Flash for Canon

I am about to purchase a flash for my Canon 30d. I have narrowed it down to a Canon 580 exII (my preferred choice!) or a Metz 54 mz-4 or Metz 58 af1. The Metz flashguns look better and have a second "mini flash" built in BUT in my past experience, non Canon items never work as well as the canon - canon things do. There always seems to be a compromise when the non manufacturer equipment is connected and if you ring for technical assistance they always blame each other for non syncing problems
Have they cured these problems now or is it better to stick with the 580?

All advice appreciated

kc

I have and love a 54 MZ-4 for on camera ETTL/auto use. I found auto mode much more reliable than a 430/580 in whatever mode, and I have the option of using ettl if I want. It sync's at 1/250 fine with the updated m3 foot, and all the features work as they are supposed to. i've been happy enough with it that the 580II/af58 havent popped up on my radar.

That said when im using flash off camera I dont use ttl, if you are looking for a multi flash off camera solution (if not now then possibly in the future) you may want the functionality the 580/58 AF offer. Soooo, as always it really depends on what you want to do with said equipment!

Hello kcsun,

I have the Metz 54 mz-4 with the m3 foot. I baught it around 2 years ago, and love it. The auto mode is much more accurate than most ETTl, even the ETTL2.

That being siad, The Canon 580EX2 has some very nice new features, like the foot for one, and Now the newest Quantum Qflash has the ability to receive information from the Canon flash, so this does add a potential long term connection. Even though I love my 54MZ, and really ike using the wink (little front flash) as a kicker, I do believe that if the 580EX2 was available at the time I purchased the Metz, I might have gone the other way.

FWIW...HIH... Best Regards, Matt K