I noticed that the Canon powershot G2 digital camera (point and shoot design) is pictured in an ad with a 550EX Speedlite. This camera and the G1 are described as supporting TTL metering. Has anyone used either of these cameras with Canon Speedlites? I am wondering if I can use the G1 or G2 as a preview tool for a wireless Speedlite setup, i.e. set up 550EXs/420EXs for a portrait shoot, attach 550/ST-E2 to the G1/2, take the shot and preview the lighting/composition/exposure, then make the photo with an EOS 3. Can this be done? Is it practical?

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), December 06, 2001

Answers

Some additional info: according to a review of the Powershot G2

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong2/page5.asp

The G2 manual states that auto exposure can be used with 550EX (550EX in E-TTL mode).

So, regarding the above post, does anyone have any experience or an opinion about this?

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), December 06, 2001.

no, this cannot and must not be done. it is just not practical!!!

-- Jeff Nakayama (moonduck22@hotmail.com), December 06, 2001.

The G1 & G2 are not TTL capable, nor are they A-TTL capable. They are only capable of E-TTL metering. An EX series Speedlite must be used. My E-TTL capable Sigma EF500 Super doesn't work right either. Also manual flash units and "auto flash" units (think Vivitar 283) are usable with early G1's (don't upgrade the firmware) and all G2's. Also they are all capable of manual only flash with earlier E & EZ series Speedlites.

I have a G1 and the 550EX works okay with it. Actually the G1 has several notorious problems when it comes to flash but the 550EX usually works but may overexpose in close range.

Canon has stated that the G1 & G2 are not designed to use the ST-E2 or 550EX/420EX in wireless mode. Not sure why. Other users have reported that wireless doesn't work with the G1 or G2 ,but last I checked the jury was still out on the G2 with wireless. The G2 seems to have gotten most of the other flash problems cured.

I have used my "old firmware" G1 on manual mode with several manual flash units (with umbrellas, etc.). That works fine for checking shadows & ratios, but I still rely on a flash meter for final exposure. That's about the only things the older method of using Polaroid backs are good for too, so I'm happy with what I've got.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), December 07, 2001.

Jeff - Do you have anything constructive to say supporting your opinion?

Jim - Thanks for a detailed response. "The G1 & G2 are not TTL capable, nor are they A-TTL capable. They are only capable of E-TTL metering. An EX series Speedlite must be used." - This is good news considering my gear. "...works fine for checking shadows & ratios, but I still rely on a flash meter for final exposure" - That's what I was looking for. The Polaroid back costs a bit more than the G2, so I was thinking of adding the digital camera to my bag for this purpose - and getting a lot more than just a portrait preview tool.

Has anyone tried the G2 with E-TTL wireless setup?

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), December 07, 2001.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), December 07, 2001. ... only capable of E-TTL metering. An EX series Speedlite must be used. My E-TTL capable Sigma EF500 Super doesn't work right either. ...

Jim, How do you like the EF500 Super? I'm considering getting one to go with my EOS 3. It sounds pretty good and is a lot cheaper, although I've heard of one person that had the hotshoe fall apart on him after 3 weeks of use. He also said it was noiser when zooming than he expected. How long have you used it and what do you think about it?

Thanks

Mike

-- Mike Jordan (mjordan@europa.com), December 08, 2001.

I really haven't noticed the noise difference.

I like the Sigma EF500 Super. Other than not working well with the G1, it's a great flash. It's half the price of the 550EX so don't expect the build quality to be equal, but even so, it's fairly good.

The user interface is different than the Canon. Lots of menu pages and fewer switches. I still think the Canon is easier to operate but the Sigma isn't all that hard once you get used to it, and I started with a years-learned Canon bias.

The Canon has several custom functions that are seldom used, but one or two might be nice for some. The Sigma adds a generic slave mode to the mix that the Canon doesn't duplicate. So it's more useful in a manual multi unit setup with non-Canon flashes in the mix. For instance you can use it as a hair light of fill light with a studio light for the main exposure. The 550EX can't do that.

For some reason the G1 doesn't like the Sigma at all, but then the G1 has a lot of problems with any flash. Even the 420EX/550EX at times. Sigma says that they never made any claims that their flash was designed to work with anything but SLR's, including the D30.

The question that remains to be answered is, will it work with Canon's next generation of SLR bodies, or will it have the same incompatibility issues that Sigma lenses have? I suspect that Canon deliberatly modifies the lens timing do disqualify third party lenses when they can. There's definitly something that Sigma & others haven't figured out yet. But will the flashes be the same?

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), December 08, 2001.

Hey Derrick, I found this site with plenty of info on using the G1/G2 in wireless mode and a whole lot of other stuff. Basically, he says you can do it, but there are some issues you need to know first.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/G1links.html

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), December 08, 2001.

Thanks for the info on the EF 500 Super, Jim. I really appreciate the detailed answer. I'll probably get one in the near future. I need to get something for my EOS 3 and even if they aren't as powerful and have a few quirks, for the price, it's hard to beat.

Thanks again.

Mike

-- Mike Jordan (mjordan@europa.com), December 08, 2001.

Jim, That link was great - a lot of information there. I'm a little surprised that someone took the time to put all that information together, but I guess I shouldn't be. Thanks

-- Derrick Morin (dmorin@oasisol.com), December 09, 2001.

I just purchased a G2 and 2-550EX and it worked just fine in ETTL/flash-ratio in the master-slave mode. I aslo use the G2 with my 380EX and no problem in ETTL mode either.

With the 500EX, it does over expose a little at close range, I just lower it by 1 stop and the image looked OK.

-- David Hui (djkph@aol.com), December 22, 2001.