Canon 20D - Which flash?

Loopy

Loopy

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I need to buy a flashgun and feel a bit swamped by the choice. I have a loan of a Speedlite 420EX at the moment and it seems to work well enough but I'm being seduced by the 550EX. Ideally I'd like to have 2 so I can use one as a slave and it's also there as a spare. If I need a third light for portrait work, is it best to buy a proper studio flash or another flashgun. You'll have realised that I am a bit new to all of this. I've probably got the terminology all wrong. But a bit of steering in the right direction would be really useful.
Is there much difference between the 380 and 430, or the 550 and the newer 580. Is the 220 worth having as an emergency flashgun? So many numbers!!

Am I being too narrow-minded thinking that I have to go for a Canon gun. Are there any Sigma or Jessops (or other makes) as alternatives that can be recommended?

I have a couple of hundred quid to spend and I'm not bothered about new gear.

:thinking:
 
If you have a couple of hundred, then go the whole hog and get the 580! The 430 is perfectly fine though and can be had for quite a bit less...it just depends on exactly how demanding the situations it'll be used in are!
 
But if I buy an older or smaller flash then I can have 2. I could probably push the spondooliks a bit higher to get the best combo.
I think the answer is yes bu just to check, would a Canon flash and another make still fire in sync with the infrared?
 
Loopy said:
But if I buy an older or smaller flash then I can have 2. I could probably push the spondooliks a bit higher to get the best combo.
I think the answer is yes bu just to check, would a Canon flash and another make still fire in sync with the infrared?
Click to expand...


Be careful with old flashguns, many can fry a modern dsr if you use them on the hotshoe. You can, however,use any old flash off-camera and fire them with something as simple as an optical trigger (about £5 from Ebay, delivered) or a set of "Ebay" triggers, or....... ;)
 
Sorry to just jump in, but can any flash be used off-camera with the use of an optical trigger, even if the flash isn't specifically for that model of camera?
 
Little Man said:
Sorry to just jump in, but can any flash be used off-camera with the use of an optical trigger, even if the flash isn't specifically for that model of camera?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can use any flashgun as it is just the light that is triggering it and light is light, no matter what make of flash it comes from :)
 
I've got a couple of 550's and they're fine. The advantage of the 550 is that you're likely to get two for little more that the cost of a new 580II if the added features aren't needed.
It's also worth looking at an ST-E2 so that you can have both 550's off camera and remove the need for a third flash.

Bob
 
Brilliant. Thanks for the info. I feel more confident at making a choice now.
 
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