Any Camera Guru's Out There

janmike
janmike Posts: 6,146
edited April 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
I recently purchased a Canon Digital Rebel EOS 300D (used) and would like to add an external flash. I also have a Canon EOS 3000 35mm. Ideally, I would like a flash that I could use on both cameras as I do with all my lenses. A local camera shop told me to purchase the Canon 430EX Speedlite and wondered what else I could use. I would mainly be using it for shots in an arena and a school auditorium. I did see a few 420EX's for sale on ebay and wondered what else would work for me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Folks.
Michael ;)
In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

NORTH of 60°
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on

Comments

  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited February 2006
    I've got several Eos models. I use a 420 I got in the early 90's. Any model number larger will probably be newer and would work fine. Auditoriums are tough to shoot. Tele-lenses and a good (Bogen,etc.) monopod comes in handy. You would need a flash with a pretty good throw. You can sink as much in photo as in audio. Ain't in fun.
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2006
    You got that right. The nice about this SLR is that all the lenses I had with the 35mm work with the digital. And to boot, my 300mm is now 450mm on the digital body. Do you think the 420 would throw far enough for the shots. I guessing at 50 feet or so.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

    NORTH of 60°
  • jcaut
    jcaut Posts: 1,849
    edited February 2006
    Without looking it up, I believe that the 430EX is basically the same as the 420EX with additional support for E-TTL II. I may be wrong about that..

    I've got the 420EX and while it's a very good flash and might be sufficient for what you describe, I think you'd be better off with the 580EX (or the older 550EX). It's quite a bit more money, but auditoriums and arenas are tough. At those focal lengths and distances, if you don't want to have to crank the ISO way up I think you'll find you need more flash power. The 550 & 580 only give you a stop over the 420, but every little bit helps in a situation where you need it. It never hurts to have more than you need. You might also check on borrowing or renting a 420 or 430 from another photographer or camera shop and just see if it works for what you want to photograph.

    If your 300D doesn't already have the firmware hack installed that gives you FEC, then I'd recommend looking into that as well.

    At home I've got some shots I took at a school Christmas program, that I could show you for examples. If I get a chance to swing by there, I'll try to post one or two to show you.

    Jason
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2006
    That would great Jason. Thanks. There is a feature on the 430EX (E-TTL II, I beleive) that my 300D does not support. I am still investigating this. No sense paying for a feature that I cannot use.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

    NORTH of 60°
  • jcaut
    jcaut Posts: 1,849
    edited February 2006
    I almost forgot. Let me see if I can find those pictures...

    Here's a couple. They're not great pictures, but it should give you an idea of what the 420EX can do on the 300D. This was in a very dark auditorium with low-tech (note the clamp-on light in one picture) and not very bright stage lighting. I was about 50 ft away and shooting with the 300D at ISO 400. I have the hacked firmware and had FEC set at +2/3. 200mm, F5, 1/200th sec. with the 420EX. I was able to light up the stage pretty well, but it took some trial-and-error with the flash exposure compensation, due to the white costumes. I even had a few where I successfully bounced the flash off the ceiling. These have been cropped in Photoshop and had some minor corrections applied. I'm on dial-up, so I had to compress them substantially.
  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited February 2006
    There is a feature on the 430EX (E-TTL II, I beleive) that my 300D does not support. I am still investigating this. No sense paying for a feature that I cannot use.

    True the 300D is not TTL-II but all newer Canon cameras are/will be so if you ever upgrade your camera body, it would be good to have a TTL-II flash. Grabbing the 430 today is not a waste because the 430 is compatable with all EOS SLRs and DSLRs and has a faster recharge cycle than the older 420, among other improved specs. here's a link to the specs: http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelTechSpecsAct&fcategoryid=141&modelid=11923
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2006
    Thanks for info. Great stuff. The 420 did a great job IMO. I agree, the 430 may be the way to go for future consideration.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

    NORTH of 60°
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2006
    I am seeing a lot of replacment flashes for the 430EX (not Canon). Anyone tried any of these and done a comparison.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

    NORTH of 60°
  • jcaut
    jcaut Posts: 1,849
    edited February 2006
    Personally, no. But a lot of people seem to be fond of the Sigma 500 DG Super, which you might be able to pick up for about the same price as a 420EX. You could post your question on the forums at http://www.dpreview.com to get your question in front of a lot of people with experience. Or just use the search feature and see if you can find some similar questions.


    Also, http://www.fredmiranda.com/ has a very active buy/sell forum. If you're looking used, that would be an excellent place to look. You have to register first.

    Jason
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited August 2006
    Well I picked up a few used toys the other day to add to the photography thing. I grabbed a Speedlite 420EX for those indoor shots and a Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II Autofocus Lens. I lens will be an improvement on the 28-80mm lens I currently have. Thanks for the advice folks.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

    NORTH of 60°
  • Strong Bad
    Strong Bad Posts: 4,278
    edited August 2006
    Awesome! Welcome to another addiction...photography!

    I'm on the Nikon end of the spectrum, but Canon makes equally fine stuff too.

    Here's my site with some stuff...

    www.strongdigitalart.com


    Enjoy,

    John
    No excuses!
  • jeremie
    jeremie Posts: 246
    edited August 2006
    i had a Nikon D50 and got bitten by the bug and sold that and bought a Nikon D80 w/Nikon 70-300mm VR lense and a Sigma 17-70mm lense. Another expensive toy.
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited September 2006
    My Mother is visiting us here in Yellowknife and I have had the time to do a little more exploring and shoot a few more pics. The new 50mm lens is real nice.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!

    NORTH of 60°