The new flash 270EX

The 270EX can have its flash output set manually with the newest cameras. It looks like the Sunpack can't do that. Doesn't that mean the Sunpack always emits a pre-flash? Not good for certain twitchy subjects (I have a sister who always looks droopy eyed with pre-flash) or for triggering normal optical slaves.

Responses much appreciated - I think I'll go for it, given its compact size.

I did consider shooting horizontally and cropping vertically, but was considering a have my cake and eat it too approach and didn't want to make a bad purchase decision. Sounds like it's not limiting when shooting horizontally given the MP, and could yield some interesting results when I do shoot vert. That is something I look forward to working with creatively.

Thanks again.

ljfinger said:

Up until now, the Sunpak RD2000 was my choice, at $80. It's small
yet powerful. I may still be choosing that one because it has a
diffuser for wide angle that can also be used as a catchlight panel.
In addition, the Canon can't be used as a slave, which would be a big
advantage for me.

I think a lot of people are interested in a tiny, yet far more
powerful than the popup, flash.

Click to expand...

I am one of them.

But, from what I read, the Sunpak seems like a better choice. It bounces (do I understand that correctly?!), has a wide angle diffuser, plus works as a slave.

If I'm correct in my understanding, why would anyone pick the new Canon flash over the RD2000? Are there any compatibility issues with the latter?

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon XSi, SD890; Pany FZ18 & more:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/index.php

gail said:

ljfinger said:

Up until now, the Sunpak RD2000 was my choice, at $80. It's small
yet powerful. I may still be choosing that one because it has a
diffuser for wide angle that can also be used as a catchlight panel.
In addition, the Canon can't be used as a slave, which would be a big
advantage for me.

I think a lot of people are interested in a tiny, yet far more
powerful than the popup, flash.

Click to expand...

I am one of them.

But, from what I read, the Sunpak seems like a better choice. It
bounces (do I understand that correctly?!),

Click to expand...

Yes.

Member said:

has a wide angle
diffuser, plus works as a slave.

Click to expand...

I didn't know it could be a slave. Are you sure about that?

Member said:

If I'm correct in my understanding, why would anyone pick the new
Canon flash over the RD2000? Are there any compatibility issues with
the latter?

Click to expand...

Yes, the RD2000 didn't work with the 5DII when it first came out. They have a firmware upgrade for it to make it compatible (free).

The Canon has a higher guide number (27 versus 20) and a zoom head (28mm and 50mm settings) as well.

For me, the wide panel is so flexible as a wide panel and/or catchlight panel, that I'll probably choose it over the 270EX. It's odd that Canon left out such a simple accessory.

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)

vikram747 said:

in my opinion, anyone buying a first flashgun should save more money
and go straight for the 430ex.

Click to expand...

Why?!

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon XSi, SD890; Pany FZ18 & more:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/index.php

gail said:

vikram747 said:

in my opinion, anyone buying a first flashgun should save more money
and go straight for the 430ex.

Click to expand...

Why?!

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon XSi, SD890; Pany FZ18 & more:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/index.php

Click to expand...

-red AF assist
-more power
-more flexible bounce and swivel
-lots of diffuser options including wide angle panel, stofen etc...

-Most importantly for me, having the satisfaction that I spent a little more money on something that is fully featured and that I won't have to spend again in the foreseeable future to upgrade my flash.

Ultimately, the decision is always a compromise between price, size and feature set and will differ according to individual preferences and situations. I recently bought the 430exii for 172GBP from amazon and felt it added more quality to my indoor shots than expensive/heavier lenses. I am still within the return period for my 430ex but have not felt for one second that I should return it and get the 270ex instead. I might be wrong but it feels to me that the 270ex provides only a small upgrade to the onboard flash, which may be useful in certain situations but if you have just the one flash then might as well get a proper one.

Also, I should clarify that I am only speaking within the context of the 1000D/500D-300D range.

Thank you.

I don't use the flash a lot and, when I do, it's for snapshot type family photos. The power of the built-in flash actually serves my limited needs for flash, but I do hate the shadows. So I think this type of small, portable flash will solve that problem. But if I ever get more into flash photography, I'll get a full featured one.

I used to own the Nikon SD30; loved the size but it didn't bounce so I sold it when I sold my Nikon 5400.

Now I need to decide between the new Canon flash and Sunpak RD2000. I suspect the one with the wide angle diffuser will win out. Wonder why Canon didn't add a wide angle diffuser. I think it's an important feature.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon XSi, SD890; Pany FZ18 & more:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/index.php

ljfinger said:

Lee Jay said:

has a wide angle
diffuser, plus works as a slave.

Click to expand...

I didn't know it could be a slave. Are you sure about that?

