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What flash do you use?

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Bill Neiswender

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Looking for a flash and wanted to check around and see what all others use. I'm not into photography full time and really don't want to spend a pile on a flash. I found a Canon speedlite 420EX for 125.00 but don't know alot about any of them. What's the big diff between the 420 and 550?
 
I use the onboard flash because its always there.
--
JR
 
I bought it used about a year ago for $225.00. Used...But now it can sell for close to $300.00 Used. That is because the 580EX-I is $450.00.

It is a great flash...Can act as a master or slave. Very close to the 580ex in Power.
If you don't need the 580ex added features.
--
Peter :-)



Enjoy your photography images, even if your wife doesn't ! ;-(
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Cameras in profile.
 
Yes. I would get the flash that is recomended for your camera to get the usefullness of the flash> The 420ex will not work.
--
JR
 
and it works fine on the 350d and 30d. I don't know about newer models, but it works great for me on those two bodies.
 
Bill Neiswender said:
Looking for a flash and wanted to check around and see what all
others use. I'm not into photography full time and really don't want
to spend a pile on a flash. I found a Canon speedlite 420EX for
125.00 but don't know alot about any of them. What's the big diff
between the 420 and 550?
Click to expand...
Not sure what you have for a camera, it is some kind of Rebel in this forum.

I have a 350D (XT) and have the 420EX. I originally bought the 420EX when I had my 300D Rebel. I use it a lot, it is on my camera right now (beside my keyboard). I use it in daylight, dark, low light, etc.

I've had my flash now for 2 - 3 years (I honestly don't remember).

I paid full price for mine, somewhere in the $225 - $250 range.

If you read up on flashes, you are told to get a 580EX-2 for your first flash as it can act as a master flash. The 580EX2 is a much better flash (I am trying to get one now) but it is also $400.

If you just need an external flash, get the 420EX for $125, you won't be sorry. If you decide that you really want to get a more powerful flash (580EX2 or whatever replaces it) later, you can still use the 420EX as a slave with the 580EX2 acting as master.

--
-=Glen=-

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I use the 430EX and its all the flash I currently need.
--
Canon XTi, Speedlite 430 EX, EF-S 18-55, EF-S 60 Macro
 
I too have the 430 but there are times that I could use more power. I bounce virtually every flash shot I do and some times I use the built in diffuser and bounce. It uses every thing she has to offer and I still have to bring em up a little in RAW to get what I need from time to time so I wish I would have gotten the 580 instead. Too bad.... So sad. Even then, it's still a great flash.
 
The 420EX willwork just fine on the XTi.

The 430EX, newer, has some advantages over the 420EX, but not enough to really matter to a snapshooter.

The 430 has more manual falsh capabilities, but so what.

I have a 580EX and a 420EX, and they work well together. For an on-camera fully automatic flash, the 420EX is just fine.

BAK
 
Where did you come up with this bit of information? The 420EX is widely used on the Digital Rebel series, among others. It isn't the flagship model of the Canon line, but it can and does work quite well with the 350D/400D. And the 1DsMk111 if you want it to.

--
Crime Scene Photography
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Frankly, this is by far the most advanced model Canon has to offer and well worth the money. But since you didn't mention what you're trying to achieve and if you ever see yourself using more than one flash, I guess the 420EX will do just fine. (It did for me until the 580EX II joined the team, and now I cannot imagine using the 420EX for anything other than a Slave flash.)
 
Naturalist said:
I use the 430EX and its all the flash I currently need.
--
Canon XTi, Speedlite 430 EX, EF-S 18-55, EF-S 60 Macro
Click to expand...
Me too. I am amazed at what a good job it does when you bounce it off a wall or cieling (the light, not the flash).
 
Bill Neiswender said:
I have the Canon Rebel EOS XTI. Will it work on that? The 420?
Click to expand...
yes, BUT, the flash's AF-assist beams are not properly aligned for the XTi's 9-point AF system.

this is a minor drawback, one whcih you probably will not notice.

the 430EX is supposedly more powerful and recycles faster than the 420.

i still ended up buying a 420 for my rebel XT, i have absolutely no regrets. as for the AF assist beam, i always use center point AF so it wouldnt' be an issue anway. a friend of mine has a 30D (9 point AF) and 420EX flash, he has no problems with it.

it will work just fine, it may be a tad limited, but you will save some money. it's all up to you
 
I have a hand-me-down 550 EX I got for free. A bit big, but better than the pop up.
 
hi

i bought this flashgun a month ago, its really good, better than the canon 580ex, exposures are great and more predictable. Although the build quality of canon 580ex is the best. Unfortunately I pressed the dof preview button on my camera which made the flash light up for 3 seconds then I went to take another flash and the flash tube inside went bang. Im not sure if that caused it but I cant think of anything else leading up to that moment. Anyways its of for repair, and ive bought a second metz 58 af1 to keep me going.
 
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