Sunpak RD2000 TTL flash update for 5D Mark II

Formosa1 · Mar 6, 2009

Hi

I am thinking of buying a samll flash for my 5d mark II, I am thinking between RD2000 and 220EX.

I like the size and weight of RD2000, but not having sufficient information about its functions as compare with 220EX.

Can it be used in 1/200 of shutter speed, if not, what is the max shutter speed it can be used?

Price difference bettwen the 220EX and this RD2000 is not that much, the only missing thing from the 220EX is the bounce flash capability.

Thanks for your information in advance.

bronxbombers · Mar 6, 2009

Formosa1 said:
Hi

I am thinking of buying a samll flash for my 5d mark II, I am
thinking between RD2000 and 220EX.

I like the size and weight of RD2000, but not having sufficient
information about its functions as compare with 220EX.

Can it be used in 1/200 of shutter speed, if not, what is the max
shutter speed it can be used?

Price difference bettwen the 220EX and this RD2000 is not that much,
the only missing thing from the 220EX is the bounce flash capability.

Thanks for your information in advance.

flash is anything but my specialty but i can say that it does work at 1/200th if you the set that mode

it does not AF assist of either IR beam or strobing

it does bounce

it seems a little weaker than it did on my 50D, maybe the wider frame or something or maybe it was jsut the conditions

anyway, it does what i need, helps a bit for macro, a little fill flash, occasional snapshot type photo, quick ebay product shots inside, trick shots of falling water droplets, etc.

for serious stuff i like natural light shooting (or just a liltte fill for some stuff and it helps for macro too)

Lee Jay · Mar 6, 2009

What happens if you press the DOF-preview button (modeling light when a flash is attached and on)? Do you get the modeling light for 1 second?

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)

bronxbombers · Mar 6, 2009

ljfinger said:
What happens if you press the DOF-preview button (modeling light when
a flash is attached and on)? Do you get the modeling light for 1
second?

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)

no clue, i've always been a natural light shooter and modeling is the one type of photography i have never tried even once

edit: just gave it a quick try, didnt seem to do anything, but i have no idea what modeling is or if i had to put the camera in a special mode or anything i had it in 1/200th lock mode). anyway have to pack up for spring break, maybe someone else can play with it more and help

Lee Jay · Mar 6, 2009

bronxbombers said:
ljfinger said:

What happens if you press the DOF-preview button (modeling light when
a flash is attached and on)? Do you get the modeling light for 1
second?

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)

Click to expand...

no clue, i've always been a natural light shooter and modeling is the
one type of photography i have never tried even once

I use it for AF assist in horrible conditions. Hit the modeling light, hit the AF, it AF's in under a second, then shoot.

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)

Formosa1 · Mar 7, 2009

Hi

Thanks for you information.

New I know the function of the RD2000 better.

I really hate that Canon didn't put build-in flash so I need to buy a small flash!

Look like RD2000 will be my choice. But it is current out of stock in HK!

Regards

Formosa

Shamus1 · Apr 2, 2009

ljfinger said:
Is there a way to tell when ordering a new one if it already has the
firmware or not pre-order (serial numbers above....etc.)?

-----------

i just received my RD2000 today, works fine, but not the 5DMkII. Had already contacted TOCAD and they advised it would be a little while before units with the new FW are released, but that the upgrade is quick and they pay return postage. Mine is on the way to them.

Brief tests with my other Canons showed that it's a nice little unit, and the hotshoe folds into the unit, making it good to put in a pocket with no snags. When I read aboout the 180 deg swivel, I thought they meant the flash head, but I didn't read it carefully. Its the hotshoe that rotate 180 deg into the body.

Also discovered that a Universal Sto-Fen (with foot) diffuser will work just fine on it. Still a very nice unit.

maxxevv · Apr 2, 2009

Yes, its a nifty little flash. Its in my bag whenever I'm out with the camera.

Excellent for those times when you need the flash to fill in the shadows and also the catchlights, and especially so for those times when its more casual and spontaneous when the full sized flash units just scares everyone...

John P Thomas · Apr 2, 2009

I sent mine to ToCAD a few weeks ago asking for the firmware update. I no longer had the receipt so I was not sure if they would charge me for the update or not. About 10 days later it was back, updated and returned at no cost to me. It now works perfectly on my G9, 5D, and 5D MK2. In fact it works so well on the 5DMK2 that in a 40 ft long room it performs as well as my 580EX and is so much smaller!! I love it and will carry the RD2000 all the time.