Click to expand...

My error. I am incorrect.

Lee Jay said:

The Canon has a higher guide number (27 versus 20) and a zoom head
(28mm and 50mm settings) as well.

Click to expand...

Does the two-step zoom head make up for the lack of a diffuser?

Lee Jay said:

It's
odd that Canon left out such a simple accessory.

Click to expand...

I agree.

The Canon is said to have Color temperature communication with the camera. Are you concerned at all about what one owner says about the inconsistent white balance of the RD2000?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=29806254

For the Sunpak flash, can it be controlled through a camera's menu system, such as with the XSi? The Canon can be set-up using the camera's rear monitor; can the Sunpak?

Here's a compatibility chart for the RD2000:

http://www.sunpak.jp/english/products/rd2000/rendou.html

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon XSi, SD890; Pany FZ18 & more:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/index.php

The 270EX has a Quick flash for use during continuous shooting (C.Fn-06). Not sure if the Sunpak does too. I'd find a Quick flash function very useful for taking inside shots of my fast moving grandchildren.
--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon XSi, SD890; Pany FZ18 & more:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/index.php

gail said:

Does the two-step zoom head make up for the lack of a diffuser?

Click to expand...

The 270EX zoom settings, 28mm and 50mm, are with respect to full-frame/35mm film cameras. On the 1.6x EOS bodies, the 28mm setting is good for lenses as short as 17mm.

The RD2000 coverage (on full-frame) is 32mm, and with the wide panel it's 24mm. On 1.6x EOS body the wide panel makes it wide enough to use with 15mm lens.

Member said:

For the Sunpak flash, can it be controlled through a camera's menu
system, such as with the XSi? The Canon can be set-up using the
camera's rear monitor; can the Sunpak?

Click to expand...

Maybe, but I don't think it likely.

Lemming51 said:

The RD2000 coverage (on full-frame) is 32mm, and with the wide panel
it's 24mm.

Click to expand...

I tested it with a 17-40L on the 5D. Without the wide panel, coverage was awful. With it, coverage was fairly uniform across the frame and not much difference than a full straight up bounce. So I'd say 24mm is a dramatic underestimate of its "wideness" with the diffuser down.

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)

I can't understand why the camera manufacturers struggle to provide good, useful small flashguns at a reasonable price.

This is quite an interesting little flash because of it's shape. If the flash head angled down as well as up it would be quite useful for macro photography using a short lens - but it appears that it doesn't. It would make a very useful little slave flash to add in to other set-ups - unfortunately it doesn't appear to offer either slave flash or wireless TTL.

Yet in the UK this will retail for about £150, only a bit less than the 430EX II, and more than something like a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with a reasonable head. And this is just for a small basic flashgun with most of the useful features left off it. A flashgun like this mainly uses standard electronic components and it doesn't contain precision optics or mechanical devices such as the shutter. The cases of most flashguns are of a standard you would expect on a very cheap electronic product.

It can only be a lack of competition that allows the manufacturers to carry on providing grossly over-priced flashguns, which lack basic features that would be useful to a lot of photographers. One of the odd things is that 20 years or more ago there was far more choice when it came to choosing a flashgun. However, in this day and age of huge choice it is surprising that there is much less choice when it comes to flashguns than there used to be. It appears that the manufacturers not only use the dedicated interface of their flashguns to add features, but deliberately lock independent manufacters out of the protocol used. About the only difference between a very cheap little flashgun and a more expensive dedicated one is simply the interface that allows the flashgun to communicate with the camera. This is not a technology issue, but simply a knowing the protocols and encoding issue. I think it is really about time there was some real competition when it came to camera flashes.

SteB said:

And this is just for a small basic
flashgun with most of the useful features left off it.

Click to expand...

Your overall comments are very insightful.

If the new Canon flash is going to be as expensive as you predict, then the Sunpak RD2000 will probably be a better deal for someone like me. Yes, too bad Canon chose to leave off such useful features.

--
gail ~ http://www.pbase.com/gailb
My digital camera BLOGs: Canon XSi, SD890; Pany FZ18 & more:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-logs/index.php

That's very much my thinking about getting the Sunpak RD2000. I thought I'd hang on to see what else came out and was very interested when I saw the 270EX. However, when I saw the price I lost interest. Whilst it might be a high introductory price the old 220EX is £129.99 in UK Pounds so I can't see it coming down much. I can get to RD2000 flashguns and still have change. If the Canon unit offered a bit more such as wireless TTL and manual power ratio control on the flash it might be worth the extra. As it is I can't see any real advantage of the 270EX compared to the Sunpak apart from better compatibility - and the Sunpak RD2000 has updatable firmware anyway.