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10/28/2004 08:15:56 AM · #1 |
Haaaa
My birthday is comming up and my wife wants to buy me a present.
First she agreed to buy me a 70-200MM Canon L lens, but because of some bills I had to pay, I will have to settle for something cheaper.
So now I want a Flash unit.
So now I'm searching the web to buy a good flash for my Rebel, but don't know what to buy.
Until now I decided to go for 1 of these 3 flash units:
Metz 54MZ-4
Canon 550EX
SIGMA EF 500 DG SUPER
What should I buy, why, and why not the others?
Pleaaaase help :-)
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10/28/2004 08:30:11 AM · #2 |
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10/28/2004 09:12:21 AM · #3 |
It doesn't have to be badass...
The 580EX is very expensive....
So what would be the real advantage?
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10/28/2004 09:13:44 AM · #4 |
From what I´ve read and heard the Sigma flash has similar capabilities to the Canon 550 flash for half the price. Litle less power but still more powerful than Canon 420.
Message edited by author 2004-10-28 09:14:13. |
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10/28/2004 09:18:43 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by garlic:
From what I´ve read and heard the Sigma flash has similar capabilities to the Canon 550 flash for half the price. Litle less power but still more powerful than Canon 420. |
Do you know if anyone has made a detailed comparion on the 550 and the sigma |
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10/28/2004 09:19:02 AM · #6 |
I have the 420EX and it's more than enough flash for general use. Battery life and recycle time are fantastic.
I use the Stoffen Omnibounce with it; I also have their plastic reflective type bounces too.
That being said, no flash is still better. Why not get a faster version of your "inside" lens instead? Something perhaps with IS? And maybe a monopod so you can shoot slower? |
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10/28/2004 09:48:09 AM · #7 |
I'd say "Go for the 550EX".
I have the 420EX and in many situation I wish I had the 550EX because of the Manual mode. Especially if you want to use it as a Slave unit. |
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10/28/2004 10:10:14 AM · #8 |
For the 300D, unless you hack the firmware, the 420EX will NOT give you flash exposure compensation. That means that if your flash is too bright or not birght enough, you can't affect the output of the flash to compensate.
Go for the 550EX unless you have the hacked firmware then the 420 would be OK, but the 550 is still better.
BTW, I have the 420, but I wish I had the 550. |
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10/28/2004 10:14:21 AM · #9 |
I was comparing prices for Flashes (the 550 vs. the 580) since I'm hoping to pick one of them up this weekend. The strangest thing was one big camera store had the 550 for $700! and another big store had the 580 for $544!! It just made NO sense. I'm waiting to hear back from the first one to see if the listed price is right for the 550. Why would the old model be $250 more than the new one?
Anyway, the price on the 550 should be coming down my guess is to around $400. There are tons on ebay as well.
P.S. I should mention that I already use the 550 for all my jobs (borrowed) and it's awesome. I had the 540EZ for about 2 weeks before I got rid of it..so sloooow and loud.
Message edited by author 2004-10-28 10:15:24. |
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10/28/2004 10:16:37 AM · #10 |
I dont have any answers for you but here are a couple of questions you should ask.
Can either be used as a slave with studio lighting- non e-ttl I'm pretty sure the 420 wont. A slave should be adjustable power output and not need any wires attached.
Does the Sigma suport e-ttl- last I checked nothing but canon stuff had ettl but that might have changed. |
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10/28/2004 10:37:20 AM · #11 |
The Canon 580EX is C$549.95 at Vistek.ca
The Canon 550EX is C$559 at Vistek.ca
Given this, why buy the 550EX when the 580EX is cheaper?
The 420EX is C$339
edit: Unless you put the Hacked firmware on your Rebel you won`t have Flash Exposure Compensation with the 420EX, but will have FEC on the 550EX
Message edited by author 2004-10-28 10:38:53.
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10/28/2004 10:53:55 AM · #12 |
Do these prices mean that the 550 is still a better flash than the 580? Or is Canon doing an introductory price for the 580? That last part is highly doubtful - stuff usually comes out way over priced and drops with time.
Anyway, does anyone know if the 580 is a 'better' flash?