Thanks to ToCAD for a job well done!

John

lhoward · Apr 9, 2009

Has anyone had any success sending in their RD2000 to be patched to support the 50D or 5D? I've tried to e-mail Tocad a few times but they have not responded to any of my queries. I'm hesitant to drop it in the mail without some sort of prior verification.

Thanks,

sabesh · Apr 9, 2009

Just wait for it .. Looks pretty sweet!
--
Sabesh
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabesh/

bronxbombers · Apr 9, 2009

Are you using the right email address?
They have been quite responsive to most people.

I dropped mine off in person though so I can't really comment about sending it in blindly.

lhoward said:
Has anyone had any success sending in their RD2000 to be patched to
support the 50D or 5D? I've tried to e-mail Tocad a few times but
they have not responded to any of my queries. I'm hesitant to drop
it in the mail without some sort of prior verification.

Thanks,

bronxbombers · Apr 9, 2009

it's a lot larger and bulkier though

so it depends if you are more looking for as close to a pop-up replacement as you can find or something more

sabesh said:
Just wait for it .. Looks pretty sweet!
--
Sabesh
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabesh/

lhoward · Apr 9, 2009

I've tried both the e-mail address and contact forms on their website:

http://tocad.com/contactus.html

Is there a different address I should try?

Thanks,

bronxbombers said:
Are you using the right email address?
They have been quite responsive to most people.
I dropped mine off in person though so I can't really comment about
sending it in blindly.

bronxbombers · Apr 9, 2009

Try [email protected] (Sally E. Wall, head of the service dept.). I think you should get an answer back within a day (although with Easter coming up, maybe a little longer perhaps?).

When I stopped by in person, she got it fixed on the spot in like 10 minutes.

lhoward said:
http://tocad.com/contactus.html

Is there a different address I should try?

Thanks,

bronxbombers said:

Are you using the right email address?
They have been quite responsive to most people.
I dropped mine off in person though so I can't really comment about
sending it in blindly.

Click to expand...

lhoward · Apr 10, 2009

Brilliant, thanks! I'll give that a try. Personally addressed e-mail almost always works better than a generic contact address.

bronxbombers said:
Try [email protected] (Sally E. Wall, head of the service dept.). I
think you should get an answer back within a day (although with
Easter coming up, maybe a little longer perhaps?).

MarkMe · Apr 10, 2009

Jon Stern said:
I looked at the RD2000 for my G9, but decided that I'd rather have
the PZ40X (which is about $130). Of course, it'd be nice if the flash
worked with my 5DII as well.

Do you know if the PZ40X has the same firmware issue with the 5DII?

Thanks!

I have a PZ40X and it is a lot smaller than the Canon 580. It works well. I probably would have bought the 2000 if I had known about it because I wanted a really small unit.
-
Mark
http://markm.zenfolio.com/

Shamus1 · Apr 14, 2009

I sent mine in via UPS and TOCAD's turnaround is very quick. Works great with all my Canon's now, including the 5DMkII. The Universal Sto-Fen works great with it. I might even consider a second one, but will probably wait to see the 270EX first. I don't think you need to worry about addressing it to a special person.

This will alsways be in my bag, next to the 580EX II as it make a great backup unit, just in case, and its perfect for my G9.

Thanks TOCAD - good service.

mpester · Apr 16, 2009

Shamus1 - did you just send it to this address?

http://tocad.com/contactus.html

Do I need to contact TOCAD first before send it in? Thx.

Shamus1 said:
I sent mine in via UPS and TOCAD's turnaround is very quick. Works
great with all my Canon's now, including the 5DMkII. The Universal
Sto-Fen works great with it. I might even consider a second one, but
will probably wait to see the 270EX first. I don't think you need to
worry about addressing it to a special person.

This will alsways be in my bag, next to the 580EX II as it make a
great backup unit, just in case, and its perfect for my G9.

Thanks TOCAD - good service.

deltazbar · Apr 28, 2009

Has anyone heard if Sunpak will be shipping the RD2000 with new firmware that will work immediately with a 5D mk2 (got mine today!)? I am in the UK, but would buy the flash here or in the US if I can get new firmware. It would be hard to send the flash to TOCAD, and I haven't heard whether there is a European distributor doing the updates (has anyone found one?).

Thanks.

Sunpak RD2000 TTL flash update for 5D Mark II

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