its guide number isn't much more than the 550EX, and its ability to read the focal length and then also the body factor is minor, in my opinion. For a 10D, I don't see a big deal.

---Bob Gross---

The most useful feature of the 550 is the ability to control it manually. I have done portraits with a bounced flash where I had to manually configure to get the best result. I couldn't have done that on a 420.

It's about 130 EXs better ...

CyberDyneSystems wrote:
It's about 130 EXs better ...

Yeah...but I think the EXs come out sharper on the 420...

Obie

There is really no comparison between a 420 and a 550. First of all a change in GN of 13 Meters or 40 feet is pretty significant. The 550 is able to operate fully manual and can control 3 groups of flashes. You can set ratios, set the output manually on each flash, or set output for each flash on the master. I just bought my third to replace a 420.
Scott

CyberDyneSystems wrote:
It's about 130 EXs better ...

And then you have the 580EX which adds even more EX's! (30 to be exact)

When will this madness end!!!

I have had good results from my 10D + 550EX on auto.
I have had good results from my 10D + 550EX on manual.

With a 420EX there is not the ability to operate manually, sometimes the auto settings don't do the job right. With digital we have the ability to set the camera and flash in full manual mode, then take a pic, then check the pic and see what the histogram looks like, then alter settings. With digital you can get the settings spot on, but you sometimes need full manual control of the flash, that's why I didn't buy the 420EX and I don't recommend it.

Of course you could keep the 420EX to use it as a slave to the 550EX.

The 550EX is a fantastic flash. I recommend you pick one up when you can, but KEEP the 420EX. You'll enjoy being able to use it as a slave, and then later on sell it and buy a second 550EX. This will let you create some nice lighting setups for a pretty minimal cost.

Being able to quickly change flash output on the 550 has been a Godsend in my opinion. I used the 420 for a while, but now it just seems like an extension to the built in flash, not nearly as versatile as the 550.