Canon 420EX Question

Candid Arts · January 15, 2010

So I just got some pocket wizards and I am remotely triggering the 420EX via those. My question is...How do I turn the flash output power DOWN on the 420EX? I can't find it anywhere?! It's like ON 100% or OFF.

On my 580EXII, I can set 1/8th, 1/32nd, 1/64...etc... Now I know that it is a lot nicer, and new flash. But there has got to be a way to turn the flash down.

FEC in-camera does nothing.

Don't know what else to do...

Here are the buttons ON-FLASH I have to work with...

Thanks.

divamum · January 15, 2010

There's no manual mode on the 420 - I believe it's pretty much all or nothing once you take ETTL out of the chain.

ziggy53 · January 15, 2010

I don't believe that the Canon 420EX has an ability to manually control flash power output as percentages. You can use modifiers to reduce output as well as distance from the subject.

Candid Arts · January 15, 2010

ziggy53 wrote:

I don't believe that the Canon 420EX has an ability to manually control flash power output as percentages. You can use modifiers to reduce output as well as distance from the subject.

I have it in front of an umbrella already, and it is just WAY to bright. I even put a white sweatshirt over it, and it's still a bit to bright.

I'm thinking I need another 580, or at least a 4 series that is adjustable...

ziggy53 · January 15, 2010

Candid Arts wrote:

I have it in front of an umbrella already, and it is just WAY to bright. I even put a white sweatshirt over it, and it's still a bit to bright.

I'm thinking I need another 580, or at least a 4 series that is adjustable...

I believe that the Canon 430EX has both a manual mode for power output levels from 1/1 through 1/64, in full stops and manual control over the zoom, both of which would be useful.

A Sigma EF 530 DG Super is also a contender and is the proper model for Canon 50D compatibility. It allows manual flash output control from 1/1 though 1/128, in full stops.

http://www.photo4less.com/pd-productid-2289-k-sigma_169101_sigma_ef_530_dg_super_e_ttl_shoe_mount_flash_for_canon_eos_with_e_ttl_ii_operation.htm

Candid Arts · January 15, 2010

ziggy53 wrote:

I believe that the Canon 430EX has both a manual mode for power output levels from 1/1 through 1/64, in full stops and manual control over the zoom, both of which would be useful.

A Sigma EF 530 DG Super is also a contender and is the proper model for Canon 50D compatibility. It allows manual flash output control from 1/1 though 1/128, in full stops.

http://www.photo4less.com/pd-productid-2289-k-sigma_169101_sigma_ef_530_dg_super_e_ttl_shoe_mount_flash_for_canon_eos_with_e_ttl_ii_operation.htm

Yeah, doing some research, I saw that the 430EX has that capability. Now just finding a good condition used one.

I'm kinda partial to my Canon brand stuff. I know the sigma flashes are well regarded...I dunno, I'm just kinda quirky that way I suppose. But dang, that is quite a bit cheaper...

Thanks for the help though.

Candid Arts · January 15, 2010

What is the main difference between the Sigma EF 530 DG ST and the Sigma EF 530 DG Super? The super does optical slave and the ST does not? What is optical slave?

ziggy53 · January 16, 2010

Candid Arts wrote:

What is the main difference between the Sigma EF 530 DG ST and the Sigma EF 530 DG Super? The super does optical slave and the ST does not? What is optical slave?

The Sigma EF 530 DG ST lacks some of the sophistication that is included on the Super series. In particular the manual mode is more limited, there is no second-curtain sync, and the ST models lack the ability to act as either master or slave in a multi-flash scenario. Also the Super versions have High Speed Sync, allowing faster shutter speeds and use of the flash in sunlight situations. The last 2 features alone, the master-slave capability and high speed sync, are easily worth the minor upgrade costs of the Super over the ST series.

The optical slave can be used with the Super version to allow the flash to sync to another flash by sensing the other flash's pulse of light. It is only a "simple" optical trigger and does not work well with TTL style flashes (which may have a pre-flash before the main flash illumination).

Candid Arts · January 16, 2010

ziggy53 wrote:

The Sigma EF 530 DG ST lacks some of the sophistication that is included on the Super series. In particular the manual mode is more limited, there is no second-curtain sync, and the ST models lack the ability to act as either master or slave in a multi-flash scenario. Also the Super versions have High Speed Sync, allowing faster shutter speeds and use of the flash in sunlight situations. The last 2 features alone, the master-slave capability and high speed sync, are easily worth the minor upgrade costs of the Super over the ST series.

The optical slave can be used with the Super version to allow the flash to sync to another flash by sensing the other flash's pulse of light. It is only a "simple" optical trigger and does not work well with TTL style flashes (which may have a pre-flash before the main flash illumination).

Gotchya. Thanks for the tips. The Sigma does not have a PC Sync connection though right? And it seems that is recycles quite a bit slower than the 580EXII as well...almost half? From full charge to full charge...

ziggy53 · January 16, 2010

Candid Arts wrote:

Gotchya. Thanks for the tips. The Sigma does not have a PC Sync connection though right? And it seems that is recycles quite a bit slower than the 580EXII as well...almost half? From full charge to full charge...

Neither the Sigma 530 DG Super nor the original Canon 580 EX have PC connectors and require a simple adapter to provide the connection.

Recycle times are fine if you use NiMH batteries.

I have 4 of the Sigma 5xx Super flashes and I work them pretty hard. No problems with durability or usability so far. They represent an excellent value and I depend upon them for my professional work. I own no Canon flashes because the Sigma flashes work nicely.

For event/reception work I do use ISO 800 and ISO 1600 to keep recycle times down. These ISOs are also required to allow some ambient light so I would use them regardless of flash. (I prefer very short shutter speeds too.)

I am not trying to represent the Sigma flashes as "equivalent" to the Canon 580 EX/EX II flashes. The Canon flashes have better build and (IMO) a much better user interface (although I greatly prefer the original 580 EX to the model II), and the 580 EX allow for an external battery/power source, including power sources that allow much faster recycling times. I do not require those things for my applications and they come at a pretty steep cost in dollars.

Canon 420EX Question

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