The above used flashes cost nearly the same price,the 420ez is a tiny bit more expensive.The 380 has ETTL but the 420 has more functions,which one should i choose for my rebel 2000? Thanks

-- Carto (a@b.com), March 02, 2002

Answers

The 420 has both tilt and swivel, allowing you to bounce the flash off the ceiling for a vertical picture. However, the 420EZ (note, EZ) is a bit out of date; the current model is the 420EX. Your camera can take advantage of all of the capabilities of EX flashes, I believe.

Given that your Rebel can presumably work with the 420EZ, I'd say it's a better choice than the 380EX. However, the 420EX is a better choice than either of them.

Note that the Canon digital cameras, G1/G2/Pro 90 do not function except with an EX family flash.

-- Gary Berg (photo@bunkeberg.com), March 02, 2002.

Hi Carto,

I recently went through the same ordeal in choosing a Speedlite for my Elan 7E

Of the two Speedlites you mention, I would suggest the 380EX because the 420EZ is missing one crucial feature: flash exposure confirmation.

On the other hand, if you intend to shoot vertical compositions with bounce flash, you should choose the 420EZ which has the required tilt-and-swivel movement while the 380EX only tilts.

These are not the only choices: have you considered the 420EX, which is about $20 more expensive than the 380EX it replaced; or even the Sigma EF 500 Super?

Good luck. It would be nice if you could post what you eventually chose, and why.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 03, 2002.

Are we actually talking about the 420EZ here? The EZ is quite an old flash unit now. I wouldn't consider it myself, as it lacks flash exposure compensation. If you're thinking about a used EZ flash unit I'd look into the 430EZ, which has FEC. (ie: it lets you adjust the flash output above or below the level metered by the camera's flash metering system)

However, unless you really need full manual controls or stroboscopic flash I'd personally go for an E-TTL capable flash for use with a Rebel 2000, such as the 380EX, 420EX or Sigma EF-500 Super.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), March 03, 2002.

I would probably still avoid the 430EZ, since it does not have flash exposure CONFIRMATION, even though it has flash exposure COMPENSATION. The latter can be simulated by ISO indexing (see: EOS FAQ 2.4), but the former CANNOT be replaced if it is missing.

As a 430EZ owner and user, the lack of flash exposure confirmation is a major pain when using flash in any mode other than fully automatic A-TTL :-(

The lack of Flash Exposure Confirmation was a major weakness of the EOS flash system, apparently for Patent reasons.

According to EOS flash guru Dave Herzstein, only four (non-macro) Speedlites have exposure confirmation. Count them:

  380EX, 420EX, 540EZ, and 550EX

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 03, 2002.