Choosing a flash

[Ray Chen]

The size difference between two flashes:



The catch light panel:





--
Ray Chen

Do what works...

 

[bullet1]

The size difference between two flashes:
http://www.pbase.com/thechen/image/38676480/original.jpg

The catch light panel:
http://www.pbase.com/thechen/image/38676482/original.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/thechen/image/38676483/original.jpg

--
Ray Chen

Do what works...

Thanks, Ray. I guess I now need to figured how to add a white plastic index card to my 550.

--
Nelson

 

[AKamateur]

Rodney Gold
The nicest thing about smacking your head against the the wall
is.......The feeling you get when you stop

On this point we see eye to eye. It felt pretty good when I started getting good results and learning about lighting rather than fiddling with flash heads and trying to preflash the appropriate point to get the right exposure. I believe a lot of people struggle with the canon flash system as I did which is the only reason I shared my experiences. I would recommend a single canon flash head on a 20d to any new user, but I believe users should understand the limitations of the wireless ETTL system because it can be very expensive to buy multiple heads and a controller as well as the appropriate stand adapters, etc....

My D60/550 technique included AF and FEL on separate keys and a three step process to take a picture: FEL, recompose and AF, fire when ready. This was slow and complicated. With the Metz I eliminated the FEL step but the D60 still made things pretty slow. Now with my 20D and ETTL2 I use only one button, the shutter release. In this respect Canon has made great strides and users should feel comfortable using the system on a 20d or other ETTL2 capable body.

I'm done with this thread- Cheers

 

[kel3at]

I use the Sunpak 383 Super with good results. Very inexpensive and it does a great job, plus it includes a PC Cord for off camera use.

If I were using flash alot though, I would most likely buy a Metz 54 or a Canon 580EX.

Greetings! I just received my new 20D and now I'd like to add an
external flash. I've never used an external flash on a camera
before so I'm not sure exactly how I'll be using it. I know that
bounce flash is a big draw for me as well as having the flash
further off axis.

So... I see the the new Speedlight 580EX is the latest and
greatest, but I've read reviews that its not that much better than
the 550EX which can be had used for a much better price.

Opinions?

Thanks!

Mike

 

[tom e]

if you get the M2, you send it to bogen and they will upgrade the firmware to M3 and return it to you for free (they even pay the return postage). mine was back in about 10 days.

My understanding is that the dealer's do not know what software
version (M1 or M2 or M3) is installed in the SCA3102 adapter. I
asked B&H about this and they have no idea or care. They just said
that if the adapter was for a Canon it should work. However,
according to the Metz web site the adapter for the 20D should be a
M3 version (E-TTL-2). If the dealer's don't know what version thay
are selling how can one purchase what one requires? Does anyone
know of any dealer that knows what software version is in the
SCA3102 adapter that they sell?

Dietmar

--

 

[Dietmar Fichter]

Thanks for this info, this is good to know. How do you find what firmware version is installed in the adaptor?

Dietmar

My understanding is that the dealer's do not know what software
version (M1 or M2 or M3) is installed in the SCA3102 adapter. I
asked B&H about this and they have no idea or care. They just said
that if the adapter was for a Canon it should work. However,
according to the Metz web site the adapter for the 20D should be a
M3 version (E-TTL-2). If the dealer's don't know what version thay
are selling how can one purchase what one requires? Does anyone
know of any dealer that knows what software version is in the
SCA3102 adapter that they sell?

Dietmar

--