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Canon HF-DC1 Flash

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PC Wheeler

PC Wheeler

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This looks like a good accessory for Canon cameras, and appears to work with most of the P&S models. This is the blurb at one seller's website:

"The High Power Flash HF-DC1 is a supplementary unit that operates wirelessly and increases the effective flash range up to approximately 30 feet. The HF-DC1 flash is supplied with a mounting bracket so it can be attached to the camera, but it can also be hand-held or mounted on a tripod or accessory light stand to adjust the lighting angle for professional quality results."

Sells for around $100.

This seems like a good thing to have for shooting flash in larger room.

I can find no real info at the Canon site, other than a list of compatible cameras. Does anyone have experience with this device? I would use it most with an SD700IS.

Phil
 
Answering my own post :)

I'm going to pass on this flash. Reason it that it is 6 inches in one dimension!

Far too large to be an accessory to an SD series camera.

Phil
 
The flash is approx 2.5" x 1.75" x 1".
 
tmr said:
The flash is approx 2.5" x 1.75" x 1".
Click to expand...
Hmm .. where did I get 6 inches?

Perhaps the dimensions were in cm.

Thanks .. I will check.

Phil
 
I found this list of specs in a forum, posted by an owner with the manual in-hand:

Here are the specifications: "Guide Number: 18, Flash Interval: 7.5 seconds or less (with a new battery), Angle of Coverage: Covers a 28 mm (35mm film equivalent) angle of field, Battery: CR123A or DL123 lithium battery, Operating Temperature: 32-104F or 0-40C, Dimensions (main unit): 1.81 x 2.60 x 1.17 inches or 46 x 66 x 29.7 mm, Weight: 2.3 oz or 65 g. Dimensions (bracket): 4.13 x .87 x .67 inches or 105 x 22 x 17 mm (largest section), Weight (bracket): Approx. 1.1 oz or 31 g."

So the main unit dimensions are tolerable for use with an SD series camera while traveling (I think the earlier incorrect dimensions were from B&H Photo's site).

I ordered one last night, based on this new info. All comments I're read about the HF-DC1 are very positive. And I soon will have three Canon cameras it will work with (the DSLRs are not on the "applicable product" list at the Canon website, but those have more powerful built-in flash anyway).

Phil
 
I was also considering the Canon model until i saw one flash from Metz that is comesticaly more apealing and also has according to my taste better capabilities. I will prbably be ordering this one in the near future.

mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital Data sheet

Guide number with ISO 100/21° (85mm) 28
Guide number with ISO 100/21° (35mm) 22
Clip-on wide-angle attachment
Illumination above ... mm 24
LCD or LED display LCD
Manual flash mode
Tele-computer apertures 8
Metz remote slave function
Lighting Control Indicator
Automatic cut-off

Possible power sources
Rechargable battery
Alkaline mangan battery

Flash recovery time (in sec. ca.)
NiCd. min. 0.3
NiCd. max. 6
Alkaline mangan batteries min. 0.3
Alkaline mangan batteries max. 8
NiMH-rechargable max. 0.3
NiMH rechargable max. 6

Min. number of flashes by full light output
NiCd rechargable 600 mAh 35
Alkaline Mangan battery 100
NiMH rechargable 1200 mAh 100

Weight without batteries in gram (ca.)
Head 140
Powerpack

Dimensions in mm (ca.)

L = Lamp pole
C = Control Unit
G = Generator
Width L 75,5
C/G
Height L 83
C/G
Depth
 
Given that all my P&S cameras are now Canons, I'm more comfortable with the Canon unit than a 3rd party mode. Based on user comments, I know it will do what I want.

Phil
 
Look out with replacements flashes.

The canon camera uses e-TTL; which means it gives 2 flashes for one picture:
1) first flash for some measurements
2) second flash for the actual picture.
you almost can not see the 2 flashes separately, you mostly see 1 flash.

Using a standard slave will give dark/bad results since the standard flash synchronize with the first measure-flash. and has no time to recharge its capacitors for the second flash.

Other flashes will work if:
1) they support eTLL flash method
2) or they can very quickly flash 2 times after each-other.

My non-canon slave flash does work (80 % of the time) with a canon compact camera (with eTTL) if I force my flash to 1/4 power; so its internal charge is large enough to give 2 x 1/4 flashes after each other wihout recharging.

--
Ivo P.
 
seemed safer since I will use it only with Canon P&S cameras.

Phil
 
I ordered the Metz 28 CS-2 today and can't wait to take photos with it. I have downloaded the manual before ordering it just to make sure this was the flash i was looking for and from the content of this manual there seems to be so many opportunitys and options that the choice was clear for me now. I would have liked to go with the Canon HF DC-1 but the one from Metz seems to have much more options.

I hope myA620 and this Flash will go well together but i'm sure they will because of the reviews i have read about it.
 
I now have the HF-DC1: Works great with my SD700IS (and not much larger).

Phil
 
The Metz has some nice features and plenty of power. I tried one for a weekend with my former Panasonic FZ5, but just ordered the Canon HF-DC1 to use with my SD700IS. I think it is a better natch to the smaller camera, though the Metz should bejust fine for the larger A series.
--
Russ in Omaha
 
I recently got a Metz 28 CS-2, largely based on Dave Gard's 'review'. I'm having fun with it, and it has a lot of features. It was a snap to set it up for my s80, and it also works with two other Canons in our household. Unlike some other slave flashes, this one really does adjust its output, and you can set ISO, F-stop, tweak the exposure, etc.

I looked for the manual at http://www.metz.de , but it's missing. (I'll mention that the paper manual has a bit of a repetitive writing style, but it's okay.) Did you find the manual online somewhere else?

Here's Dave's review:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=12578319
 
I have the Metz 28 cs-2. Great little unit that works with 5 different cameras. Very flexible, but I wish it had a bit more power, but then it would be bigger. Highly recommended if you looking to extend the flash range of your digicam and/or avoid large aperatures.

Greg
 
I received my Metz 28 CS-2 on Friday and have been playing with it for a few days now and all i can say is WOW. This little marvel has a lot of options and from what i saw with the test i made, it is very performant.

What i like about it is that the bracket slides away from my A620 so it is farther away from the lens (you can always put the flash on another tripod) eliminating red eyes, and also i like the fact that it uses 2 AAA batteries compared to a little round lithium battery on the Canon HF DC1.

And there are lots of manual adjustment so i will use this flash for close up photography which will be better than the built in flash. Beeing able to light the subject from the side will add new dimension to my photos. All in all i feel i have made a good choice.

Wowsers
 
PC Wheeler said:
Answering my own post :)

I'm going to pass on this flash. Reason it that it is 6 inches in
one dimension!
Click to expand...
I have the flash. It's smaller than a pack of
cigarettes (sorry for the politically incorrect
reference).

It comes with a flat bracket that mounts to
the bottom of the flash, and to the bottom
of the camera. That part is 6" long.

Imaging lining your camera and the flash
up on a 6" long ruler, and you have the
idea.
 
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