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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Promaster 7500DX vs. Canon 580EX
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 12/31/2005 10:34:41 PM · #1
I am now looking to buy a good flash for my camera (I have been asked to do a couple of weddings in a few months). I have Canon 10D. I looked at Canon 580EX and Promaster 7500DX. 580EX is a bit pricy for me at this point. The guys at the store swore by 7500DX, though, and the price is only about half of what 580EX would cost (they sell both brands: Promaster and Canon). I have not heard about the brand before and do not want to end up with a piece of junk.

Can anyone give me an advise on what I should do?

12/31/2005 10:36:02 PM · #2
Originally posted by fall_leaf05:
I am now looking to buy a good flash for my camera (I have been asked to do a couple of weddings in a few months). I have Canon 10D. I looked at Canon 580EX and Promaster 7500DX. 580EX is a bit pricy for me at this point. The guys at the store swore by 7500DX, though, and the price is only about half of what 580EX would cost (they sell both brands: Promaster and Canon). I have not heard about the brand before and do not want to end up with a piece of junk.

Can anyone give me an advise on what I should do?


uhh 550ex ? I use it and I'm quite happy with it.

Message edited by author 2005-12-31 22:36:39.
 12/31/2005 10:42:58 PM · #3
A word of warning, Elena....... I am speaking from experience here.

I had a Canon Powershot Pro1. When I went shopping for a flash, I asked for one that would work with a digital Canon SLR, too, as I knew some day I would buy one.
I was assured that the Promaster 7500DX was what I was looking for.
I bought it and was very happy with it on the Pro 1 ..... still AM, for that matter.

However, on my 20D it only works every once in a while. It seems to fire every time, but most often not in synch. My 580EX works great, so it isn't the camera's fault.

The flash is great, but you really need to take your own camera to the store to try it out. Make sure to take SEVERAL photos with it, and turn the camera on and off a few times.... the problems seems to be intermittent.
However, perhaps it WILL work on your 10D..... just be careful.
 12/31/2005 10:45:48 PM · #4
There are two version of the 7500DX. I owned the original. The original version does not work with my 1D but worked perfectly with the 300D i used to own. I was told that the new version worked fine with all camera models. With that said, i'd stick with canon, or sigma flash units. I use a 550ex now and it works quite well most of the time.
 12/31/2005 11:22:24 PM · #5
I don't own either the 10D or the Promaster flash, so this is something else for you to research...

I believe the 10D has E-TTL. It is a much smarter method of metering flash output than just TTL. And I believe that the Promaster flash only does TTL. So for that reason alone, you might want to think about buying one of the Canon flashes (420EX, 550EX or 580EX).

So if you just want to save money, go with the 420EX.

If you want a much more capable flash, go with the 550EX. It is both stronger and more flexible in what it can be used for. Plus, it can act as a "master" if you later decide to purchase a 420EX as a slave.

You can't take "full advantage" of the 580EX with your 10D because the 580EX has the newer E-TTL II, but it should work fine on your camera and will work even better on the next camera you purchase.

I personally use a 580EX as a master together with either my 420EX or my 550EX or both as slaves to do some very simple (and *very* portable) studio style lighting. Before opening the shutter, the 580EX commands the other "slaves" to fire a pre-flash, then the camera measures the output of all of them and determines a proper amount of light for each flash to get the right exposure. (the 550EX is capable of doing exactly the same thing - I started with the 550 + 420 and only recently added the 580 to my arsenal)

Some information I found on the internet to explain the differences between TTL and E-TTL (and other modes as well):

What is the difference between TTL, A-TTL, E-TTL and E-TTL II flash?

These four modes are all forms of through-the-lens flash metering used by Canon cameras. Older EOS film cameras support TTL and A-TTL metering only. Newer film models and all digital EOS cameras support E-TTL flash metering. E-TTL II is available on EOS cameras from 2004 on.

* TTL (through the lens) and A-TTL (advanced through the lens) flash metering rely on small flash sensors inside the camera body. Flash metering occurs after the shutter has been opened - the sensors record the amount of flash-created light returning to the camera through the lens and automatically shut off (“quench”) the flash when an appropriate amount of light has been produced.

* A-TTL adds a preflash (a brief pulse of light, usually invisible infrared, from the flash) which is fired before the shutter is opened. This preflash is used in P mode to adjust lens aperture, but that’s really about it. In fact, A-TTL flash still relies on the TTL sensor to quench flash output after the shutter has opened. Sadly, therefore, A-TTL is a fairly pointless flash mode.

* E-TTL (evaluative through the lens) is quite different. It relies on the standard evaluative metering sensor used in ambient light metering. With E-TTL flash a visible-light preflash is fired by the flash unit before the shutter is opened. The camera records the effects of this preflash and uses it to calculate the appropriate flash output to be delivered once the shutter has opened. E-TTL flash does not use a separate TTL flash sensor, and no metering of flash occurs after the shutter has opened.

