Flash suggestions other than 550EX

chubby · Sep 29, 2003

I am wanting a flash to help with indoor shots. From reading some of the other threads I have noticed the 550EX works great. But it is more money than I want to spend.

I can get not too bad indoor shots after PS processing. Having said that, will it be worth my while buying the 420EX? I understand that I will still need to do some PS processing.

Or is there another recommended flash?

Or should just keep on using the kit flash?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Jay

SuperMax · Sep 30, 2003

I'm pleased with mine. Works alot like 550EX.

chubby said:
I am wanting a flash to help with indoor shots. From reading some
of the other threads I have noticed the 550EX works great. But it
is more money than I want to spend.

I can get not too bad indoor shots after PS processing. Having
said that, will it be worth my while buying the 420EX? I
understand that I will still need to do some PS processing.

Or is there another recommended flash?

Or should just keep on using the kit flash?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Jay

jschroeder · Sep 30, 2003

I had asked this on an earlier post but had not seen an answer...

Can you tell us what the trigger voltage is on your Sigma flash? You will need a digital voltmeter to measure. Canon recommends (and their flashes comply) with a trigger voltage of 6 volts or less. The new electronic cameras can be damaged by flashes with high voltages (i.e my ild Vivitar 283 was in excess of 100 volts).

Thanks,
Jeff

TimOC · Sep 30, 2003

Do you have a ballpark figure on the price?
Thanks.
-Tim

SuperMax said:
I'm pleased with mine. Works alot like 550EX.

mikelbrady · Sep 30, 2003

I paid about $180 (us) at B&H http://www.bhphotovieo.com . We bought a Canon 420EX first, then read baout the Sigma Super 500, and returned the Canon for the Sigma. The Sigma 500 is much more feature rich than the 420EX, for about the same price. I beleive it is also a more powerfull flash. The Sigma seems to be working great with our D300.

TimOC said:
SuperMax said:

I'm pleased with mine. Works alot like 550EX.

Click to expand...

TimOC · Sep 30, 2003

I Googled the Sigma 550 Super DG (hmmm, sounds kinky) and it's around $189.
-Tim

TimOC said:
SuperMax said:

I'm pleased with mine. Works alot like 550EX.

Click to expand...

TimOC · Sep 30, 2003

Thanks for the price info. I'll have to look into one of these.
-Tim

mikelbrady said:
I paid about $180 (us) at B&H http://www.bhphotovieo.com . We bought a
Canon 420EX first, then read baout the Sigma Super 500, and
returned the Canon for the Sigma. The Sigma 500 is much more
feature rich than the 420EX, for about the same price. I beleive
it is also a more powerfull flash. The Sigma seems to be working
great with our D300.

Juli Valley · Sep 30, 2003

chubby said:
I am wanting a flash to help with indoor shots. From reading some
of the other threads I have noticed the 550EX works great. But it
is more money than I want to spend.

I can get not too bad indoor shots after PS processing. Having
said that, will it be worth my while buying the 420EX? I
understand that I will still need to do some PS processing.

Or is there another recommended flash?

Or should just keep on using the kit flash?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Jay

--
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=19579
Canon 1oD, Olympus C-3o4oZ.
Juli

http://www.pbase.com/image/12306088.jpg

misha · Sep 30, 2003

jschroeder said:
I had asked this on an earlier post but had not seen an answer...

Can you tell us what the trigger voltage is on your Sigma flash?
You will need a digital voltmeter to measure. Canon recommends
(and their flashes comply) with a trigger voltage of 6 volts or
less. The new electronic cameras can be damaged by flashes with
high voltages (i.e my ild Vivitar 283 was in excess of 100 volts).

I understand that all new hotshoe flashes have safe voltages - the 283 had high voltage, but the newer 285HV is fine, so at least a new (not used) Sigma 500 will not be a hazard to the camera.
--
Misha

SuperMax · Sep 30, 2003

Don't have a digital voltmeter available. Flash is advertised for use w/digital cameras, so I assume it's safe. Nothing's gone "phtttt" yet!

jschroeder said:
I had asked this on an earlier post but had not seen an answer...

Can you tell us what the trigger voltage is on your Sigma flash?
You will need a digital voltmeter to measure. Canon recommends
(and their flashes comply) with a trigger voltage of 6 volts or
less. The new electronic cameras can be damaged by flashes with
high voltages (i.e my ild Vivitar 283 was in excess of 100 volts).

