I found a 420EZ for sale and am wondering how compatible it is with the EOS 50. Would I be better off getting the 380EX? Why was the 420 discontinued after only 2 years?

-- Brenda Murray (c-murray@msn.com), January 22, 2000

Answers

The 420 won't give you E-TTL, high speed sync (FP) or flash exposure lock (FEL). It will give you a flash which can swivel (side to side) and has manual control of things like flash output, zoom setting, mode etc. The 380EX has no manual control over any of its functions.

If you're a "point and shoot" person, the 380EX would be the one to get. If you want more control, the 420 might be better (or a 430 or 540), though you do lose E-TTL, FP and FEL. The 550ex gives you everything, but at higher cost.

Don't worry about a 2 year life on a product. Canon update and upgrade quite frequently.

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), January 22, 2000.

The 420EZ was quickly replaced by the 430EZ which offers flash exposure compensation, external power sources and a few very minor features. Since your EOS 50 has flash exposure Compensation designed into it, you probably don't need it's replacement.

I used to have a 380EX with my Elan IIe (same as a 50e) but sold it and bought a 420EZ because it offers more power and manual control over power and zoom. I found that more useful than FP, FEL and E-TTL. But Bob's right, if you are more of a point & shooter the 380EX is a better unit.

-- Jim Strutz (jimstrutz@juno.com), January 23, 2000.