Flash help please

[Robin Turner]

Having taken some excellent advice from this forum I took the plunge and bought a Canon 20D plus a 100-400 IS lense, incurring considerable strain on my wallet. I still have a lot to learn about this kit, however, now seems like a good time to get out and try to photograph some of our local owls.

So, I need to buy a flashgun without causing my wallet to keel over with the stress.

I have looked at the Sigma Flashguns, which are around £100 cheaper than the Canon ones. But the spec says that they are only suitable for a 28mm to 105mm range.

Would this be any use with the 100-400?
Do I have to fork out for the Canon 550 EX?
Are there any alternatives?

Could someone please recommend a flashgun that would work with the 100-400 IS lense.

TIA, Robin

[pturton]

Do I have to fork out for the Canon 550 EX?
Are there any alternatives?

Could someone please recommend a flashgun that would work with the 100-400 IS lense.

TIA, Robin

Robin,

The 420EX works well for small birds at close range and for a bit more range, the BetterBeamer fresnel lens mounted on the flash works well. When using a flash with birds that tolerate the pre-flash, I use -1 to -1 2/3 FEC to fill the shadows and add a hi-lite to the eye while shooting in AV mode. The 420EX works well with both my 300 f/4 and 400 f/5.6. The 550EX will give more range and faster recycling times.

After problems with 3rd party photo accessories over the years, I've decided to stick with OEM products for lenses and flash. Even though they may cost more initially, the frustration cost is a lot less.

I have picked up flash units with compatible voltages for a song at pawnshops and used them in Manual Mode until I could afford a Canon flash with its automatic features.

An after-thought: The BetterBeamer is optimized for use with a flash set to 50mm.

Paul
http://www.iaw.com/~pturton/

[Mick Johnson]

[QUOTE=

I have looked at the Sigma Flashguns, which are around £100 cheaper than the Canon ones. But the spec says that they are only suitable for a 28mm to 105mm range.

Would this be any use with the 100-400?
Do I have to fork out for the Canon 550 EX?
Are there any alternatives?

TIA, Robin[/QUOTE]


Robin,

The 28mm to 105mm is the flash head zoom range and is similar to the Canons (24-105)

It means the flash head will auto zoom with a lens between 28-105 so as not to waste light therefore saving batteries a bit.

It will still work with any lens longer than 105 but will just waste light from the flash as it's trying to cover the equivilant of a 105mm even though you may have a 400mm lens on.

I would certainly buy Canon as you know it will work 100% now and in the future.

I personally would buy a 550ex as I've seen them used for £120-150. You can do anything with this gun.

The 420ex however is full auto only although you will have flash compensation via the body on a 20d. Also it will only work as a slave in a wireless set-up so you would need something else to fire it (ste2, 550, 580)

I use 550's and ste2 for birds in flight with a 20d and Eos3 and have a few in my gallery all taken with this setup.

BTW, using AV and ETTL flash is nothing more than fill flash and it will NOT freeze action at all if that's what you're after. It will as already said give a highlight in the eye or reduce shadows. It will also frighten most small birds with the preflash so an alternative is to use FP flash (high speed sync) which has no preflash and works at all shutter speeds but again will not freeze action.

Mick.........

[compa]

It is largely a matter of your pocketbook - I recently upgraded to the 580EX from the 420EX and obviously I thought it worthwhile. The 580 is much more versatile and powerful. I am keeping the 420 for use as a slave in taking hummingbird photos.

Also the Better Beamer is a requirement for any distance shots (or even some close in shots) - it is amazing how far that thing throws the flash!

[hollis_f]

Does anybody know where one can obtain a Better Beamer in the UK?

[tom tams]

Does anybody know where one can obtain a Better Beamer in the UK?

Try Warehouse Express. They sell the Flash x-tender for £29.95

Tom

[Robin Turner]

Paul, Mick, Jim & Tom,

Thanks all for your input. It looks as though I'll have to fork out for the 550EX. Poor wallet!!

Robin