walshy
Well-known member
Can anybody tell me if there is a major trade off between these two models as i’m getting one of them tomorrow? The 550 is £275 and £170- £100 respectively?will the difference be that important? --Guy
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420 vs 550
- Thread starter walshy
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grablife
Senior Member
550 is more powerful and has a higher guide number. It projects a wider infared focusing pattern than the 420. It also can act as a master flash in a wireless setup. It can be set for 2nd curtain sync.
420 can only act as a slave in a wireless setup. If you're using it for any camera other than the SLRs, you're probably better off getting the 420. It's a better value.
420 can only act as a slave in a wireless setup. If you're using it for any camera other than the SLRs, you're probably better off getting the 420. It's a better value.
Martin Eager56124
Senior Member
Bear in mind that if you have a G2 (which from your other posts I believe you have) then the G2 can't take advantage of some features of either the 420ex or 550ex, such as the IR autofocus assist beam, the high speed shutter synch (above 1/250), second curtain flash and so on (the G2 is classed as a Type B camera, not type A).
Therefore, For the G2, the 550 is probably overkill. But if you need the extra flash range or the ability to drive slave flash units then the 550 would be worth it.
Most G2 owners seem to have the 420ex - I recently got a 420ex and its working very well with the G2. Shame the G2 can't take advantage of all its features, but otherwise I'm happy with it.
One final thing I would say is that the 420ex already feels a big unit when mounted on top of the G2 and is on the threshold of feeling unbalanced (it isn't but it's getting close to being that way). The 550ex is a signficantly bigger unit - in dimensions and weight - and personally I wouldn't relish the prospect of one mounted on top of my G2.
Cheers
Martin
http://photos.runic.com
Therefore, For the G2, the 550 is probably overkill. But if you need the extra flash range or the ability to drive slave flash units then the 550 would be worth it.
Most G2 owners seem to have the 420ex - I recently got a 420ex and its working very well with the G2. Shame the G2 can't take advantage of all its features, but otherwise I'm happy with it.
One final thing I would say is that the 420ex already feels a big unit when mounted on top of the G2 and is on the threshold of feeling unbalanced (it isn't but it's getting close to being that way). The 550ex is a signficantly bigger unit - in dimensions and weight - and personally I wouldn't relish the prospect of one mounted on top of my G2.
Cheers
Martin
http://photos.runic.com
Todd Walker
Veteran Member
Just a point of correction -- the focus assist beam on the EX flashes is not infrared. It is very visible red light. Not that it matters, since the Canon digitals don't trigger it anyway (which is one thing that really ticks me off since the Pro90 has no AF assist light -- the light on the 420 would be perfect if it worked!)
Todd
Todd
--Todd Walker http://twalker.d2g.com
walshy,
The 550EX has full manual controls (you can set flash power from 1/1
to 1/128), is more powerful, has a stroboscopic mode, can be used as
a master in wireless multi-flash setups, can be used with external
battery packs, etc... and it has a 2nd curtain sync mode, which works
with the G2.
Since I wanted a flash that offers me maximum flexibility, I chose
the 550EX. It is not cheap, but it won't be outdated in 1 year and I
will be able to use it when I get the D30 successor next year
Shabok
The 550EX has full manual controls (you can set flash power from 1/1
to 1/128), is more powerful, has a stroboscopic mode, can be used as
a master in wireless multi-flash setups, can be used with external
battery packs, etc... and it has a 2nd curtain sync mode, which works
with the G2.
Since I wanted a flash that offers me maximum flexibility, I chose
the 550EX. It is not cheap, but it won't be outdated in 1 year and I
will be able to use it when I get the D30 successor next year
Shabok
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