550EX $539 at Henrys HENRY'S (sorry, for some reason it only links to the main page - not the flash page)
Message edited by author 2004-10-28 11:01:24. |
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10/28/2004 11:29:42 AM · #13 |
yow..where are you folks getting your pricing from?! I've seen the 550ex for $250-300...a steal! :)
Check ebay or bhphoto! |
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10/28/2004 11:30:55 AM · #14 |
| We're talking CND funds, are you talking US? Still cheaper, though, you're right. |
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10/28/2004 11:33:11 AM · #15 |
doh! ..my mistake...i shoulda noticed that.....! :)
...as an additional note the 580ex has a $20 rebate for a total of $450 usd on ebay or bhphoto as well...not too shabby! |
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10/28/2004 11:38:29 AM · #16 |
atleast those prices are what I'd think they'd be.......I think all the prices i've been seeing online for local camera stores are mixed up or attached to the wrong name.
on B&H the 580 is $450 or so and the 550 is $319 - THAT makes sense. |
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10/28/2004 11:44:58 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by Jelloeye:
doh! ..my mistake...i shoulda noticed that.....! :)
...as an additional note the 580ex has a $20 rebate for a total of $450 usd on ebay or bhphoto as well...not too shabby! |
When you add shipping it comes out to about C$600 and the rebate does not apply to Canada, plus Vistek has free shipping, overall more advantageous to get it from them.
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10/28/2004 11:50:51 AM · #18 |
Keep in mind, if you don't plan on using a flash a lot ... or if you usually don't mess with automatic settings ... why spend the loot on a professional flash.
I have the 420 (and the hacked firmware ... and some shame) and I love it.
Here's some of my portraits (not pro stuff, but better than average I think) |
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10/28/2004 11:55:43 AM · #19 |
oops... double post
Message edited by author 2004-10-28 11:57:09. |
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10/28/2004 11:56:22 AM · #20 |
I agree with Hopper. The 420ex is a great (and inexpensive) flash. If you install the firmware hack, then the 550's only major advantage is more power. If you need the power or don't want to bother with the hack, then buy the Sigma and don't look back. You can (and should) use the difference to get a 50mm f/1.8 lens if you don't already have one.
FWIW, the 420ex can be used as a slave.
Message edited by author 2004-10-28 11:56:52. |
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10/28/2004 11:57:53 AM · #21 |
personally, i need the power...the extra 10 feet on the 580 is almost convincing, but I don't have the extra $200 in differnece from the 550.
:-( |
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10/28/2004 01:42:58 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by nshapiro:
That being said, no flash is still better. Why not get a faster version of your "inside" lens instead? Something perhaps with IS? And maybe a monopod so you can shoot slower? |
I've got a AF 50 1.4 and the 70-200 2.8 VR for my D70, but isn't easy to shoot without a flash indoors ,because using the wide apertures (you are sooner shooting ISO1600 than you'd expect) limits your DOF and that can be a PIA a lot of times. Perhaps it is a bit different with the wideangle 17-something EF-S IS lens from Canon (wider angle is automatically more DOF), but on the other hand that is a slow lens to begin with.
One suggestion for whatever flash you buy: get a diffuser or bouncer. Be it a sock on the flash or a big dome like the Luminquest Ultrasoft, 80/20, etc etc. Direct flashlight sucks and harsh flash shadows suck even more.
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10/28/2004 01:52:45 PM · #23 |
yup good suggestions and I agree that sometimes you just GOTTA use a flash. Been there...like at an event that's nearly pitch black. (but I do think flashes are TOTALLY overused by most photographers - I agree that using a lens with IS with a monopod can be the answer in a lot of cases).
I started out using a piece of 4"x3" white poster board velcroed to the top of a 550. I lost it :-(..now I use the built in filter thingy. Put that down and you can shoot directly at people in the dark and have it not look bad.
Message edited by author 2004-10-28 13:54:34. |
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10/28/2004 02:05:47 PM · #24 |
the 580ex is capable of the new ETTL II - which uses distance info to help with metering.
this won't be of use on the 10d or 300d. the 20d however can take advantage of this, and probably why they were released about the same time.
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