Thanks,
Jeff

SuperMax · Sep 30, 2003

Mine was $189.95 plus shipping on eBay. Someone (I forget who or what vendor) got one for $189.90 w/ free shipping.

TimOC said:
SuperMax said:

I'm pleased with mine. Works alot like 550EX.

Click to expand...

Jeremiahd · Sep 30, 2003

Sigma also makes the 500 DG ST. It goes for around $129.00 and from what Ive read, it is the same as the Super but only lacks wireless capability.

misha · Sep 30, 2003

Jeremiahd said:
Sigma also makes the 500 DG ST. It goes for around $129.00 and from
what Ive read, it is the same as the Super but only lacks wireless
capability.

BHPhoto site lists these additional Super features:

LCD Display
Features an Illuminated LCD panel.
• Strobe Effect

The "multi pulse" features enable reduced power setting from 1/4 to 1/128 in 6 steps and the pulse frequency of the flash can be set from 1Hz to 199Hz.
• High-speed sync

High-speed sync & wireless TTL features are supported when used with applicable cameras.
• Modeling Light

Incorporates "modeling flash" mode to provide proper light distribution to check the shadow of the subject.

--
Misha

purejoy · Sep 30, 2003

i have the 420ex and love it

chubby said:
I am wanting a flash to help with indoor shots. From reading some
of the other threads I have noticed the 550EX works great. But it
is more money than I want to spend.

I can get not too bad indoor shots after PS processing. Having
said that, will it be worth my while buying the 420EX? I
understand that I will still need to do some PS processing.

Or is there another recommended flash?

Or should just keep on using the kit flash?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Jay

mike bustad · Sep 30, 2003

Why? So many say the 500 works great and have no problems with it. Plus the 500 is more like the Canon 550. Just wondering?
--
Tanglefoot47

Mark Marshall · Sep 30, 2003

I think the build quality of the Canon may be more rugged but my DG seems plenty robust for my usage. Time will tell (MTBF, etc) if it's "built to last" but it's a sweet unit for the price. ~ m²

mike bustad said:
Why? So many say the 500 works great and have no problems with it.
Plus the 500 is more like the Canon 550. Just wondering?
--
Tanglefoot47

--

'Brothers and sisters, we've learned that there's some bad bokeh going around out there. So like, just be careful man, alright?' (If Wavy Gravy emceed PMA)

Mark Marshall · Sep 30, 2003

Everything you listed works great with the 300D except modeling light requires a better camera. Unless you've gotten it to work - tell me how. The Super is worth the difference if you can afford it (just like the 420 vs the 550 I suppose). ~ m²

misha said:
Jeremiahd said:

Sigma also makes the 500 DG ST. It goes for around $129.00 and from
what Ive read, it is the same as the Super but only lacks wireless
capability.

Click to expand...

BHPhoto site lists these additional Super features:

LCD Display
Features an Illuminated LCD panel.
• Strobe Effect
The "multi pulse" features enable reduced power setting from 1/4 to
1/128 in 6 steps and the pulse frequency of the flash can be set
from 1Hz to 199Hz.
• High-speed sync
High-speed sync & wireless TTL features are supported when used
with applicable cameras.
• Modeling Light
Incorporates "modeling flash" mode to provide proper light
distribution to check the shadow of the subject.

--
Misha

--

'Brothers and sisters, we've learned that there's some bad bokeh going around out there. So like, just be careful man, alright?' (If Wavy Gravy emceed PMA)

George Chen · Sep 30, 2003

Does the DG ST have flash exposure compensation? This sounds like the critical feature according to many on this forum. DG ST for $129 with FEC would seem to be the clear winner over 420 EX at $170 with no FEC.

mike bustad · Sep 30, 2003

George Chen said:
Does the DG ST have flash exposure compensation? This sounds like
the critical feature according to many on this forum. DG ST for
$129 with FEC would seem to be the clear winner over 420 EX at $170
with no FEC.

--
Tanglefoot47

George Chen · Sep 30, 2003

Amazon. B&H has it for $139. Remember, this is the DG ST, not the DG super. I know the DG super has FEC. Does anyone know if the DG ST has FEC?

mike bustad said:
George Chen said:

Does the DG ST have flash exposure compensation? This sounds like
the critical feature according to many on this forum. DG ST for
$129 with FEC would seem to be the clear winner over 420 EX at $170
with no FEC.

Click to expand...

--
Tanglefoot47

Flash suggestions other than 550EX

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