Flash gun for Canon SLR

I have just bought a Canon 10D and am looking for a flash gun for it.

I have a Sigma 17 - 35, a Canon 28 - 90 and a Canon 75 - 300 lenses.

I am attracted to the Canon Speedlite 420EZ but see that the Sunpak PZ4000
is £35 cheaper and seems to have the same capabilities.

Has anyone any opinions as to buying Canon or Sunpak?

Thanks in advance.

David

 

The Canon 10D requires an "EX" flash capable of E-TTL for automated
exposure. The 420EZ speedlite will only operate in manual mode, where
as the 420EX speedlite can be totally automated. I'm not aware of any
Sunpak flashes that offer any automation with Canon DSLRs. You can,
however, use many manual and "auto" flashes with the 10D in manual mode.

-Dave

 

The EZ series won't work with the 10D. Neither will the Sunpak

I should say, they will work, but you won't have any metering. The flashes
will go off full power leaving you to manually select the proper exposure
settings by hand.

For the 10D, you'll need an EX series flash - 420EX or 550EX.

As far as I know, the only non-Canon flashes that are *fully* compatible with
the 10D are the Sigma 500DG, and the Metz 54MZ-3. I've never tried either.

 

I hope you meant to type the Canon 420EX - the 10D will only work fully
with Canon's EX series guns (or third-party compatibles using E-TTL
flash metering), the EZ or any other earlier series will only work with
the 10D in manual mode.

 

Phew, thanks for the information. Most grateful. I will have to look to the
Canon then.

Regards

David

 

Maybe you made a typo but I would stick with either the 380EX or the
420EX. If my knowledge is correct, the EZ line was an A-TTL flash
while the newer bodies use E-TTL, which is much better.

I don't know what £35 is in US $ but I wouldn't risk it. Canon
"compatibility" is not the same as Canon "made".

That's not to say that the Sunpak isn't a good flash. It probably is.
I just wouldn't buy it.

Also, if you've got the money, I would seriously consider the 550EX.
It's more expensive, but it's got alot more power and versatility than
the 420 or 380. You won't regret it.

Mike

 

Almost everything you will ever need to know about flash with EOS cameras is
at http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash
Just be prepared for a long read!