Off brand flashes

ERue

I've been looking into getting an external flash, but have a hard time swallowing the $370 price tag for the Canon 580EX II. I have looked into the Sigma EF-530 DG Super EO-ETTL II. I know it's not the 580, so I'm not expecting miracles to happen with it. Does anyone have an opinion on the Sigma one or any others that might compare?

ziggy53

ERue wrote:

I've been looking into getting an external flash, but have a hard time swallowing the $370 price tag for the Canon 580EX II. I have looked into the Sigma EF-530 DG Super EO-ETTL II. I know it's not the 580, so I'm not expecting miracles to happen with it. Does anyone have an opinion on the Sigma one or any others that might compare?

I have 2 Sigma EF-500 DG Super E-TTL flashes, the predecessor to the EF-530 flash, and I really do love them.

The Sigma "Super" versions really do have many of the features of the Canon 580EX and a price closer to the 430EX. I have no regrets and would get another Sigma flash in an instant, if I needed one.

The Canon 580EX is easier to use (but I'm not so sure about the 580EX II) and the 580EX is much sturdier construction and the Canon flash allows for an external power supply.

Manfr3d

Don't forget METZ, they make excellent flashguns since decades that can do more than the Canon 580EX II for example (two flashes in one, power, usb plug, etc) at a lower price point (comparable to sigma's). Worth checking out:

http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/mecablitz-models/system-flash-units/mecablitz-58-af-1-digital/product-information.html

ERue

Can the Metz be fired wirelessly? I have a Canon Rebel XT, so it would have to be hotshoe mounted.

NM-I think I found that they can be used with the 'ebay triggers.'

ziggy53

The only problem I have with Metz units is that they do not appear to have mastered E-TTL II in their dedicated modules. (The dedicated modules seem to emulate the older E-TTL and do not seem to incorporate distance information from the lens.) If you stay with the "auto" modules that seems to work better.

For E-TTL II automation I believe that only Canon and Sigma have succeeded in a proper implementation.

Metz flashes are very tough and they have very nice power options.

ERue

I'm looking at the mecablitz 48 AF-1, and haven't found any reviews with the ETTL problems. Could you maybe point me to a review?

ziggy53

ERue wrote:

I'm looking at the mecablitz 48 AF-1, and haven't found any reviews with the ETTL problems. Could you maybe point me to a review?

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:k4Hx5WkTPRIJ:photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00BCIp+%2Bmetz+%2B%22e-ttl+ii%22+%2Bproblem&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:_v6j52KuZ4gJ:photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00Btjw+%2Bmetz+%2B%22e-ttl+ii%22+%2Bproblem&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:qGpVtFnm6tAJ:photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/009XtP+site:photo.net+%2Bmetz+%2B%22e-ttl+ii%22+%2Bproblem&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us

Read especially this more recent post from Nadine Ohara, who is one of the more accomplished shooters out there (variations in output):

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:3D4ZqftetwwJ:photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00Mxpp+site:photo.net+%2Bmetz+%2B%22e-ttl+ii%22+%2Bproblem&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us

Then again this very recent Shutterbug article refers to the Metz 58 with AF-1C (AF-1 C) and they seem to get good results (maybe this is the module that really works):

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:h12ZhSarci0J:www.shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/accessories/0208canonspeed/index2.html+%2Bmetz+%2B%22e-ttl+ii%22+%2Bproblem&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us

Manfr3d

On the website it says that the flash supports ETTL-II. But I'm not digging deeper right now

Scott_Quier

Manfr3d wrote:

Don't forget METZ, they make excellent flashguns since decades that can do more than the Canon 580EX II for example (two flashes in one, power, usb plug, etc) at a lower price point (comparable to sigma's). Worth checking out:

http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/mecablitz-models/system-flash-units/mecablitz-58-af-1-digital/product-information.html

Ummmm ... Just checked B&H (here), the 58 AF-1 goes for $350 for Nikon and about $400 for all the rest. The Sigm 530 DG Super is $215 (here).

That says nothing about the build/compatibility of the Metz flashes. The feature set of the metz is impressive.

ERue

Just wondering if anyone else has any more thoughts.