* E-TTL II is a variant of E-TTL. It’s essentially the same as E-TTL but with two main refinements. First, rather than relying on a flash metering pattern it examines the scene before and after the preflash is sent, reducing the risk of highly reflective objects messing up the flash metering. Second, it can incorporate focus distance data from compatible lenses into the metering formula, which can also lower the chances of bright areas causing metering errors. E-TTL II camera bodies can use all E-TTL flash units without problem.

01/01/2006 12:42:07 AM · #6
Originally posted by dwterry:


I believe the 10D has E-TTL. It is a much smarter method of metering flash output than just TTL. And I believe that the Promaster flash only does TTL. So for that reason alone, you might want to think about buying one of the Canon flashes (420EX, 550EX or 580EX).

So if you just want to save money, go with the 420EX.


Canon now has the 430EX for about 80 dollars more than the 420EX. It is more powerful, recycles faster, and is more versatile than the 420EX. It has a full LCD screen on the back like the 550 and 580. It can be used as a slave. It can be rotated around completely, so you can bounce off a wall behind you. I am using this unit and think it is fantastic. I used it on a wedding job (bought it for that, actually) and it performed flawlessly.

Robt.

Message edited by author 2006-01-01 00:59:07.
 01/01/2006 12:53:41 AM · #7
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by dwterry:


I believe the 10D has E-TTL. It is a much smarter method of metering flash output than just TTL. And I believe that the Promaster flash only does TTL. So for that reason alone, you might want to think about buying one of the Canon flashes (420EX, 550EX or 580EX).

So if you just want to save money, go with the 420EX.


Canon now has the 430EX for about 80 dollars more than the 420EX. It is more powerful, recycles faster, and is more versatile than the 420EX. It has a full LCD screen on the back like the 550 and 580. It can be used as a master or a slave. It can be rotated around completely, so you can bounce off a wall behind you. I am using this unit and think it is fantastic. I used it on a wedding job (bought it for that, actually) and it performed flawlessly.

Robt.

Are you sure it can be used as a master? I see nothing in any description of the product that mentions this feature, only that it can be set as a slave.
 01/01/2006 12:58:33 AM · #8
Originally posted by kyebosh:

Are you sure it can be used as a master? I see nothing in any description of the product that mentions this feature, only that it can be set as a slave.


No, you're right. Slave or dedicated only, can't be a master. Sorry. In all other ways except a bit less power, its functionality seems to equal the 550. It was specifically designed to complement the 5D, according to Canon's literature, so they made it a bit stronger and more upscale than the 420. It's a very nice unit. Evfen comes with a little stand for if you want to set it up as a slave :-) Also has a pop-down screen with a fresnel-type lens to spread the flash wider for ultra WA work; it actually pretty much covers the range of the 10mm...

Robt.

Message edited by author 2006-01-01 00:59:21.
 01/01/2006 01:00:59 AM · #9
I believe the built in diffuser is for 17mm on full frame which is quite wide indeed!
 01/01/2006 01:03:19 AM · #10
Sigma EF 500 DG Super
 01/01/2006 01:04:16 AM · #11
Originally posted by kyebosh:
I believe the built in diffuser is for 17mm on full frame which is quite wide indeed!


Yup! The 10mm/20D combo is equivalent to 16mm on the 5D. There's a little bit of falloff at 10mm.

R.
 01/01/2006 01:39:44 AM · #12
My Dad has a ProMaster flash for his Olympus 8080, they are quite popular w the Olympus crowd since the low price point Oly flash sucks and the next step up is over $400.

Anyway, once you have the right module, the Promaster works wonderfully. The one my dad has has 2 flashtubes. The main one swiveles and tilts so that you can bounce it, the second, much smaller one is fixed forward and makes a very nice catchlight for portraits.

The only other flash unit that I know of with that feature are Metz units and they are quite pricey (but also very nice, at least on par with the Canon units).


01/01/2006 11:52:44 AM · #13
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
My Dad has a ProMaster flash for his Olympus 8080, they are quite popular w the Olympus crowd since the low price point Oly flash sucks and the next step up is over $400.

Anyway, once you have the right module, the Promaster works wonderfully. The one my dad has has 2 flashtubes. The main one swiveles and tilts so that you can bounce it, the second, much smaller one is fixed forward and makes a very nice catchlight for portraits.

The only other flash unit that I know of with that feature are Metz units and they are quite pricey (but also very nice, at least on par with the Canon units).

the main flash can be fired alone, or both can be fired. The bottom alone can't. The power is about 80% to the big and 20% to the small flash tubes.
 01/01/2006 12:45:40 PM · #14
Thanks everyone for your input. I am still planning to do a bit of studying on flashes, but at this point I am pretty convinced to spend the extra $$ on 580EX now, but have it last me longer. Eventually I am going to have to buy a second camera anyhow, so I will need something that will be compatible.

Again, thank you all, and a Happy New year!
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