EOS RP external flash suggestions

Hi, I recently upgraded to the Eos RP from Eos rebel t2i. I had a very nice external flash "Sigma EF-610 DG" that worked perfectly with the t2i producing excellent results with very little effort. Most of the time I would just use full Auto and the Flash auto adjusts it's output perfectly. Now the flash, although in perfect condition and fully ETTL II compatible, still does not seem to work properly with the RP. No matter what mode I try or setting I chose, it always fires with full power and overexposes the photos.

So first part of my question, I know the flash is outdated and unfortunately discontinued from sigma, it has no option for firmware upgrade, but - is there anything I can try before buying a new flash? Eg. Adaptors, triggers, settings, magic tricks??

Second part, If I have to buy a new flash, I am looking into something cheap and lightweight like the godox tt350c, would it work properly with the full auto mode and auto adjust its power without me interfering? Because I read somewhere that the RP only allows ETTL with full auto shooting for canon ex/el flashes and nothing else - is this true?

Honestly I don't want to adjust anything when it comes to using the flash apart from aiming and bouncing off the lights  and I don't want to spend that much on a canon flash because I am only using the camera occasionally for events and gatherings and I don't know what to do with the old equipment, even shops refused to buy the old rebel saying it's too old 

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

I have R5 and other mirrorless bodies and seldom use flash but my old pre- mirrorless flashes work with the new bodies but I don't try to "adjust" them.

Wish you well.

Kent

Michael R A A wrote:

Hi, I recently upgraded to the Eos RP from Eos rebel t2i. I had a very nice external flash "Sigma EF-610 DG" that worked perfectly with the t2i producing excellent results with very little effort. Most of the time I would just use full Auto and the Flash auto adjusts it's output perfectly. Now the flash, although in perfect condition and fully ETTL II compatible, still does not seem to work properly with the RP. No matter what mode I try or setting I chose, it always fires with full power and overexposes the photos.

So first part of my question, I know the flash is outdated and unfortunately discontinued from sigma, it has no option for firmware upgrade, but - is there anything I can try before buying a new flash? Eg. Adaptors, triggers, settings, magic tricks??

Second part, If I have to buy a new flash, I am looking into something cheap and lightweight like the godox tt350c, would it work properly with the full auto mode and auto adjust its power without me interfering? Because I read somewhere that the RP only allows ETTL with full auto shooting for canon ex/el flashes and nothing else - is this true?

Honestly I don't want to adjust anything when it comes to using the flash apart from aiming and bouncing off the lights and I don't want to spend that much on a canon flash because I am only using the camera occasionally for events and gatherings and I don't know what to do with the old equipment, even shops refused to buy the old rebel saying it's too old

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

I’m guessing you don’t necessarily want the highest spec or the biggest price, so here’s a sensible suggestion - just buy a used EX series flash.  I have an old 430EX, a 430EX iii RT, and a 600EX ii RT.  They all work perfectly on my R5 and RP.  The 430 series are all a good size on the RP.  There is also a 320EX and 270EX, and also a 580 or 600 but I think those two would be rather large on an RP body.

There are 3rd party flashes that probably work, but you can never be sure of compatibility now or in the future.  With a Canon unit it will work on future bodies too (yes even with the new hotshoe).

The Godox V350C worked well with my RP, but I prefer the EL100. It lacks the LCD, but it is a lost faster to reposition.

I do very much like the proprietary batteries in the Godox flashes, they last longer and recharge the flash faster than AA batteries.

The Canon 430EX III RT is perfect for the RP and can be used as a master should you decide to expand. It is on sale refurbished at Canon’s website for $209.

Michael R A A wrote:

Thank you all for your suggestions, I will look for good offers on the Canon EL100 / godox tt350c and update. Thanks again

I have both of these and the EL-100 is shirt pocket size and works fine. The tt350c is slightly larger but much more capable, plus it's cheaper.

Michael R A A wrote:

... is there anything I can try before buying a new flash? Eg. Adaptors, triggers, settings, magic tricks??

Not if you want TTL. You could use a single-pin adapter, and maybe use it as manual-only, but it's pretty much a no-go as you suspected.

Second part, If I have to buy a new flash, I am looking into something cheap and lightweight like the godox tt350c, would it work properly with the full auto mode and auto adjust its power without me interfering?

Should. But I'd recommend learning to shoot flash with the camera in M mode, so you can fully control flash/ambient balance, rather than leaving it up to the camera.

Because I read somewhere that the RP only allows ETTL with full auto shooting for canon ex/el flashes and nothing else - is this true?

No. There's currently a bug with the R5/R6 bodies that eTTL II fires at full power if you're trying to use TTL+HSS simultaneously. But without HSS, TTL works fine, and in M, HSS works fine. And it's only those two camera bodies.

Whatever you do, avoid the EL-5. That one will only work on an R3/R7/R10/R8, etc. body with the new multi-function hotshoe.

Honestly I don't want to adjust anything when it comes to using the flash apart from aiming and bouncing off the lights

If you don't want to have to do the aiming, you could also look at the 470EX-AI (no it does not take years of experience to learn to choose a bounce direction (eyeroll).

This is just me, but instead of a TT350-C, if you can take the additional weight/bulk (it's sized much like a 580EX II or 600EX II-RT, I'd suggest looking at the $130 TT685 II-C or finding a used TT685C instead of the TT350.

The head swivels 330º on the Mk II, 360º on the Mk I, and it has twice as much light output, both of which make them better bounce-flash units than a TT350 or your Sigma 610 DG.

If you never plan on using a flash off-camera with remote radio control, you could also look at the Nissin i400/i40/i600/i60A. 360º swivel and more power/light output (runs on 4xAA) than a 2xAA-powered unit like the TT350 or the EL-100.

The EL-100 is probably the best fit, weight/features wise, but has no built-in radio remote control if you eventually want to go Strobist (at which point, Godox gear is hella less expensive than Canon RT gear).

and I don't want to spend that much on a canon flash because I am only using the camera occasionally for events and gatherings and I don't know what to do with the old equipment, even shops refused to buy the old rebel saying it's too old

Now you now why a lot of folks get an older camera body infrared-converted.